The term ‘classical’ has gained a whole new meaning in today’s world. Boundaries have become porous and artistes are redefining the genre in their own distinct way. While collaborations reign high in music, Bharatanatyam exponents have started showcasing the classical form’s flexible core. Even its time-tested repertoire (margam) is being reinterpreted to accommodate newer perspectives. […]
Students of Srishti School of classical dance, presenting Namami Narayanam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a performance that shimmered with a quiet elegance and spiritual resonance, Namami Narayanam, a Mohiniyattam dance production, choreographed by guru Shruthi Shoby, was presented at Mylapore Fine Arts Club, as part of the Abbas Cultural Dance Drama Festival. Performed […]
Over five decades after it first aired as a radio musical, Sirikakolanu Chinnadi — a lyrical tale set in the court of Sri Krishnadevaraya and centred on the devadasi Aliveni — is being presented on stage in Hyderabad. Written by Veturi Sundararama Murthy in 1969 and brought to life by legendary musicians like Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Voleti Venkateswarulu, […]
Surupa Sen | Photo Credit: Karthik Venkatraman “Run! Run faster and you will get there quicker!”, is all we hear and do in our lives. We are constantly surrounded by the demand to cope no matter how. On the other end of the spectrum, our ancient practices teach us to be still. Yoga and classical […]
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: FOR FRIDAY REVIEW: Nithyashree performs Shiva’s Ananda Tandavam before a 10-ft Nandi statue at VR mall in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: Akhila Easwaran/ The Hindu | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN The atrium of VR Chennai in Anna Nagar echoed with music and sounds of the salangai during ‘Pradosha Arpana’, an event curated […]
Kavya Ganesh began her performance with Sage Patanjali’s ‘Shambhu natanam”. | Photo Credit: Pari S Jindal The beauty of the Bharatanatyam margam lies in its structured format. Yet, it allows the artistes to reimagine and present it in their own distinct way. This was evident at the recent performance of Kavya Ganesh, for the HCL […]
From the thematic production ‘Rama Katha Vismaya’ presented by Nirupama and Rajendra in Bengaluru, recently. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Ramayana, an ancient epic, has been retold through various art forms over the centuries, especially through classical dance styles such as Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi. In recent times, many dancers have continued this tradition […]
Jagyaseni Chatterjee’s ‘Flame to Fragrance’ celebrated womanhood. | Photo Credit: SRINATH M ‘Flame to Fragrance ‘ presented by Jagyaseni Chatterjee for R.R. Sabha, was an evening devoted to ideating her perceptions and responses as a dancer to some classic compositions. The stark red and black costume and lighting design enhanced the visual impact of the […]
Priyadarsini Govind | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It’s a warm summer morning. Priyadarsini Govind is at her performance space and black box theatre, KG1 studios in Royapettah, Chennai. She is sitting alone — on the floor — dressed comfortably in a pair of tracks and a T-shirt, absorbed in her thoughts with a notepad and […]
Satyanarayanaraju’s solo act ‘Rama Katha’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Satyanarayanaraju’s ‘Rama Katha’, ideated by Usha R K and conceptualised and visualised by the dancer, continues to sustain interest 12 years after it was premiered. ‘Wake up Lord, fulfill your role as the protector of the universe’ pleads Tyagaraja in his kriti ‘Melukovaiyya’. The dancer […]
