Message of hope and survival
WHEN SOMETHING like the tsunami hits, it affects almost everyone — in different ways. While many have gone about trying to help the victims, there are many who keep a minute's silence to grieve for the dead and the missing. While there are those who actively throw themselves into relief work there are those who silently support by sending money and articles that could help the people who have lost everything to destruction.
The artists are not far behind. Something like this permeates down to all spheres so much so that even art finds ways of expressing the anguish and gloom that has settled down like a thundercloud. But then life as it has always taught us is all about destruction, creation preservation — the cycle goes on and along with despair, hope also springs up to keep lives going.
Thoughts such as these must surely have prevailed on four dancers — Priya Murle, Roja Kannan, Lavanya Ananth and Ashwati Srikant — as it manifested in their joint venture, `Bharatiyar' that they performed under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts on January 7 at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Into the inspiring works of Bharatiyar they wove contemporary issues with messages of hope and survival in a country. They sought to invoke the good attributes of the woman — who has traditionally been the backbone of society and who has the capacity to rise to any occasion and lead the people, the society and the country to light and prosperity.
"Potri Jaya Jaya Potri" was taken up in different ragas to different interpretations, each displaying footwork and movements in sync with their training under different gurus — Sudharani Raghupathi, Adyar K. Lakshman, S. K. Rajaratnam - S. K. Sarasa and Srikant. The multidimensional aspect of the woman — as a mother, a working person — in fact an all-rounder, came into play in these different interpretations. While her persona was being examined, Nature's fury was also not far behind as in the piece, "Mazhai" where Priya Murle with her expressive face described how the life-giving rain can also turn tables and cause extreme misery. The piece also went on to show how despite all that has happened, nothing was lost and appealed to everybody to get together and fight to survive well.
Essence of Bharatiyar
Lavanya Ananth in "Om Shakti" described and portrayed the pantheon of gods for strength and courage while Ashwati in Shiv Shakti showed the dual aspect of man and woman and how together they could make the impossible happen. The evening went on to show in medleys of twos and threes the moods and essence of Bhartatiyar, taking bits and pieces from his well-known works. The "Aduvome Pallu Paduovame" seemed like an apt conclusion for this message of hope and rehabilitation. Giving the dancers able accompaniment on the vocals was Nandini Anand, Venkat on the mridangam and Shashirekha on the nattuvangam.
CHITRA MAHESH
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