Unusual repertoire

PRIYADARSHINI GOVIND'S Bharathanatyam performance at the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha is the best I have seen this season in her category. She is fast catching up with Malavika Sarukkai and Alarmel Valli.

The beginning itself was crisp and bright. The Arabi raga Pushpanjali by Balamuralikrishna offers much scope for a dancer. Priya matched the mood with her neat araimandi and a sparkling smile.

The Ananda Bhairavi Varnam, Sakhiye of the Thanjavur quartet, was treated with gusto and the choreography complemented the heaviness of the varnam. This was the second time I was watching the same varnam within the week and was able to savour its full potential. In the line mahitalam pugaluva tava... the rajanagari and the viewing of the grand chariot were described and when the artiste depicted the horripulation she was in awe of the procession, and the audience felt it too. The mood was captured in the depiction of the Viswaroopa of the chakradhara. The Theermanam finish in the tai-di-di-tai adavu was clean and went all the way back. In the second half of the varnam, the danseuse executed a nice sweep and a jump to finish every theermanam. Her large extension, high elevation, confident and firm sweep created an impression of elemental strength and vitality adding dignity and majesty.

The abhinaya pieces were touching and very different from the usual Bharathanatyam repertoire. Sitting on the stage, Priyadarshini went through the gamut of emotions in the slokam from the Amarusatakam that talks about a couple who have turned their faces away in anger. Both wait for the other to make the first move. The silence conveys a lot. This beautifully depicted sloka was immediately followed by a Marathi song ``Rusilee Radha rusilaa Madhava..'' where because Radha and Krishna are upset with each other, the entire Gokula is upset too. The depiction of bees flying away from flowers and the creepers falling away from the trees were a delight to watch.

The saucy jawali ``era neera'' was followed by the Kadanakuthuhalam Tillana which was the crowning glory of a very bright and satisfying evening which lifted our spirits. The singing of Hariprasad complimented the dance in every way - very bright and full of bhava. Nattuvangam by Lakshmanan and mridangam by Anilkumar and Kannan's violin complimented equally. If only Priyadarshini had paid more attention to her costume - the upper cloth got drenched with sweat and looked completely off colour from the rest of the costume.

V. R. DEVIKA

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