Friday Review
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MUSIC ACADEMY
Fireworks in the guise of dance
RUPA SRIKANTH
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Srekala Bharath’s concentration was on a ‘no-error’ finish.
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Photo: V. Ganesan.
VIGOROUS: Srekala Bharath
No one can deny that Srekala Bharath is a hardworking dancer. Her recital had fireworks in the guise of racy pure dance sequences, detailed elaborations and lots of movement across the stage, and Srekala made a sincere effort to keep up with all of t
hese.
The concentration was on a ‘no-error’ finish and while this is an important prerequisite, it is not the only one.
One would urge her to set higher standards for herself by focusing on visualisation of the compositions and on internalisation of the sentiments projected. She should move towards a quieter approach and more subtlety.
While the choreography of the Oothukadu Venkatakavi kriti, ‘Ananda Narthana Ganapathy’ (Nattai, Adi) was an enjoyable one with symbolism of Ganesha included in the teermanams, the varnam, ‘Sakhiye Indha Jaalam’ (Sankarabharanam, Adi, K.N.Dhandayudhapani Pillai) was overcrowded with sancharis. Srekala expanded the content of the lines, in true Sarasa style, but where she slipped up was in trying to bring in too many images. For the phrase, ‘pagalum iravum’ she presented the nayika in an alankara scene dreaming of tender moments with Lord Venkateswara.
Followed by a scene of viraha with a lotus drooping and the same with birds and stars. With so much to follow, images tumble into another, turning into unfinished paintings. There was drama in the nritta as well. Srekala’s firm footwork and the strong sound of her ankle bells were well appreciated.
However, one felt the dilution of her energies in unnecessary rigour as in the side-moving thattu-mettu and a new kind of sarpa nadai with a skip. Instead, she could spend that energy giving the adavus more definition. Srekala was backed by a wonderful team: Chithrambari Krishnakumar’s tuneful music and clear enunciation was a joy; she had an attentive violinist (Muruganandam). Young S.Srilatha (nattuvangam) was impressive, as was M.Dhananjayan (mridangam).
As is the latest fashion, Srekala performed an abhang (‘Sundarathe Dhyana,’ Yamuna Kalyani, Chatusra ekam). The visualisation was stereotyped, but the music was truly divine.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
