Intelligent presentation

BHARAT KALACHAR has a unique family atmosphere. Presided over by the motherly figure, Mrs. Y. G. Parthasarathy, artistes and audience feel they are participating in a family function.

Mrs. Parthasarathy gets up to talk a kind word about every artiste she presents, towards the end of the performance. She gets the right word for everyone and gives a pat to each artiste. So the audience gets a review even as they watch a performance!

Krithika Rajagopal's Bharatanatyam also received one such kind review from Mrs. Y. G. Parthasarathy at the end of a spirited performance. She gives to dance what it deserves, said Mrs. Y.G.P. about the girl born and brought up in the U.S. coming over to India to learn Sanskrit and the theory of dance besides being trained by her mother. It showed.

An intelligent dancer her expression and her adavu sequences showed that she had given in a lot of thought.

Krithika gave a thematic presentation for Bharat Kalachar. She called it `Stree Shakthi'. Giving a delineation of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi as the creative, destructive and the preserving power of Shakthi.

Starting with Pushpanjali and a Keertana on Devi written by Balamuralikrishna ``Omkarakarini'', Krithika set the tone for the evening with her power dancing. It was full of adavu structures, new to the Bharatanatyam practice.

The Lavanga Keertana sung with gusto by Sushila Ramaswamy, was treated with playful mood. ``The varnam in Todi, `Roopamu Joochi','' said the announcer, ``depicted Arul Shakthi and infuses one with Bhakthi towards Tyagesa of Tiruvarur.'' But one failed to understand how it could find a legitimate place in a thematic presentation on Shakthi. The beginning Theermanam was so long and so complicated that one wondered whether one was watching a Tillana.

Every possible adavu combination and invention was tried in the Theermanam forgetting that the varnam has pleading as the Sthayibhava. A quieter nritta exhibition could have given the varnam more weight.

Too much was tried. The sancharis depicting the ajaba natanam of Tiruvarur Tyagesa being moved in rhythm by the breathing of Narayana was dealt beautifully and everything was crystal clear.

Krithika has an expressive face and technically very good in her style and understands tala very well. If she could give the content a little more time and effort, her dance could mature and attain depth.

V. R. DEVIKA

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Entertainment
Previous : Quiet and delicate
Next     : 'Mohamana' epitomising varnam as an event