Glorious rendition of Mohiniattam

Lasya Drutha, the Mohiniattam Dance School headed by Guru Anita Peter presented a programme by one of the students Sharanya Kedarnath at Keyes High School on Saturday. Most of the songs were in Malayalam." The event started with “Cholkettu Ekadantham”, which is an invocatory opening item in the Mohiniattam repertoire.

Here, the dancer dances to the rhythmic syllables or the chollu's tuned to a specific raaga. Prominence is given to the pure dance or “nritta” and not to the facial expressions or Abhinaya. The Item begins with a sloka in praise of Lord Ganesha and continues in praise of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Saraswati. The graceful movements of the song were choreographed in Ragamalika and sprightly done.

It was followed by "Karuna Chaivan Yendu Thamasam Krishna", which is a melodious piece in Yadukula Kamboji and is a composition by IraymanThampi. Here the dancer expressed movingly the pathos and sincerity of the devotee who understands the holy sages’ description of God and requests Lord Krishna why he is delaying in showing compassion to him. Touching his feet in worship he hails the Lord as a refuge for those engulfed in a sea of sorrow.

The grantor of blessings to true worshippers and residing in Guruvayoor removing the griefs and adversities of all around blessed by the sacred presence. The main “Varnam Kumudhini” was in AbheriRaagam by Trissur Janardhan. “Swaram” and “Sahityam” were blended harmoniously along with “Nritya”, “Nritta” and “Bhava” of the artiste. The heroine shows her concern to her friend, the lotus flower whether she has seen her lover Krishna.

She also tells her about the wonderful time they had spent together; how he had spoken naughtily to her. She had played the veena for him to his “Thalam”. He had adorned her hair with flowers and given her a precious necklace. Without losing hope she is waiting for the Lord to return to her as per his promise; though she is tired and anxious as the moonlight sets in. The concluding “Thillana” in “Paras Raagam” by Swathi Thirunal is a rhythmic cyclical piece of music set to intricately fast “Adavu” combinations. Sharanya executed sculpturesque poses as Lord Padmanabha was hailed in the lyrics.