Marvellous ballet on Gita
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Shobha Naidu gave a Kuchipudi interpretation to the Bhagavad Gita
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Shobha Naidu as Srikrishna and Saraswati Purnima as Arjuna in the ballet `Sambhavami Yuge Yuge.'
LORD KRISHNA said `Sambhavami Yuge Yuge' as an assurance that he would appear whenever there is need to establish `Dharma' and save the virtuous. Shobha Naidu, the famous Kuchipudi dancer, conceived a ballet using this promise as well as sayings from the Bhagavad Gita.
To interpret a philosophy as a dance form is no mean feat. Shobha Naidu achieved the impossible with the help of noted poet and scholar, Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma.
The ballet was presented at Thyagaraya Gana Sabha in Hyderabad, last week under the joint auspices of Kuchipudi Art Academy and Bharateeyam, an organisation striving to preserve Indian traditions and culture.
Shobha presented the problems faced by people at different stages of life and found solutions in spiritual and philosophical interpretations. The sequences are divided into the four stages of life from childhood to old age.
Far fetched
The sudden appearance of a TV screen struck a jarring note. Even if the intent was to show how distracted the present generation was thanks to the invasion from the skies. Likewise, scenes showing children doing their exams or taking to drugs were out of place. Some of the lyrics did not have much literary merit and some songs sounded prosaic.
Shobha, who played the role of Krishna, selected some important `slokas' from the text that worked well with the choreography. She gave excellent interpretations through her `mudras' and mime. But when she went beyond the scope of the original text and drew parallels to the present day social life, the presentation went a little off target. It would have been better had she ignored the stereotyped images of children deserting their parents.
The episodes she drew from Maha Bhagavata and Mahabharata, however, aptly suited the theme and the idiom of Kuchipudi as well. In presenting these episodes, Shobha won the viewers' hearts.
Brilliant mimetic skills
She was brilliant in her mimetic skills. She combined them with perfect footwork that matched the theme and Kuchipudi style well. Through the medium she narrated stories of `Dhruva', `Hanuman', `Bhageeratha'; `Ksheera Sagara Madhanam' and `Gajendera moksham' interestingly.
The presentation of the game of dice played by Dharmaja looked redundant. The ballet itself was quite long, offering enough scope for editing, while helping the ballet to retain its sanctity.
The stage technique was quite imaginative. The entrance and exit of Krishna through a door covered with a design of a peacock feather was impressive. The `Viswaroopam' scene was thrilling.
However, the other artistes in smaller roles were seen mostly walking on the stage, not even to accompanying rhythm.
With more rehearsals and shows `Sambhavami Yuge Yuge' will surely gain strength as the subject has so much potential. Shobha's chief disciple, Saraswati Purnima, played Arjuna. Seshulatha Viswanath who composed the music also lent her voice. Singers Kanna Rao and Swetha Ravindranath lent vocal support while the 12-piece orchestra proved a great musical asset.
GUDIPOODI SRIHARI
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