Magic with rhythm and grace
Saswati Photo: K.Pichumani.
Rupa Srikanth
Those who left soon after the inaugural function missed the magic of the evening. They missed not just a dance performance but an opportunity to witness the genius and versatility of the legendary Birju Maharaj, the brilliance of his sishya Saswati Sen and the poignancy of guru-sishya relationship.
Kathak is a classical dance form that relies on the subtleties of gesture and style, and Saswati is a perfect conduit of this delicacy. The improvisational technique in Kathak means every performance is created in front of the audience. The gradual build-up of pace and complexity in the 16-beat teen taal from the slower vilambit to the fast drut tempo was thrilling. Joined by Guru Birju who expounded the tihais, the music and dance ensemble warmed up with a `taat' to the tune of Poorya Dhanasri played on the sitar by Shamsher Ali Khan.
Not only is Birju Maharaj a great teacher and dancer, he is also a composer, singer and percussionist par excellence. His soulful rendering of a Meera bhajan, `Shyaam bina sakhi rahiya na jaavan' with a Rajasthani folk flavour complemented Saswati's portrayals of Meera, Krishna and the Rana.
His agile drumming of an unusual 14-count dhamaar beat provided the setting for more rigour from Saswati, who concluded with a jugalbandhi in teen taal. Utpal Ghoshal on the tabla and Prateep Banerjee, vocal, provided excellent support. offerings was so delectable, no one is complaining.
A complimentary word for designers Hema and Ramani for creating an aesthetic setting on stage. The rustic touch conveyed through the use of coarse fabric dyed in earth tones like terracotta and mustard offset with black gives character without distracting.
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