A poetic justice

Staged by Bharatanatyam artistes Kiranmayee and Priya, guru Hemamalini Arni’s ballet, ‘Porous Earth’, saw the dancers’ as visual poems, their every move as fluidic and graceful as the river that was being described as making its way towards the ocean

Ravindra Bharathi was packed with audience who had come to witness Bharatanatyam guru Hemamalini Arni’s ballet titled ‘Porous Earth’. Penned by IPS officer Tejdeep Kaur Menon, the lyrics flowed on poetically about a river in its journey to the sea.

The trials, tribulations, joys and sorrows of people on its banks are described from the river’s viewpoint as well as its own reactions to the same. The astounding choreography of Arni perfectly matched the insight of the writer. The ballet was performed by dancers Kiranmayee and Priya, whose grace and perfection could only be experienced as words fail to convey the brilliance of their performance.

As the lights dimmed and the curtain went up, the first glimpse of the artistes together in radiant blue with Ravi Kiran’s melodious music gave the viewers the feeling a wave of viewing pleasure would wash upon them. And it was indeed so. The perfect mime of the dancers simulated in successive episodes the river being portrayed in its rushing flow over boulders, shaping mountains and ravines by the force of its flowing waters, creating gorges and waterfalls.

Gurgling, whispering and chuckling, the river quenches the thirst of shepherds and their herds, and the changes brought by people to its pristine shape are also told. Being controlled by dams, polluted by humans, and the river’s own guilt in being the cause of people drowning was poignantly expressed. From being worshipped to being shunned, the change is significant and was expressed well by the artistes. The final wish of the river is to unite with the ocean after being cleansed of debris and refreshed by rain and snow.

The dancers gave a programme brimming with abhinaya and rapid shift of movements to tell this story. Srinivas, Srikant and Sai Kumar lent orchestral support. Surabhi Chandrasekhar was responsible for expertly blending, shifting and contrasting lights which set the mood admirably.Kiranmayee, an outstanding senior student, is familiar to Hyderabad audiences. A brilliant performer, she represented Hyderabad in many sabhas in India and will be setting out for a programme abroad.

By Anna Rao Gangavalli