Graceful ode to rain
G.S. PAUL
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Vinitha Nedungadi's `Varshamohini' delineates the nava rasas of the rain.
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I have often felt that the rain matched my moods.
RAIN DANCE: Vinitha Nedungadi says the concept for `Varshamohini' is an off-shoot of her relationship with rain.
In the recent past, Nature seems to have influenced many of Vinitha Nedungadi's Mohiniyattom choreographies. While Edassery's `Pootha paattu' was a paradigm of her love for Nature, her latest one, `Varshamohini,' delineates the nava rasas of the rain. Its preview was held in the open-air auditorium at Government Moyan L.P. School, Palakkad.
"I have always liked rain. I have often felt that the rain matched my moods. When I was happy, it was happy and when I was sad, it too appeared sad. The concept for this choreography is an off-shoot of that relationship," Vinitha explains.
Product of imagination
The concept is an articulate expression of her imagination. The fast moving clouds in the sky give birth to rain drops. The droplets, as they reach the earth, gaze at everything with adbutha (wonder). Bhayanaka (fear) is attributed to the rain as it happens to see the stretch of mountains in front of it. What adds to its fear is the force of the wind that relentlessly pushes it forward. Rain evokes hasya (the comic) when it frolics with the river, the flora and the fauna. The rain maintains a romantic (sringara) relationship with the sun. The sympathy for the vanishing rivers and forests on earth engenders karuna (pathos).
The deserts where the wind carries the rain evokes bhimatsa (revulsion). It expresses vira (heroic) through lightning and roudra (rage) through thunder. But finally, it cools down exhibiting santha (serenity) and continues to rain softly.
The solo recital was performed to a ragamalika of choice Carnatic and Hindustani ragas arranged by the renowned vainika Ananthapadmanabhan.
The production is a departure from the convention of `thouryathrika' (nritta, vadya and githa) generally followed in choreography. Absence of githa (Sahithya) for a production is a new concept in Mohiniyattom. By doing so, she has proved right Bill Irwin's comment, "The physical language of the body is more powerful than words."
One could feel the presence of rain throughout the performance. Portrayal of the rhythmic fall of the rain were effectively depicted by the raga Amrithavarshini.
Elegant presentation
Vinitha's nritta and nritya went a long way in communicating the abstract theme narrated by instrumental music. Notable among the emotions were hasya and sringara that were elegantly portrayed.
A variety of birds and creatures appeared on the scene among which the cuckoo and the peacock were most alluring. She also exhibited histrionics of a sublime level while delineating the corresponding rasas.
Ragas Maru Behag used for sringara, Megh Malhar for vira, Sucharithra for bhimatsa and Jayjayvandhi for santha are eloquent. Ananthapadmanabhan was assisted on the veena by Anand Koushik. Accompaniments included flute by P.R. Suresh, mridangam by Kallekulangara Unnikrishnan and Edakka by Krishnakumar.
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