A
solo performance by Sindhuja presented by SICA on the inaugural day of Festival
of classical dances ‘Nrithyotsav-2016’ at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad, 27th
June 2016
It
was apropriate for Sindhuja to open the Nrithyotsav-2016, Festival of Dance. The
rapt and appreciative audience at Ravindra Bharati was treated to an hour long
Kuchipudi performance of gentle, effortless grace which set the standard high
for the rest of the festival of dance.
From the opening verse on Lord Ganesha in a dance composed by Dr.Yashoda Thakore with music by Sri D.S.V. Sastry in Raga Arabhi, Sindhuja was the epitome of delicate grace and refinement.
The
rest of the performance comprised of dances that were - a Tyagaraja Kriti in
Raga Kambhoji and Adi Tala; dance composed by Dr. Yashoda Thakore.
The
story of ‘Varaha avatara’, Vishnu’s incarnation as a boar. Dance composed by
Dr.Yashoda Thakore, on a composition of Utukkad Venkata Subbayar, Nadamurali
ganavilola in Ragamalika and Adi tala.
A Javali, by Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer, Apudu
manasu in Raga Khamas, Rupaka Tala, dance composed and taught by Smt. Bragha
Bessel. The dancer enacts her inability to resist, contain herself or
exercise self-control when the giver of boons, Lord Venkateswara desires to
indulge in love-game and Cupid shoots arrows.
A Thillana, the lyric in this tillana praises
Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar of Mysore. In raga Jhanjuti and Adi tala, dance
composed by Dr.Yashoda Thakore.
The dancer, Sindujha, performed all these
pieces with a combination of lightnesss and intensity that was extraordinary.
Her dramatisations in dance detailed the
moods, expression and the words of the song with perfect communication. Her mobile
face expressing joy, petulance, wonder, exasperation, pride and contentment in
turns, as the story required, so that the audience understood the story through
her facial expressions and movements and steps.
Throughout the programme Sindujha presented the richness and beauty of
Kuchipudi
in its most classical form, especially in
the splendid tillana, where she performed a gamut of interestingly woven
abstract dance, nritta (pure dance), in aesthetic and creative variations and movements to set syllables.
All-in-all,
an evening of audience delight. Whether it was her interpretation of Rasa
(emotion), Bhava (mood), Sahitya (lyric) Abhinaya (expression), The eyes of the
audience were focused on Sindhuja and her delicious detailing of dance. It was
an evening of sublime grace.
Artist profile: Sindhuja, is an Architect but has put architecture
on hold while she concentrates on dance and does her PhD from the Department of
Dance, University of Hyderabad. Sindhuja is under the guidance of Dr. Yashoda
Thakore, a major Kuchipudi dancer, an author, an educationist and an
inspiration to many.
A graded artist by Doordarshan, Sindhuja
has performed Kuchipudi all over India at prestigious events and runs her own
school of dance. And due to her rigorous
grounding in Carnatic music she adds an exceptional passion and understanding
to her interpretation of the music.
Photographs: Pranay Rupani
great write up! Good going Sindu :)
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