Exploring the nuances

"BHOGA TYAGESHA.. anubhogam seyya vaa..." The line from the Bhairavi raga varnam, "Mohamana...", has given rise to many a debate.

Does the dancer have the freedom to depict Siva in all his aspects or just confine herself to showing the Linga mudra to represent Siva Tyagesha at Tiruvarur, to whom the varnam is dedicated? Should dancers not understand the meaning and the hidden expanses that each line of the song affords?

Does a dancer who has not learnt the piece from a devadasi and does not understand the sthala purana of Tiruvarur and the secrets of the Ajapa Natanam, have the right to perform the varnam at all?

These could be some of the issues discussed at the sessions organised by the Prakrithi Foundation.

The two evening sessions, which will include performances and discussions of the varnam, are to be held at Amethyst, Sundara Mahal in Jeypore Colony (off Lloyd's Road) at 6 p.m. on December 9 and 10, 2000.

The focus will be on the interpretation of the varnam by the legendary Balasaraswathi and guru Kittappa Pillai, who developed distinct styles of their own.

On Karthikai day, the programme begins with a nadaswaram recital by Tiruvarur Latchappa Pillai.

A photo exhibition on Tiruvarur with the works by Usha Kris, S. Anwar and Cylla Von Tiedmann, will be part of the event.

Excerpts from "Bala", a film on Balasaraswathi by Satyajit Ray, is to be screened. Bala has been captured performing the Mohamana varnam in her 59th year by Ray.

Nandini Ramani, a disciple of Balasaraswathi, will perform the varnam and discuss the mooladhara of the same. Nandini's disciple, Saskia Kersenboom, will also discuss the varnam at length.

On December 10, Srividya Natarajan and Indu Varma of the Kittappa school, will discuss the doyen's treatment of the varnam.

Harikrishnan from Canada will also present a talk, while Vyjayanthimala Bali will discuss the varnam and the kalapramana.

She will also analyse some of the traditional pieces taught to her by her gurus, K. N. Dandayuthapani Pillai and K. P. Kittappa.

The exploration session is to look at notions of transcendental (alaoukika) state of a varnam, taste (rasikatva), aesthetic susceptibility (sahrdayatva), power of visualisation (pratibha), poetic culture (kavyanusilana), contemplative habit (bhavana) and a capacity for identification (tanmayibhavana).

VRD

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Entertainment
Next     : An artistic 'Josh' machine