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 Ranganubhavam - where dance and dreams took centre stage - Nivedita Raghavan e-mail: niveditaraghavan26@gmail.com Photos: Guru Subramaniam April 13, 2025 A lifelong dream propelled by hard work and unexpected changes in her path brought Devikha, a disciple of The Dhananjayans, to present a solo recital at the TEACH Auditorium, on 30th March. The evening was titled Ranganubhavam and also marked her first solo performance in Chennai. Devikha embarked on her journey for the evening with her Guru Shantha Dhananjayan steering the show on the nattuvangam and Natyacharya VP Dhananjayan seated in the front as an observer.  She began her performance with a Mallari in Gambira Nattai ragam followed by a Tisra gati Alarippu, marking a traditional opening where the dancer focussed on the nuances and proper execution of the choreographies in a moderate speed. Continuing the traditional train with a keertanam by Tyagaraja, she presented Ra Ra Sita in Hindolavasanta, bringing to surface the simple and basic flavours of abhinaya through bhakti. The varnam or Nrithyopaharam, as The Dhananjayans have coined, was Papanasam Sivan's Mayam edho Swami in Mayamalava Gowlai. The dancer struck a fine balance between neat and crisp nritta and the requisite abhinaya wherein the virahotkandita was captured with the help of progressing shades of the lyrics. The stages of awaiting Skanda's arrival was brought to life - starting with eager anticipation by stringing a garland which moved into fading excitement as the wait prolonged, slowly turning into restlessness and fatigue, finally becoming fond anger towards the Lord. The second half of the recital turned direction from the traditional and bhakti setting to the khandita nayika of Indendu vachitivira in Surutti. The taunts veiled in sarcastic teasing was well carried by the dancer. A contrast to the padam followed with Oru neram engilum, a keertanam in Dwijavanti in praise of the Lord of Guruvayur which infused elements of Krishnanatam and Raas. The mood of the ragam set a heavy, devotional vibration while the dancer sunk into the bhava, simultaneously presenting a vivid and dynamic choreography as beautifully intended by Guru VP Dhananjayan. To end the recital on a high note, Devikha performed a power-packed thillana, a composition and choreography of Guru Shantha Dhananjayan in Madyamavati. The finale was a grand closure with the dancer's energy visibly lighting up the stage, a perfect match for the challenging choreography.  The orchestra set a rich, serene and thriving setting for the dancer with Vijeesh Venu on vocals, Vishnu Prasad on the mridangam, Rijesh Gopalakrishnan on the violin and Sunil Kumar on the flute. Overall, the performance projected a dancer with great zeal and talent for the art, being groomed by the Bharatakalanjali institution, launching its practitioners into great heights in the field of Bharatanatyam.  Nivedita Raghavan is a practitioner of Bharatanatyam for the past 20 years. Her interest for the arts and love for writing brings her to write her first piece for Narthaki. Along with following her passion for dance, she is a qualified Chartered Accountant currently based in Bangalore. |
