Dance Kalakrishna presented the Navajanardana Parijatham, a Bhamakalapam practised in coastal Andhra.
Feminine touch Kalakrishna looked beautiful as Bhama.
Among all the dances of Andhra, the Navajanardana Parijatham, a Bhamakalapam practiced in the coastal belt of Andhra has a special appeal and is already time tested. This was popular at one time in the two Godavari districts. Nataraja Ramakrishna collected and preserved this art form for the posterity and brought them under the general caption of ‘Andhra Natyam’. Kalakrishna, to whom Nataraja Ramakrishna specially taught t
his art and made him to present it all over the country, takes credit for this popularity of the ballet.
Kalakrishna looks beautiful in female garb of Bhama and is the only other male artistes who fitted into the female role, after Vedantham Satyanarayana Sarma of Kuchipudi tradition. And the Bhamakalapam, Nataraja Ramakrishna picked u
p from Pendela Satyabhama - a dancer in Kunthi Madhava temple of Pithapuram - along with the script found on palm leaves gave great authenticity to his show. This Navajanardanam was presented last week at Ravindra Bharati under the joi
nt auspices of ICCR and state Department of Culture.
This dance form used to be presented in olden days in temples of Madhava and Janardana throughout the night. Presentation of each of the moods (navarasas) like Kalahantarita, Virahotkanthita,
Abhisarika and Srunga Nayika carries a variety appeal. The Pravesa Daruvu ‘Bhamayani Pilature’ was by itself an enchanting one, an equivalent of Bhamane Satya Bhamane
in Kuchipudi Bhamakalapam. The compositions in Kedaragowla, Ananda Bhairavi, Malhari, Mohana and other ragas were well choreographed. The show ended with Yento Ra
jasame, after the union of Srikrishna with Bhama and the final Jadatho Kottaka Maananu with a folk touch. Nataraja Ramakrishna taught even this to his vocalist Rama, who is blessed with mellifluous voice, good expression and raga
sense. Rama and Kalakrishna made a good combination. She was specially invited to sing on this occasion. And she gave a great support musically.
Disciples of Kalakrishna also appeared to give a few numbers in Kuchipudi style like the Kautvas of Ganesha and Nataraja and Dasavatara Sabdam. Balaram was on the mridangam. Prakash’s nattuvangam was good. Subbalakshmi on vio
lin and Dattreya on flute added orchestral effects. The ICCR officer Alivelu felicitated the artistes. Dr. Rallabandi Kavitha Prasad, director Department of Culture gave a detailed picture of the importance of this tradition and ballet.
G.S.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
