Enlivening a cultural epoch
RANEE KUMAR
|
Dance guru Uma Rama Rao `Shahaji Yakshagana Prabhandalu' brings alive an unknown facet of a Maratha ruler.
|
WORDSMITH Uma Rama Rao's book is a page from history.
Classical Telugu compositions set to music and dance, penned by a Maratha, who reigned over the heartland of Tamil Nadu!
Sounds quizzical? Well, flick through the pages of south Indian history and you will discover that Thanjavur was the seat of fine arts and culture especially in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The rule of the Maratha kings (17th century) and more so under Shahaji II (a Bhonsle of Shivaji's descent) saw a flowering of literature (verse, drama and epic forms) with the ruler himself being a prolific writer in three tongues -Telugu, Sanskrit and Marathi.
Veteran dance guru Dr. Uma Rama Rao throws light on the kavyam, prabhandam and yakshagana - nearly 500 compositions in chaste Telugu set in tight framework of metre, rhyme and tune not to miss out on the emotive ingredient that enriches a lyric.
Encapsulating the dramatic element in these compositions so suited to classical dance in her book Shahaji Yakshagana Prabhandalu (Telugu), she delves deep into the spirit and grandeur of language and thought of Shahaji who was adept in Telugu as if it was his mother tongue. The bulk of his writings which are available in original at the Saraswati Mahal Library Archives at Thanjavur are living testimony to his scholarship.
The most interesting of Shahaji's compositions are the Pallaki Seva Prabhandams - large epic verses drawn from ritualistic temple dance format, which have a unique appeal and artistry and have been a challenge to performing arts ever since. Uma Rama Rao also traces the history of Thanjavur with regard to Telugu culture in the midst of Tamil geographical boundaries right from the Nayak rulers. The attestation of Shaha or Thyagesha in the midst or end of all compositions are testimonials to the authenticity of authorship. The recently released book also lists a number of technicalities in the musical and dance aspects of the yakshaganams and prabhandams making for an interesting study of literary history. A brief presentation to illustrate the varied facets of Shahaji's dance compositions by Lasyapriya students (Uma Rama Rao's dance school) was enlightening.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
