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Myth on-stage A scene from the play.

The event turned out to be a big show with many Keralites taking part in organising this show. The ballet was well supported by fine musical group with Sai Sivani providing full throated vocal support while Rajagopalachari providing apt mridangam support and Subba Lakshmi on violin, Dattatreya on flute and Srikant on tabla. The show was supported by a good back drop and lighting effects provided by the Surabhi group known for providing apt backdrop for the drama. The very opening sequence was the way Lord Vishnu and His consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi seen resting under the five-hooded snake in an ocean, which received great applause. On knowing that Bhoodevi is interested in enjoying life on earth, Lord Vishnu asks her to take the form of a child to be brought up by Vishnu Chitta, a temple priest. The location is Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu. From then on the other sequences roll out one after the other in a quick succession narrating how this little child found in the garden (Tulasi Vanam) of the temple and seen first as a child and then as a grown up young girl. She is aptly named as Kodahi (in Tamil) also known as Goda Devi. Goda in all the stages of her growth concentrates more on the Idol of Ranganatha, in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. She is so devoted to her Lord that she stealthily wears in her neck the Tulasimala before it was offered to the Lord. On a day this Peri Alwar Vishnuchitta finds a strand of her hair and discovers that it was his daughter’s mischief. However, the Lord soon appears to the priest in dream and reveals Goda’s identity. The songs she rendered in praise of Vishnu are now known as Tiruppavai that carry partly the essences of Vedas. The ballet ends in Goda joining her Lord, thus enhancing the status of the chief priest to level of ‘father-in-law of the Lord. The ballet was full of interesting lyrics with dramatic element. Etula Nannu ne Kolichedayya, Vegame Rara Sri Ranganatha and some more songs well rendered with dramatic impact marked the progress of the production. Some are found written in Tamil to give a feel of the location where the drama occurred. A significant feature of the production was the way children of the same age were chosen to portray the role of child Andal and her friends.

It was a great treat to watch young Madhulika presenting a dance with perfect Bharatantyam grammar. And the other girls of her age too impressed as her ‘Sakhis’. So were the scenes built around grown up Goda Devi portrayed by Santosh G. Nair. Indrani Sarma figured as Maha Vishnu and Archana Prabhakaran as Vishnu Chitta a host of other girls rendered the ballet. Ramya Ramaswamy was in the brief role of Lakshmi.

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