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 'Namayachi Jani' celebrates Sant Janabai through Dhrupad and Bharatanatyam - Satish Suri e-mail: satishism@yahoo.co.in Photo: Amarnath April 15, 2023 'Namayachi Jani' presented under the aegis of Sunaad at the Bangalore International Centre was unique and inspiring both in its concept and execution. Many distinguishing features characterised the presentation. The genre of music, the Abhangs sung in Dhrupad by Janhavi Phansalkar and explored through the format of Bharatanatyam by Navia Natarajan hallmarked creativity and originality. The opening sequence showcased the musical ensemble coming onto the stage and swaying to the rhythm of the song sung in praise of Lord Vithala setting the tone for a symphony of music, movement and expression. The storyline featured many anecdotes about the life of Janabai. Her dialogue at the rice mill, sometimes with her Lord Vithala, who often helped her with her daily chores, defined the simplicity and devotion of her character.  The Abhangs sung in Dhrupad explored the personality of Janabai, as she traversed her path of glory to the final enlightenment adding a unique touch to the performance and creating a powerful and soul-stirring ambience. The use of Bharatanatyam to interpret the emotions and stories of Janabai was a brilliant and innovative move. Navia Natarajan's intricate footwork, sensitive facial expressions and graceful movements added to the aesthetic interpretation and complimented the music perfectly.  The choreography, a collaborative effort of Janhavi Phansalkar and Navia Natarajan, created a multi-layered experience with different rhythms, melodies and movements blending to create a rich and intricate tapestry of music and movement bringing out its emotive and narrative potential. Several sancharis graced the exposition. The narration in English before each of the sequences provided clarity to the subject. Navia's exploration was a scintillating display of verve, precision footwork, fluidity and seamless use of the performance space. The performance also highlighted the cultural heritage of the Varkharis, with the Abhangs being a significant part of the bhakti movement of Pandharpur. At the final surrender of Janabai, who is accused of stealing the temple jewels and condemned to be impaled on a spear, the prayer of Janabai was answered by Lord Vithala, with the spear turning into a column of light beautifully dramatized with a heightened visual impact by the artiste. The finale was a quintessential moment as Janabai moved from the Sagun to the Nirgun. The enactment by Navia moving from darkness to the final visual frieze of light was a beautiful tribute to the legacy of Sant Janabai, a revered saint and poet and her devotion to Lord Vithala. The soundscape led by vocalists Janhavi Phansalkar and Dhani Gundecha, Dhyaneswar and Hridesh Chopra on the pakhawaj and Surya Rao on the nattuvangam along with the narrators Pratibha Pant and Chintu Sachindran provided the lyrical grandeur of the compositions suffused with melody, rhythm and emotion. Overall, 'Namayachi Jani' was a powerful soul-stirring celebration of the arts.  Bangalore based Satish Suri is an avid dance rasika besides being a life member of the Music and Arts Society. |
