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 A symphony of emotions: A Bharatanatyam exploration of 'Haadondhu Bhaava Halavu' - Dr. Chaitrashree July 13, 2024 In a magical evening at the Pearl city Puttur, the audience was treated to a mesmerizing Bharatanatyam performance that explored the theme of 'Haadondhu Bhaava Halavu'. It was jointly organised by two distinguished nrithya gurus, namely Sumangala Rathnakar and Deepak Kumar Puttur, as a part of Nruthyamrutha - 5, Trimshotsava celebration of Naatyaradhana Kala Kendra, Mangalore and Nruthyantharanga - 112, Sri Mookambika Cultural Academy, Puttur. Centered around the timeless composition "Pillangoviya Cheluva Krishna" by the revered Purandara Dasa, the performance featured five talented dancers, each embodying different aspects of affection and devotion towards Lord Krishna. The live music, captivating with various ragas and talas, elevated the entire experience, making it an evening to remember.  The performance began with a mother's boundless love for Krishna, performed by Akshatha K, beautifully conveying the narrative through her expressive movements. She is seen lovingly removing butter from curd, knowing it is Krishna's favourite, and then embarking on a search for him. Her desperation concludes in a dream where she joins a group of people singing and heading towards a temple. She finally finds Krishna at the temple, her heart brimming with happiness. This touching portrayal, combined with the music in the raga Kaapi and Sindhubhairavi and adi tala served as a perfect canvas. Following this was Dharithri Bhide, where she is swallowed by the love of Krishna and vividly portrayed the omnipresence of Krishna through her expressions and graceful movements, conveying that Krishna, the love of her life, is found in everything and everyone. In one particular stanza, during the verse "Sundarangada sundariyara hindu mundinali," the scene unfolded as Krishna is seen engaging with the gopikas in a playful manner. This then transitioned into a tender moment where Krishna assisted the Gopikas in their grooming. This was exquisitely exhibited and this heart stealing choreography was in ragamalika and talamalika that left the audience spellbound. Anu Dheeraj was a 7-8 years old kid, whose fascination with Krishna was endearingly evident. Her portrayal as a child charmed by Krishna was so genuine that the audience was instantly drawn in by her cute and expressive dancing acts. The dancer entered searching for Krishna, creating a cute wave among the audience. In a particular sanchari, the story of Kanakadasa was beautifully enacted. The singer's timely and affectionate calls of "Krishna" and the child Kanakadasa getting scared, added a perfect touch to the performance. The audience's hearts were filled with joy and warmth by the end of this delightful dance. The raga of choice was Kuntalavarali and the dance was exhibited in tala adi in tishra gati. Following this, Deepak Kumar Puttur took the stage, performing the role of one of Krishna's devoted friends, a Golla, who embarked on a quest to find Krishna from the break of dawn. His journey was filled with nostalgia and longing as he and his companions remembered about their playful moments with Krishna. Despite their thorough search, Krishna remained unseen until they joined a joyous group at the temple, where they finally found him in the deity's eyes, beautifully portraying the Golla and his friends' innocent and pure hearted love for Krishna. This song was sung in its original raga Mohana and tala adi. The final performance was a mesmerizing display of spirituality in Chakravaka raga and Vilambakalada tishra chapu tala, when the song was brought to life by Sumangala Rathnakar. Her presentation explored deeply into the Adhyathma context, enlightening the spiritual meaning of every stanza. In the anupallavi "elli nodidharalli," scenes depicted Kamsa's nightmares of Krishna and the story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahalada, emphasizing Krishna's omnipresence and leaving the audience immersed in spirituality. In the stanza "Sundarangada sundariyara hindu mundinali," she portrayed Krishna's playful and protective nature, his presence in Purandara Dasa's songs, and concluded by affirming that Krishna resides in the hearts of true seekers, leaving the audience transported to a different realm. The vocalist Preetikala did an amazing job of effortlessly adjusting the ragas and talas to suit the dancers' needs, and the live music was fascinating. The ragas were selected so as to precisely complement the songs' bhaava. She was accompanied by Shyam Bhat on mridangam and Krishna Gopal, Poonjalakatte on flute. Nattuvangam was by Sumangala Rathnakar and Deepak Kumar Puttur. This evening's entire aura demonstrated how a single song can elicit a wide range of emotions and tales, each unique but interconnected as showcased by the dancers not just with their talent but also their ability to convey profound emotions through their abhinaya. The concept of 'Haadondhu Bhaava Halavu' was executed with grace and depth, leaving a lasting effect on the audience. The event was a lovely tribute to Saint Purandara Dasa's everlasting songs' ageless appeal in Bharatanatyam. Dr. Chaitrashree is a Bharatanatyam artiste and Assistant Professor, NITTE University. |
