Mesmerising renditions of classical dance

The weekend at Shilparamam was a wonderful treat for classical dance enthusiasts. Mamatha Karanth's Bharatanatyam recital was the first performance on Saturday evening. She started with Surya Kauthvam in Brindavani composed by Srivatsa.

The artiste, who is director of Natyalahari, Bangalore, vividly brought out in her dance the brilliance of the sun in the form of Suryashtakam interwoven with vibrant rhythmic patterns. A padam by Subramanya Bharti in Ragamalika was next.

The mischief, which Lord Krishna used to play, was the subject of skilled Abhinaya by the artiste. Shringara Rasa was the theme of the eloquent Javali by Pattabhiramayya in Poorvikalyani. Tulsidas bhajan "Sri Ramachandra Kripalu" was choreographed from the viewpoint of Shabari.

A vibrant Shiva Tandava Stotram was the concluding item. Vijaykumar from Chennai followed, also giving an outstanding presentation in Bharatanatyam. Opening with a Pushpanjali, he went on to do a Varnam in Thodi on Lord Muruga.

The story of the contest between Ganesha and Muruga was beautifully enacted. In Bagesri, the next item featured the intense bhavas in the interaction between Lord Rama and Hanuman on his return after meeting and giving the Choodamani ornament to Sita in Lankan captivity.

Madhyamavathi was the Raagam in which the poet beseeches Lord Krishna not to dance thus enrapturing the whole world and disturbing his ornaments in the process. A briskly done Thillana in Hindolam finished the recital.

Young and talented Kavitha Krishnamurthy dazzled the audience by her dual performances on both days of the weekend. She is a student of Mysore Nagaraj in Kathak and of Suparna Venkatesh in Bharatanatyam. Kathak started with a technical rendition Prabhand.

Tirawat, which came next was of two parts, first where the dancer matched herself to a musical melody and the second where she performed to a friendly duet between percussion instruments namely the tabla and pakhawaj.

The other pieces were a soulful Ghazal of Hashmi,"Aaj Jaane"; a pure Nritta item containing Tukdaas, etc and a final Tarana in Malhar, which Kavitha competently explored by executing complex footwork patterns. Kavitha started her Bharatanatyam on Sunday with a Pushpanjali in Sriranjani. Natesha Kouthvam is a hymn in praise of Lord Shiva, which also contains a shloka.

A Keerthanam "Ananda Roopini" on Goddess Saraswati extolling her beauty followed. Annamacharya's "Jai Janaki Ramana" in Ragamalika was well done. Ardhanareeshwara Thillana in Desh by Gurumurthi rounded off. Sunday also had another excellent Bharatanatyam program by Geeta Sirisha. Most of her items were on Lord Krishna.

Invocation to Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles preceded the depiction of the devotee's yearning for his Lord in Kanakadasa's Baaro Krishnayya. "Madhuranagarilo" in Anandabhairavi and "Thaye Yashoda" in Thodi describing episodes with Gopikas of Krishna Avatar, Jayadeva's Ashtapadi Yahi Madhava about Radha's jealous grief and her Lord in Sindhubhairavi and finally an enchanting Bhajan in Behag.

By Anna Rao