The next gen of classical dance

The next gen of classical dance
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Highlights

Young and talented Pratyusha gave a sterling Bharatanatyam performance at Shilparamam over the weekend. The first composition was a Varnam in Ragam Simhendramadhyamam and Thalam Adhi composed by Sri Madurai R Muralidharan and choreographed by Sri Shankara Kandasamy. This Padavarnam is based on the story of goddess Madurai Meenakshi. It depicts the story of her birth and her wedding to Lord Sundare

Young and talented Pratyusha gave a sterling Bharatanatyam performance at Shilparamam over the weekend. The first composition was a Varnam in Ragam Simhendramadhyamam and Thalam Adhi composed by Sri Madurai R Muralidharan and choreographed by Sri Shankara Kandasamy. This Padavarnam is based on the story of goddess Madurai Meenakshi. It depicts the story of her birth and her wedding to Lord Sundareshwarar (Shiva).

The legend of Madurai, states that for many years the Pandyan king Raja Malayadhwaja and his wife Kanchanamalai were unable to conceive a child, so they perform the Putrakameshti Yagna, out of the sacrificial fire Goddess Meenakshi is born as a beautiful baby. But this baby had a small abnormality; she was born with three breasts. Her mother was worried about her fate and future.

Then the Raja Purohit of the kingdom told them not to worry as this little girl was an “avataram” of Goddess Parvati. This girl grew up to be a master in all the 64 arts including Dhanurvidya and sword fighting. She decides to conquer all the eight directions. Once she reaches the Himalayas, Lord Shiva in all his might waits to reunite with his wife.

Lord Vishnu descends from Vaikuntham to perform their marriage; after their marriage, the pair ruled over Madurai for many years and then assumed their divine forms as Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar, the presiding deities of the temple. This Varnam also depicts the death of the demon Mahishasura and how goddess Kali was born out of the divine power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to destroy this demon.

The composer goes on to express the beauty of Goddess Parvati describing her as the personification of illusion (Maya), the one who performs the divine Natanam along with her consort. He also pleads "Oh Ananda Bhairavi" the eternal mother of happiness who dances to the perfect confluence of Bhava, Raga and Thala, please remove my obstacles and sorrows. The long item was impressively presented with excellent brisk and vigorous footwork in the interspersed jatis.

The second composition of the presentation was a Kshetrayya Padam in Ragam Shankarabharanam and Thalam Mishrachaapu. This Padam is based on a Parakeeya Nayika. The Nayika is troubled by a thought. She asks her sakhi "Evvade vaadu o bhama, nenu pavvalinchina vela, puvvu banamu vesi, ravva chesi poyye?" (Who is that man o sakhi? Who came when I was sleeping and tantalised me by striking me with the arrow of love?)Pratyusha displayed great skill in her subtle Abhinaya to bring out the delicate emotions in this piece.

By Anna Rao

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