Impressive beginning
G. JAYAKUMAR
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Bhaarath TV's inaugural ceremony had a glittering dance and music show.
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A confluence of the cultures of different places in India was on view at `Namasthe 2006,' a glittering dance and music show organised as part of the inaugural ceremony of Bhaarath TV.
The theme of the show was `Unity in Diversity ' - the diversity being represented by various flowers in the country. In the course of the programme, the flowers of Kerala bloomed in the lyrics penned by eminent poets such as Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, P. Kunjiraman Nair, Sugathakumari, Balamani amma, Vayalar, O.N.V.Kurup, Vyloppily Sreedhara Menon and others.
The theme seemed apt as it was Atham, the first day of Onam when people start making floral carpets. Over three hundred artistes, both dancers and singers, participated in the show at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
The show started off with a Ganesha stuthi. Actor Sukanya danced to the rhythm of `Vatapi Ganpathim' in Hamsadwani.
Patriotic feel
Patriotic feelings filled the air as the recording of the song `Aye mere watan ke logon' came on. On the screen placed on both sides of the stage, footage of war scenes were screened. K.S. Chitra, Ramesh Narayan, Bhavana Radhakrishnan, Madhuvanti and Amala sang patriotic numbers. Many of the songs were choreographed and presented by young dancers. Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas regaled listeners with the evergreen `Chitti aayi hai.'
Next was a Carnatic piece `Bharateeya ma mavaka' by Trivandrum Krishnakumar. Rajesh Vijay crooned `Achamile achamile,' and Sayonora belted out `Bharatham enna peru kettaal abhimanapooritham aakanam antharangam' in pop style, together with English lines, `I love my India.' Nationalist sentiments once again came to the fore as Ramesh Narayan, Bhavana Radhakrishnan, Madhuvanti, Amala, Rajesh Vijay, and Sayanora sang the immortal `Varika varika sahajare' with the inspirational Hindi lyrics `Kadam kadam.'
The MBS Choir chorused the song `Jai jai bhagavathy' while the dancers and Kathakali artistes trooped in. Almost all the dance forms of India, including Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattom, Kathak, Odissi, Therathali, Bamboo dance, Naga dance, Manipuri and other folk dances were performed.
A highlight of the show was keeping intact the ethos of national integration through dance. `Vande mataram,' composed by K.C. Kesava Pillai in Malayalam, saw dancers performing Kathak and Manipuri. In Subramonia Bharathi's Tamil version of the song, the dance forms of Therathali and Kalbelia were performed.
Diversity of people
Visuals depicting the diversity of people and the land of India appeared on screen. In the background a song written by ONV and set to music by Thankaraj, `Bharatham oru poovanam,' brought forth the multifaceted nature of our composite culture.
The song was sung by Biju Narayan and Manjari.
An interesting piece was a comic dance drama performed by Padma Subramaniam, Sobhana and youngster Gayathri. It was about a palmist who disturbs the peace of the household.
Padma Subramaniam as the palmist and Sobhana and Gayathri as the householders emoted excellently.
A group of children from Regatta Cultural Society danced merrily to the verses sung by Biju Narayanan and Manjari.
The show was conceptualised and directed by Soorya Krishnamoorthy.
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