A medley unique
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
|
Interesting slices of a cultural show put up for Mrs. YGP's 80th birthday celebrations were repeated at Bharat Kalachar this week.
|
AT BHARAT KALACHAR: Enjoyable miscellany of drama and dance. Photo: V. Ramamurthi.
The miscellany on Monday evening (December 26) at the YGP auditorium was a treat, with a little of everything from Bharat Kalachar's rich repertoire. The segments included a few dance genres, comprising the classical, film and fusion, a `Therukkooththu' sequence from Sivaji Ganesan's hit, `Navarathri' and a skit with YGM's well-known four — Sudha Mahendra, ARS, Suppini and Mahendra himself.
Repeat show
The dances were part of the recent tribute to Mrs. YGP, on the occasion of her 80th birthday. "The crowd ought to have been much more for the show that excelled in choreography, creativity and colour sense," she observed. Surely, such industry and drive deserve encouragement. The items, you understood, were abridged forms of the presentation made by the Yuva Kala Bharatis, during the birthday celebrations. But the samples sufficed to gauge the calibre of the dances and dancers. The show began on an awesome note with `Kalinga Nardhanam.' The footwork and synchrony, as the `Kalinga' raised its hood in unison, were lessons in brilliance. Dancer-choreographer L. Narendra Kumar, Anusha and their group deserve kudos. It was easily the best alluring attempt of the evening. The fusion of folk and classicism came to the fore in choreographers and dancers, Lata and Gita's `Madhurashtakam.' Contemporaneously styled to innovative beats, G. Narendra's `Chaturya Kalpana' was another well co-ordinated team effort.
Hilarious moments
The ever-popular `Kannum Kannum' song from `Vanjikkottai Vaaliban' had a vibrant Madhuvanti Arun, and a comparatively passive Saraswathy Krishnakumar, replacing Vyjayantimala and Padmini. Only that the song and the `Therukkooththu' seemed truncated with salient parts being left out. Madhuvanti touched an emotional chord when she dedicated the `Therkkooththu' to Savitri who had acted in the scene — the day happened to be the actor's death anniversary. `Mr & Mrs. YGP,' the skit that brought alive to the audience a scene in the YGP household, made a tremendous impact for its simplicity and hilarity. Sudha Mahendra sprung a surprise as she so casually and effectively played Mrs. YGP, from gait and glasses to attire and attitude.
The skit had its poignant moments too because for many who knew YGP well, it must have stirred memories of the man who breathed theatre till the last!
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
