A modern myth

"Avasyam Swachha Paalanam" a dance ballet by the students of department of Dance, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication at the University of Hyderabad, which was presented on the occasion of school's 25th Anniversary, oscillated the audience between the worlds of mythology and modernity. Directorial originality, brilliant performances and visual imagery captivated the audience.

Directed, choreographed by P. Ramalinga Sastry, faculty at the Dance Department, the ballet was not conventional structurally. The ballet portrays the need for good governance by drawing parallels through two different themes- the first part set in mythology and the second set in today's social context. This inherent phenomenon could be described as a "poetic bridge between myth and modernism".

In part one, the story unfolds with Indra the kind of Gods rejoicing in his court after killing Vruttasura � the demon by deceiving him. His locus standi to be the divine king was questioned by Narada and a guilt ridden Indra is banished from his seat of power. The king less abode of the gods � Amaravati is now on the lookout for a new king, a worthy king.

In the second part, the ballet moves towards the present context depicting the corrupt political scenario. It presents different political parties lobbying for votes of the public by means of false promises and various other unfair means. These two were conceptually blended in the ballet.