Tribute to Thyagaraja

ARTISTIC Padmini Upadhya's abhinaya was sensitive

The inaugural dance for the 21st Kinkini Nrithyotsava held at Dr. H.N. Kalakshetra was presented by Padmini Upadhya, a talented disciple of Guru Narmada. As it happened to be Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana day, Padmini rightly paid dance-tributes to the great vaggeyakara.

With a glowing classical artistry Padmini saluted the Lord Ganesha on the basis of Thyagaraja's Sowrastra krithi "Sri Mahaganapathini". She could etch the traits of Ganapathi through her sensitive abhinaya. "Raara maa inti daaka" in Asaveri raga is one of Thyagaraja's emotionally-charged krithis. Padmini captured the essence of the krithi.

She negotiated the nritta, nrithya and abhinaya portions of the ragamalika varna ("Swamiye azhaituva") by Dandayudhapani Pillai. One could get a feel of the virahothkhantitha nayika. A Purandaradasa pada ("Kadagola taarenna chinnave") was utilised to highlight the leelaas of the child Krishna. Guru Narmada (nattuvanga), Balasubramanya Sharma (vocal) and Janardhanarao (mridanga) imparted lively support.

Immaculate

Kalidasa's Malavika-Agnimithra is a classic work dealing with the theme of love. This theme has been well tried and unfolded in various mediums. The dancer-couple, Kiran Subramanya and Sandhya Kiran, exhibited their extraordinary dance repertoire in competently adapting it to a dance-drama. Colourful costumes, a well thought-out set design and properties, meaningful lighting, group dance choreography, male and female voice-overs, evocation of navarasas et al brought to the fore the creative abilities of the Kirans. But one felt that should have had a better representation and major part in the dance-drama. Even the musical support seemed to be monotonous. Rashmi, Divya, Shivaranjani, among other dancers deserve a special mention for their immaculate dancing. Shivaranjani, in particular, deserved a better slot in the dance drama. The live music support had Kiran Subramanya on nattuvanga, Srivatsa and Manasi Prasad on the vocals.

Awards

The prestigious nine-day 41st sangeetotsava under the aegis of Sri Nadajyothi Sri Thyagaraja Bhajana Sabha Trust held at Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Temple, Malleswaram, was marked by the honouring of centurion Pandit Sudhakara Chaturvedi and presentation of the Kalajyothi title to Dr. Padma Murthy, Basavanagudi G. Nataraj and C.G. Ananthaswamy. Flautist M.K. Pranesh received the Nadajyothi Puraskara.

Veteran violinist Basavanagudi Nataraj enthralled the audience with his skilful violin play. With violinist-daughter Suneetha Ramabhadran accompanying him on the second violin, Nataraj had complete hold and did not perturbed by the power failure.

Appropriately accompanied by Vasudevarao (mridanga) and Dayananda Mohite (ghata), he opened his recital with a ragamalika varna. The father-daughter combine proceeded with Kaanada ("Mamavasada"), Sri ("Endaro Mahanubhavulu"), Poornachandrika ("Telisi Rama") and Nalinakanthi ("Manavyalaginchara") ragas and impressed the rasikas with their synchronised vidwath and variety.

The delineation of Shanmukhapriya for "Marivere" with alapana, neraval and kalpana swaras was the kutchery highlight.

M. SURYA PRASAD

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