Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Passing on the baton

PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY

ALL GRACE Hema Malini with her daughters Esha and Aahna Deol.

When glamour embraces art, it weaves a tale of sublime tranquillity. That precisely was the case at the two-and-a-half hour dance performance by the veteran actor Hema Malini and her daughters Isha and Aahna Deol. The evening was organised by Prayas, an institute of juvenile justice, at the Siri Fort auditorium recently. The confluence of Odissi and Bharatanatyam, "Parampara", had sensuality depicted through bhavas and mudras. The musical spectacle staged for the first time in Delhi championed the cause of the uplift of the underprivileged children, youth and women.

Polished

In her solo performance, Hema Malini was polished throughout her performance. Starting with Pushpanjali in jor Tal, raga Malika, she danced with energy.While performing Ardhanareshwar she expressed gracefully the lyrics composed by Pandit Jasraj. The identity of Lord Shiva as both male and female was beautifully portrayed. In raga Jaijaivanti she portrayed child Ram being adored by his mother. Esha Deol's manifestation of Manglacharana, in rag Kalyani enthralled the audience. With delicate movement of the torso and wrist, she effortlessly displayed triumphant energy in her portrayal. As the dance progressed, each step introduced the audience to the finesse of Odissi. The artiste offered prayer to Mother Earth and completely submitted herself to Lord Ganesha and thereafter, the revelation dawns on her that Lord Jagannath is none other than Lord Krishna. Manglacharan was followed by Pallavi, where the younger Deol, Aahna impressed in raga Gathi. Her subtle and rhythmic gait from moderate taala beats culminated into faster one. In the song Vande Shri Krishna and Radhe Krishna the two sisters in dance exposition highlighted the essence of passionate love of Radha and Krishna. It is a composition of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a devotee of Lord Krishna, who popularised the Harinama Sankeertana, as a route to salvation. The song is a poignant depiction of intense grief when he was denied entrance at the Puri Jagannath temple. In the dance sequence Harinaam Sakeertana is made for a spiritual citation.

It was, however, the thematic ballet, the Ramcharitmanas in ektaal where the trio exhibited excellent coordination by emoting the mudras and expression from Bharatanatyam and Odissi. The ballet though simple in composition, depicted an exuberant mood. The show concluded with another thematic ballet, Parampara, the legacy passed on from one generation to another.

SHIKHA SWAROOP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail