Gopika Varma
started her recital with an invocation item called Chitrangam, composed
and choreographed by her guru Kalamandalam Suganthi who conducted the recital.
After a break of 10 years, Gopika renewed her training in Mohiniattam under
Kalamandalam Suganthi. The main item of the evening was ‘Paripalayamam’,
the famous keertanam of Maharaja Swati Thirunal. Gopika related 3 stories
in this item – Gajendra Moksham, Varaha Avataram and the story of Mohini.
The padam that followed was by the court poet Irayaman Thampi.
Set to music
by vocalist Sudev Warrier, Gopika presented the Malayalam version of Kulasekara
Alwar’s ‘Devaki pulambal.’ Explaining this item on Krishna, she spoke
about how proud she was to be a part of the illustrious family of Travancore.
This item was very precious to her because her son Vishnu Rama Varma was
born to her after 8 years of marriage and she felt an affinity with the
story of Devaki. The recital concluded with a slokam on Lord Ayyappa.
Ganesh Babu on
mridangam, Veeramani on violin and Kalamandalam Suresh Kumar on edakka
comprised the rest of the accompaniment.
(Presented
by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in association with Kala Pradarshini).
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