BLISS AND BLESSED
Just back from another tour of Natyanjali-- hectic as always. Physically tired but mentally charged with all the positive vibrations of the temples, the towns that we visited and the hospitality of the people.
This time, disciples of Roja Kannan and we, disciples of Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy , took the road trip together. It was a primarily a cost-effective measure but on another level we were all students of natya performing together- separately with Ananda, helping each other, laughing together and existing together. This must be a small beginning but as dancers we have made baby steps in the larger canvas of coexistence-- happily and peacefully.
Our first stop was at Kumbakonam where we soaked in the hospitality of Deepak Venkatesh and his mother-- who served us a fantastic lunch. Athithi Devo Bhavah-- is their motto. In Deepak, one can find that innocence, the passion for his art. Here is a male dancer, as Roja and me were discussing, who is content with his life. He made a comment that he has made his life with his Natya (dance)-- heartening indeed! Deepak, I learnt a lot from your passion for natya- and sangeetham and artistes- god bless.
After our lunch and a visit to Vipanchee school of Deepak's, we checked-in to our hotels and after a brief rest started to adorn ourselves for our 20 minute offering to the Lord. This time we had worked on Madurai N. Krishnan's (Vadhyar) Kalyani Varnam-- Amba Akhilandeeswari-- This bhakthi oriented piece had intricate jathi-s of K S R Anirudha and was racy and at the same time we could showcase our bani with all its ground sharkal-s and mandi-s. While Roja and her students had Thevaram oriented pieces intricately woven with jati-s and swaram-s.
At this juncture I must commend my students-- who are also `sound' editors-- Deepthi and gang brought a 35 minute recording of a varnam to 25-- in talam-- seamlessly-- I wish my cousin the late H. Sridhar were here. I would have definitely showed off their work! Also kudos to the girls for the wonderful songs that were played in the bus! Khwaja ji is still a favourite-- that appealed to both youngsters and us Roja and me (and we are definitely not old).
Coming back to Natyanjali, our slots were late ones but there were so many people who sat and watched so many groups --so late in the night. It was truly a Shivaratri for us, as we had to come back and change, wipe off our makeup, put the jewellery back in the appropriate pouches-- dry out the costumes-- pack -- that is the tough part of being a dancer!
So after a brief sojourn we got up the next morning and set off to the temple town of Thirunallar. We visited Vaitheeswaran temple, a brief detour. We reached the Thirunallar temple at 12.50, a photo finish to see DHarbaaranyaeshwarar and of course Ambal and Shaneeswarar. At the temple guest house we ate and got ready to go to Nagapattinam. At the Neelayadakshi Amman temple, the ever capable Kannan, prodigy vainika and Padhukka's nephew, was there to take us around the beautiful temple. (Must mention about Kannan here. It is amazing that year after year he arranges this circuit for us dancers-- his meticulous planning, attention to detail, makes this possible for us. A BIG THANKS to you Kannan). The alankaram for Neelayadakshi Amman was so beautiful-- could have gone on seeing her...
Binesh Mahadevan and his students started the show at the Nagapattinam Natyanjali that day. Within minutes of his performance, the place was full.. appreciation genuine. This is the 14th year of the festival. They served us such delicious panakalkandu milk, sundal was served to the audiences too. Here we added our piece from the Hanuman Chalisa-- and many uninitiated members of the audience were moved when Rama embraced Hanuman. Just goes to show that as artistes we need to reach out to these audiences. For me Natyanjali is just not a spiritual rejuvenation-- but it is also an outreach `programme'. It is important for us to do this.
We cannot blame the Aam aadmi if he chooses filmi dance over classical. It is instantly appealing, of course, but hey that is all he is exposed to. So for me the Natyanjali circuit works in many levels.
After Nagapattinam we drove back to Thirunallar and performed. We met so many artistes. So many pursue this art-form. So this is an industry too-- so many dancers, musicians, costumers, makeup men/women, jewellers, poo makers, light technicians.... its high time we organised ourselves and made a higher impact in the society.
We came back yesterday-- after many Khwaja ji fun moments. Thank you Roja and gang, dear girls, organisers and Almighty -- It was Bliss and I feel Blessed.
This time, disciples of Roja Kannan and we, disciples of Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy , took the road trip together. It was a primarily a cost-effective measure but on another level we were all students of natya performing together- separately with Ananda, helping each other, laughing together and existing together. This must be a small beginning but as dancers we have made baby steps in the larger canvas of coexistence-- happily and peacefully.
Our first stop was at Kumbakonam where we soaked in the hospitality of Deepak Venkatesh and his mother-- who served us a fantastic lunch. Athithi Devo Bhavah-- is their motto. In Deepak, one can find that innocence, the passion for his art. Here is a male dancer, as Roja and me were discussing, who is content with his life. He made a comment that he has made his life with his Natya (dance)-- heartening indeed! Deepak, I learnt a lot from your passion for natya- and sangeetham and artistes- god bless.
After our lunch and a visit to Vipanchee school of Deepak's, we checked-in to our hotels and after a brief rest started to adorn ourselves for our 20 minute offering to the Lord. This time we had worked on Madurai N. Krishnan's (Vadhyar) Kalyani Varnam-- Amba Akhilandeeswari-- This bhakthi oriented piece had intricate jathi-s of K S R Anirudha and was racy and at the same time we could showcase our bani with all its ground sharkal-s and mandi-s. While Roja and her students had Thevaram oriented pieces intricately woven with jati-s and swaram-s.
At this juncture I must commend my students-- who are also `sound' editors-- Deepthi and gang brought a 35 minute recording of a varnam to 25-- in talam-- seamlessly-- I wish my cousin the late H. Sridhar were here. I would have definitely showed off their work! Also kudos to the girls for the wonderful songs that were played in the bus! Khwaja ji is still a favourite-- that appealed to both youngsters and us Roja and me (and we are definitely not old).
Coming back to Natyanjali, our slots were late ones but there were so many people who sat and watched so many groups --so late in the night. It was truly a Shivaratri for us, as we had to come back and change, wipe off our makeup, put the jewellery back in the appropriate pouches-- dry out the costumes-- pack -- that is the tough part of being a dancer!
So after a brief sojourn we got up the next morning and set off to the temple town of Thirunallar. We visited Vaitheeswaran temple, a brief detour. We reached the Thirunallar temple at 12.50, a photo finish to see DHarbaaranyaeshwarar and of course Ambal and Shaneeswarar. At the temple guest house we ate and got ready to go to Nagapattinam. At the Neelayadakshi Amman temple, the ever capable Kannan, prodigy vainika and Padhukka's nephew, was there to take us around the beautiful temple. (Must mention about Kannan here. It is amazing that year after year he arranges this circuit for us dancers-- his meticulous planning, attention to detail, makes this possible for us. A BIG THANKS to you Kannan). The alankaram for Neelayadakshi Amman was so beautiful-- could have gone on seeing her...
Binesh Mahadevan and his students started the show at the Nagapattinam Natyanjali that day. Within minutes of his performance, the place was full.. appreciation genuine. This is the 14th year of the festival. They served us such delicious panakalkandu milk, sundal was served to the audiences too. Here we added our piece from the Hanuman Chalisa-- and many uninitiated members of the audience were moved when Rama embraced Hanuman. Just goes to show that as artistes we need to reach out to these audiences. For me Natyanjali is just not a spiritual rejuvenation-- but it is also an outreach `programme'. It is important for us to do this.
We cannot blame the Aam aadmi if he chooses filmi dance over classical. It is instantly appealing, of course, but hey that is all he is exposed to. So for me the Natyanjali circuit works in many levels.
After Nagapattinam we drove back to Thirunallar and performed. We met so many artistes. So many pursue this art-form. So this is an industry too-- so many dancers, musicians, costumers, makeup men/women, jewellers, poo makers, light technicians.... its high time we organised ourselves and made a higher impact in the society.
We came back yesterday-- after many Khwaja ji fun moments. Thank you Roja and gang, dear girls, organisers and Almighty -- It was Bliss and I feel Blessed.
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