In perfect coordination

GANGA THAMPI, who performed for the Narada Gana Sabha Trust, is a gifted dancer, endowed with a charming stage presence. She appeared graceful and elegant. Her movements were neat and precise. She has an expressive face that could bring out the different emotions with ease. She had an excellent team of musicians whose well co-ordinated orchestral output was a strong support to this performance.

Sheejith, the versatile leader of the orchestra, conducted the performance with perfect grip and confidence. Saisankar rendered fine vocal support, assisted skilfully by Anil Kumar (mridangam) and Sasidharan (flute).

Ganga commenced her recital with alarippu in tisram, followed by the varnam ``Ennuyir Thozhi'' in Abheri, a composition of senior musician Charumathi Ramachandran.

The musical set-up of this piece was melodious, and apt, giving the right atmosphere for the content which described the nayika's request to her friend to take the message of love for Lord Marundeeswara, enshrined at Thiruvanmiyur, one of the well-known kshetras of Lord Siva. The lyrical content was lively, but it lacked a certain crispness due to the lengthy sahitya, that did not fit in very well in this format. Also, there was not much scope for elaborating on abhinaya especially in the earlier section of the varnam; the striking part of this number was the bright, gripping theermanams conducted and danced in perfect coordination.

The latter part of the varnam picked up with vibrant charana swaras, composed with graceful adavu structures that were suitably presented by Ganga with much control and composure.

The pleasant, expressive face of the artiste that could bring forth the varied nuances well, was not put to full use. Further, the improvisations in the abhinaya-oriented passages were limited and seemed pre-set. Ganga, at this stage, should be able to extend beyond with depth and maturity into the realms of abhinaya. Her portrayal of the nayika who chides Lord Siva- Nataraja (``Edukkittanai modi'') and the ashtapadi, did not evoke any impressive impact with Ganga's handling of these in a restricted manner. The compere of the programme could have taken care to pronounce certain words in the announcements properly (Ashtapathi and Nada Hare).

NANDINI RAMANI

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