Waning art form to the fore
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The week-long festival held by Srirama Ganasabha highlighted the ethos of this dying semi-classical format.
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`Harikatha' is the oldest semi-classical format of entertainment within the reach of common man. It is a combination of all forms of performing arts — dance, drama and music — and narrates entertaining stories.
Annamayya wrote in his composition Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnukatha that Narada initiated this format and used the medium to spread word, deed and image of God.
Harikatha is slowly waning, leaving Harikatha artistes high and dry. Against this backdrop, Srirama Ganasabha, one of the oldest sabhas in the twin cities, held a weeklong festival of Harikatha at its venue, Sriramalayam Hall, inviting artistes of renown.
The festival opened with Vedapathanam by Anjaneya Sastry.
The most attractive performances in the festival were that of Jayanti Savitri Bhagavatarini of Tirupati, Eluri Adilakshmi Bhagavatarini of Tenali, Sarada Bhagavatarini of Tadepalligudem and Pendem Dharma Rao Bhavatar of Mummidivaram.
After Adibhatla Narayanadasu, known as `Harikatha Pitamaha', it was late Rajasekharuni Lakshmipati Rao who penned about 50 stories in the Harikatha format.
Pleasing story of Annamayya
And the story of Annamacharya is one of them. Savitri, who presented this as the inaugural programme of the festival, has been the artiste of TTD. She gave performances in other countries too. Her renditions of the compositions of Annamayya and also those lyrics written as part of the story were pleasing.
Pendem Dharma Rao's presentation of Bhakta Markendeya was the highlight of the entire festival.
The sequences that narrate how Lord Shiva is made to say Chiranjeeva, Chiranjeva (Long Live), while blessing the child Markendeya, and thus committing Himself to go to the rescue of the child from the jaws of death, were movingly narrated in song and verse, with lighter foot movements.
The very script has the touch of mastery of its author Adibhatla Narayanadasu.
The story of Dhruva
K. Sarada too came out with yet another story on child devotee Bhakta Dhruva. She has a pleasant voice that suited the medium. This story was written by the legendary master. It is the story of king Uttanapadudu.
Dhruva is the child born to his first wife Suruchi. But his second wife Suneeta demands that the king make her son his heir. She literally pulls out Dhruva from the king's lap. . The henpecked husband asks the child to do what his `pinni' (aunt) wants — to go to the forest.
As he starts out, sage Narada meets him and guides him on how to proceed for penance. The lord appears as a light and blesses Suruchi's son to eventually become a star in the galaxy bearing his name.
Dharma Rao is an A grade artiste of the AIR and is one of the much sought after bhagavatars of the present generation. His presentation of the story adding some humour in the form of tidbits was quite absorbing.
Viswamitra Yaga Samrakshana, also penned by Rajasekharuni Lakshmipathi Rao, was presented by Adilakshmi playing up dramatic element. She quoted from Valmiki slokas often and rendered them with emotion.
The other subjects were Bhimarjuna Garvabhangam, an imaginary theme, presented by Gundavarapu Ramachandra Rao and Bhakta Ramadasu by Koniki Satyanarayana Rao.
GUDIPOODI SRIHARI
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