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Dance with a purpose
B. RAMADEVI
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Mridula Rai and her group presented a fund-raiser with an interesting string of film songs.
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Photo: K. Ananthan
For a good cause: Mridula Rai.
A personal tragedy usually cripples people. The rare few show the strength to make it meaningful.
For instance, Dr. Ramanathan, whose mother Vasantha succumbed to cancer, started a trust in her name in 1993 to help those afflicted with the disease.
The Vasantha Memorial Trust conducts periodical screening camps for the poor and provides proper treatment to those who are affected by cancer.
The trust offers hope and relief to those who despair and panic.
Inspiring work
The work of the Trust has inspired many people to help them. This year, Mridula Rai, director of Shree Natya Niketan, Coimbatore, presented a three-hour fund-raising dance show at the Corporation Kalaiarangam, Coimbatore. The collection of Rs. 5 lakhs was handed over to Dr. Ramanathan.
The dance programme, ‘Nritya Vasanth’ was based on film songs, both classical and folk.
The number of participating students belonging to all ages exceeded a hundred. The songs had been borrowed from movies but the choreography was by Guru Mridula Rai.
The programme began with ‘Nadha Vinodhangal’ from Salangai Oli. Mridula’s solo performance for ‘Janani, Janani’, the devout song from ‘Thai Mookaambigai’ and ‘Oru murai vandhu paarthaayaa’ from ‘Manichithira thaazhu’ showcased her ability to emote intensely.
‘Nila Kaaigiradhu’ (‘Indira’) was a big hit as brightly clad, beautifully decked tiny tots (21 in all) filled the stage and danced beautifully for the meaningful lyrics.
‘Jagam Pugazhum Punya kadhai’ (‘Lava Kusa’), stood out for the wonderful choreography that depicted the most important episodes from the Ramayana.
Melodious songs
There were popular and melodious songs such as ‘Kaatril varum geethame’ (‘Oru naal oru kanavu’), ‘Maraindhirundhe paarkkum’ (‘Thillana Mohanaambal’) and ‘Paadu, paadu, bharatha pan paadu’ (‘Sengottai’). In fact all the songs had been selected for their meaningful lyrics, particularly for their message.
They had improvised ‘Indraikku enindha aanandhame’ (‘Vaidehi Kaathirundhal’) by changing the lyric to instil hope in the cancer patients.
Written by Neelakantan, this song ended with the lines ‘Sevai seidhe magizhvadaindhom, ‘Sevai seivom, magizhvuruvom’ and was quite moving.
Faster, more colourful
The second half (folk) was faster and more colourful with a variety of costumes. ‘Mazhaithuli, mazhaithuli’ (‘Sangamam’), presented by very young dancers was lively while ‘Nannare nannare’ (‘Guru’) was graceful.
‘Azhagiya kaarthigai deepangal’ (‘Devaragam’) was presented with lighted lamps. ‘Swargam enbadhu namakku suththam ulla veedu thaan’ conveyed an important message.
Bhavani Kishore Kumar poured forth his heart into the words as his melodious voice soared up and glided down making each song quiver with life. (Ilayaraja would have been happy to listen to his ‘Janani, Janani’).
Guruvayur K. Rajamani (violin), Mayavaram T. Visvanathan (mridangam), Perur Parasurama Dikshitar (tabla) and Vasanth (flute) comprised the impressive orchestra.
Guiding students
Mridula wielded the cymbals and guided her students efficiently.
Mridula Rai and Chitra Krishnaswamy (a parent of Shree Natya Niketan and a volunteer for Vasantha Memorial Trust) had together worked on this idea and made this successful show happen.
The meticulous planning, endless hours of rehearsals, and the other responsibilities had been borne by these two.
V.P.Dhananjayan, Bharatanatyam guru, offered felicitations to Dr. Ramanathan and Mridula Rai.
The latter was conferred the title ‘Vasanth Sresht.’
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
