Well-presented `Gollakalapam'
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P. Rama Devi along with guru Bhagavathula Sethuram presented both the kalapams popular in Kuchipudi style.
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The second day of the annual event organised by Sri Sai Nataraja Academy of Kuchipudi Danceat Sri Thyagararaya Gana Sabhawas marked by P. Rama Devi's presentation of rare Gollakalapam. It is a very complex dance with philosophical import. Its focus was on the intricacies of the Sanatana Dharma (ancient traditions) and its various enigmas. Though they look anomalous and ambiguous outwardly, they carry an inner meaning that demand intellectual power to interpret.
This Kalapam, written by 18th century poetess Tarikonda Venkumamba, explains in detail the secrets of the birth of our universe, how life sprung up and evolved.
The beauty of this Kalapam is the way the philosophic and scientific content was preached by a Gollabhama (milkmaid) to a Brahmin scholar (Sethuram).
The Pravesa Daruvu (the part where a character enters) presents her as an illiterate. She later encounters this learned Brahmin. The text, from then on, sounds more like an argument between the scholar and Gollabhama in prose, verse and song, accompanied by mimetic movements to different beats.
The debate ends in the Brahmin looking at her with awe, wondering at her knowledge. It ends with the scholar bowing to the greatness of Gollabhama.
Gollabhama is a preferred character because of Lord Krishna's association with Yashoda, who belongs to that caste. It can also be interpreted as another form of Srikrishna. Gollabhama knows the inner meaning of everything, including the secrets of nature.
The revival
The dominating part is the discussion of the cycles of birth and death as part of Pinda Prakaranam. She knows how the remains of a human body merge with the universe through the Pancha Boothas (five elements of nature) and then take different form. The original script would run for four evenings. While Bhamakalapam of Siddhendra Yogi remained most popular among Kuchipudi Kalapams, Gollakalapam almost vanished because of its high-browed content.
P. Rama Devi, one of the accomplished exponents of Kuchipudi art and an author of many books on this art form, started presenting it at least in its abridged form, purely for its scholarly content.
This one-hour show, presented by her playing Gollabhama and guru Bhagavatula Sethuram as the Brahmin scholar, was well received. She managed to convey the import of the text well.
The vocal support to the two characters was by P. Seshubabu and Srivalli, while Sethuram and Ramadevi also had their own dialogue to render while presenting the roles. The finish given to the play showing the scholar surrendering to Gollabhama's intellectual power was given a thrilling finish.
This Kalapam, however, needs more verbal explanation interpreting each verse, to render it more popular. The many daruvus put to view the skilful foot movements in the nritta part.
On the previous day, the same group of artistes came out with Bhamakalapam in which Seshubabu, another young member of the Kuchipudi family, played the roles of Sutradhara and Madhavi, with Sethuram in the wings.
Rama Devi was at her best in the scenes showing egoistic Satyabhama submitting herself to Srikrishna symbolic of the union of Atma with Paramatma. Krishna's role was played by her daughter Pratyusha.
The two interacted well with understanding projecting the right kind of emotion — mostly the element of Bhakti.
GUDIPOODI SRIHARI
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