Focus on the lovelorn Azhwar
RUPA SRIKANTH
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Vaijayanthimala Bali presents `Siriya Tirumadal' for Bharat Kalachar on Sunday.
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Vaijayanthimala Bali
After a successful adaptation of the Raagam-Taanam-Pallavi format to dance with verses from Srimad Bhagavatham and Mukunda Mala, Vaijayanthimala Bali has now turned to Tamil devotional literature. Hailing from a Vaishnava family, Vaijayantimala grew up listening to the hymns of the Azhwars. Divya Prabandam therefore became a natural choice. She has chosen `Siriya Tirumadal' penned by Tirumangai Azhwar, ninth century saint-poet. The work will be premiered at Bharat Kalachar on December 18, 7.30 p.m.
Germination
Vaijayanthimala says that this production has taken a year to fructify. Being very particular about the details regarding the choice of verses, the music and the visualisation, she gave the project the space and the time to germinate and grow organically. She wishes to acknowledge the support of D. K. Pattammal, Prof. Dr. Venkatakrishnan, Bhooma Venkatakrishnan and T. S. Parthasarathy in this endeavour.
But why this text in particular? Vaijayanthimala is pat with her answer. ``I try to bring back the old texts that I deeply value. I was especially drawn to this work because of the love theme conceived by Tirumangai Azhwar. He takes the form of a Parakaala nayika in love with Narayana. The poet's treatment is so unusual, that instead of pining for Narayana, the nayika takes the initiative and challenges Him in the madal ooruthal. She takes to the streets in a Palmyra horse and proclaims the misdeeds of the nayaka, Ninda Stuthi-style, to claim His attention and perhaps, pity.
``The madal ooruthal, incidentally, was performed to shame the person into marrying the lover, and was taboo for women. This is why I am so excited about this work."
And there is more to come. Quite apart from the main storyline, are the special characterisations of the kodai koothan and the kurathi. The text has also a unique portion on messenger poems — thoodhu — that also finds a place in the presentation. In this, the Parakaala nayika sends her heart out as a messenger to the Lord, to find that it does not return after seeing Him!
To Vaijayanthimala, this is a labour of love and no detail is too trivial. To the extent that even the costumes for the special characterisations have been tailored by her.
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