Malavika Sarukkai:The inspirational dancer

The eminent Bharatanatyam dancer gave an outstanding solo performance as a part of the ‘International Seminar on Indian textiles’ organised by the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art at Hotel Taj Krishna.

Malvika Sarukkai’s classical dance performance was one of the most awaited programmes at the International Seminar on Indian textiles. The celebrated dancer started the performance with ‘Nrittanjali’, an offering of flowers to Lord Shiva.

The dance is all about space and time, which become equal. She then performed some pieces which represent the various seasons of nature. ‘Grishma’ season where lonely Radha awaits her Lord in separation.

During this season Krishna is resting under tress amidst the scorching sun. He urges everyone to revere the trees, which protect from the harsh rays of the sun, the strong winds and rains. Then comes ‘Varsha ritu’ and the ‘Sharad ritu’ with Krishna and his Gopis.

The next piece is also dedicated to Lord Krishna and the Kaalia Mardhanam episode - about how everyone gets disturbed by the arrival of ‘Kaalia’ poisonous serpent due to which there is silence and death all around, with birds and fishes also falling prey to the poison.

Krishna takes up the challenge and starts his dance on the top of the 100 hoods of Kaalia, which finally results in the surrender of the evil.

In one of her later pieces she shows how Krishna effortlessly lifts the Govardhana mountain on the tip of his finger and the final one is about Krishna, who multiplies himself to dance with the many Gopis yearning to be with him.

Nellai Balaji on the mridangam, Srilakshmi on the violin, Srilatha and Murali Parthasarathy on vocals and Nattuvangam provided adequate accompaniment support reinforcing the power of live music in a dance performance.

Malavika’s introduction before each piece added a unique inspiration and cannot be taken away physically as an experience but kept within us.