| The
mere art of dancing has the power to do away with all grievances and sorrow
and is illustrated by Sri Sarangadeva who was blessed by the Lord with
a keen sense of perception. The recent performance of Divya Malayappan
and Chitra Swaminathan, students of Sri Gurulaya dance school at R R Sabha,
Chennai filled the ambience with divine vibrations due to their unique
choice of performing numbers. As the very name suggests the performance
opened with Pushpanjali offering floral salutation to the lord. This piece
is usually tuned in Nattai, Gambheera Nattai or Hamsadhwani but the dancers
here chose to present this item tuned in Hamsanadham. Oothukaadu Venkata
Subbaiyar's "Aananda Narthana Ganapatim" followed. Both the dancers played
their parts well particularly when they froze showing various poses of
Ganapathi.
Usually in
a Margam (one complete set of numbers that is to be presented in a performance),
the Pada Varnam or Chowka (slow tempo) varnam occupies the central place
but Divya and Chitra presented the rare Navagraha Taru varnam elaborating
on the importance of the nine planets in one's life. This piece had enough
scope to prove the dancer's ability to handle nritta and abinaya. Chitra
danced the first half of the varnam while Divya handled the second. The
varnam was both interesting and educative. This suddha dhanyasi varnam
was a fine relief from the usual sringara based varnam revolving round
the stereotyped theme wherein the lovelorn nayika waits for her lord who
is usually late and finally bribes the sakhi and makes her agree to be
her messenger.
The post varnam
session had two popular numbers 'Devi Neeye Tunai' (Keeravani) of Papanasam
Shivan - performed by Chitra and 'Saarasamukhi' (Gaudamallar - resembles
Aarabhi) in praise of Mysore Sri Chamundeswari composed by Harikesanallur
Muthiah Bhagawathar. The gaudamallar number performed by Divya, though
a popular number on the Kutcheri stage, is rarely performed by any dancer.
Both the dancers seemed to perform their assigned padams very casually
in a relaxed manner. Yet another number 'Chinnanchiru Penn Pole' in praise
of Ambal was performed together by both young dancers. The Kamas Thillana
and the Mangalam remained fitting finale to the performance. Both Chitra
and Divya have a fine physique and mobile face suitable to dance. With
little more practice and years of experience they no doubt have a wonderful
future in the world of classical dance. Guru Tanjavoor Rajalakshmi wielded
the nattuvangam with dignity while Bhama Visweswaran (Vocal), Sekar (Mridangam),
Muthu Kumar (Flute), Sundararaman (Make up) also share the credit.
Lakshmi
Kannan is an exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kathak and runs her own dance
school Jathiswaraalaya in Chennai. |
