In step with the young
|
The Hindi adaptation of "Snow White and Seven Dwarfs" that made it to stage in the Bharatanatyam format the other day was joy, sheer joy.
|
such productions, which entertain without diluting the grammar and stylistic intensity of a form of dance, are much needed
At long last, a serious teacher of Bharatanatyam has designed a production purely for the young audience. Jayalakshmi Eshwar's delightful Him-shweta a Hindi adaptation of the fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" had a packed Kamani Auditorium enthralled.
Harnessing the Bharatanatyam movement vocabulary to such themes is important to coax the young back into watching classical dance and also will herald a welcome change from the margam items which are too adult in tone to involve young viewers. From the point of both the performer and the audience, such productions, which entertain without diluting the grammar and stylistic intensity of a form of dance, are much needed. And it is wonderful that the Bala Mela celebration years ago provoked Jayalakshmi's effort. Enhancing the appeal of the easy Hindi lyrics by Kamalasatyarti is the delightful score devised by O.S. Arun and Jayalakshmi. Sung by the former, ragas like Mohanam, Shivaranjani, Bhairavi, Revati, Hindolam, Kadanakotoohalam etc., in their infectious lilt make the hearer want to trip the light fantastic. While commending the quality of the music, one cannot also abstain from being critical about the harsh and gritty sounding tape. The Janteswara solfa combinations of Carnatic music are so aptly used for the dwarfs portrayed doing domestic work along with Snow White, and the movements and gait for the seven dwarfs, each a distinct character despite the common costumes, are imaginatively conceived. The morning raga as creatures of the forest awaken to break of dawn, the khandajati teermanam showing anger of the queen, very well enacted by Rajnitha Kamath, on hearing that Snow White and not she is the most beautiful person in the land were all very well put together.
Pavitra Vijayaraghavan as Snow White and Priya Bhaskar as the storyteller did a neat job. Costumes were simple and attractive. Without props and heavy sets cramping performance area, by projecting the shadowed outline of a palace on the backdrop, and by having a simple stand and mirror, the required locales are suggested. Some points in the narrative as when Snow White deemed dead, comes back to life, needed to be more articulated in the expression of joy all round. The light synchronisation too in places needed to be improved.
Jayalakshmi's Abhinaya Aradhana should work out a whole repertoire for children, thereby making dance learning a joy for the young. This is needed to wean back the young towards classical dances as aspirants and as watchers.
LEELA VENKATARAMAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
