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Music & Dance
Mixture of margam and modern
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It will be a blend of tradition and the contemporary as dancers, with their varied styles, take the stage. CHITRA MAHESH offers glimpses of the colourful spectrum.
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Sudharani
EVERY YEAR as December dawns, it almost seems that everything right from the weather to artists, gear up for something new. Never mind if it's the same time each year, pretty much the same venues, the same love for the art and well maybe the same margam that will be performed.
But then, with each year there are subtle and yet not so subtle differences that distinguish One December from another. There is a continuity and yet divergence. Tradition juxtaposed with contemporary. Music interlaced with dance. Mind and body synergising to produce works that are as old as the hills and as new as the dew on a grass blade.
It's truly yet another round of the December music and dance season! For a veteran such as Sudharani Raghupathi, the season will see many of her students perform solos and what is more many of them are winning titles and awards for their contributions to the field of dance, notable among them being Shailaja Ramji and Priya Murle.
``What more can I ask for?'' she says, ``than to see my children do so well? I would like to see all my children take the stage and carry on the tradition of Shree Shree Shree Shree Bharatalaya.''
Jayanthi Subramaniam
However, she says, between her and Chitra Vishweswaran, they will be conducting a very interesting seminar for Karthik Fine Arts on Dec 20, 21, and 22. Called the Natya Darshan, it will feature about 12 groups in dance dramas.
``Please don't think these are the routine dance dramas," she hastens to clarify.
Many old and unique forms of group performances are scheduled during this seminar such as the Sattriya dance, Bhagavatha Mela.
Revathi Ramachandran
This year they have not done any production, since there have been so many requests for solo performances of her students.
With the seminar taking up much of their time and effort, that a full fledged production which Shree Bharatalaya usually takes pride in, is not possible this year. They would like to keep to traditional items but are also going to try out some group choreography in two places. ``It's a busy season as usual," she concludes.
``It's a time I always look forward to," says Srekala Bharat, a busy performer right through the year. But every December I feel a new high even if I don't do something different."
Srekala Bharat
This year Srekala will be highlighting the different aspects of women - through her ``Mahila Mahima," a thematic production which features wonderful women through the ages — Andal, Avvaiyar, Kannagi, Rani of Jhansi, Mother Aurobindo, Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy and Rukmini Devi Arundale.
These are women who distinctly displayed great strength in various ways and this is what she seeks to highlight through this production.
Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala
It has all the traditional ingredients of Bharatnatyam such as the Kautuvam, Thillana, and Padams. Yet she will try to bring in some modern elements to show how dance can adapt to a world of today.
A 75 minute feature, this will be her main work on display this season along with some solo performances.
Roja Kannan
For Parvathi Ravi Ghantashala, long time student of Krishna Kumari Narendran and Kalanidhi Narayan, now on her own it is time to revel in Tamil literature. ``Though I am a Telugu," she explains, ``I love Tamil literature, Tamil is so beautiful." Which is probably why her efforts have gone into ``Aindhamudhu" (Aimperum kappiyam) which is essentially a compilation taken from the five Tamil epics. (such as the Manimekhalai, Jeevakasinthamani, Valaiyapati, Silapathiharam, Kundalakesi). ``Its just a small drop in a mighty ocean," she says modestly ``and this is the first time I am attempting something like this. It's a ballet with many students participating. The concept is by K. S. Bhaktavatsalam, with music by Kumbakonam Gajendran." According to her, the production is an ode to Tamil Mother with each epic describing one jewel on her. An offering of sorts, which she says, is not only very difficult but also challenging. ``I started working on this from January and I will be doing it in more than one place with the premier at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on December 8."
The subject of goddess Lakshmi has not been done much, which is why I thought I would present Lakshmi Vaibhavam," says Revathi Ramachandran. ``I have always wanted to do something new and for me this is something not explored before. I am also doing something with small children - I have done this before - but only now am taking this further to a sabha.'' It's a one and a half hour feature, ``Kodhai Padiye Pavai" that has songs from the Tiruppavai, and will be staged at the Bharat Kalachar. The season is a time when I can see different things, she adds. ``This time I am looking forward to all the dance programmes especially those at the Krishna Gana Sabha and the Natya Kala Conference. The dance drama festival featuring many groups is also something I am looking forward to.''
The petite, Urmila Satyanarayanan prefers to stick to the traditional margam. Still they are rare and some not done very often. All of them are very traditional, but are rare pieces. ``Penn — Netru Indru Naalai," which extols the virtues of the woman is yet another segment in her agenda for this season. A devoted offering to Lord Muruga finds expression in Sri Shanmuga, which is also to be performed by her.
Urmila Sathyanarayanan
Ask her what she intends to do this December and she says ``nothing new." Jayanthi Subramanium is doing few programmes in the traditional margam.
``That's because my daughter is in the tenth and I wanted to concentrate on her studies. Of course my students are dancing in January but all of them are doing the regular items," she says with a smile. ``I find that to make a mark as a solo dancer is very difficult. You have to be outstanding to draw crowds. People love colour and welcome group ventures which are so attractive and colourful."
Chitra Visveswaran
Roja Kannan has not planned anything new on a big scale. She, however, will present ``Sapta Ratnam," an Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer composition.
She is performing at the Music Academy, an honour she thinks, and says would adhere to the conventional margam repertoire.
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