Dance of devotion

J.S. Eswara Prasad has fused classical dance and bhajans to evolve a new style.

Creative thinking and innovative ideas have thrown light on the finer aspects and multidimensional facets of art forms, which, in turn, has helped in its evolution.

J.S. Eswara Prasad of Hyderabad is one such artiste who has innovatively chosen a new path in classical dancing by performing to the accompaniment of Sampradaya Bhajans.

Prasad performed at Poonkunnam, Thrissur, to the musical accompaniment of Udayaloor Kalyanaraman, A.K. Rajasimhan and O.S. Sunder, in connection with the annual Bhajanotsavam.

As the emphasis is on devotion, the artiste prefers to tone down the make-up and costumes for this piece.

Bestowed with an expressive face, his style is marked by individualistic creativity and grace.

Be it the krithis of Purandaradasa, Narayanatheertha, Thyagaraja or the abhangs of Thukkaram, Meerabai or Kabirdas or the lines from the Narayaneeyam and the Bhagavatham, his interpretation and performance is truly enchanting.

It was in 1973 that Eswara Prasad thought of this venture after after he attended the sampradaya bhajan concerts of A.L. Krishnamoorthy Bhagavathar, who, later, became his mentor and guide.

A student of the Kuchipudi Art Academy, his innate talent was honed by Shobha Naidu.

A. Sangameswaran

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