Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Season 2020 Schedule

                  

Sruthi-Laya Kendra Aust Charitable Inc: Receives funding for State-of-the Art Black Box Theatrette

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTkANbyAixY

 

To Guruji, With Love

Abhinav Seetharaman

dhyānamūlaṃ gururmūrtiḥ

pūjāmūlaṃ gururpadam |

mantramūlaṃ gururvākyaṃ

mokṣamūlaṃ gurūrkṛpā ||

The root of meditation is the form of the Guru

The root of worship is the feet of the Guru

The root of mantra is the word of the Guru

The root of liberation is the grace of the Guru

To my beloved guru, Karaikudi Mani sir: my most humble pranams to you on your 75^th birthday.

As one of the most revered mridangists of all time, he is: a transcendent musician whose rhythm has reached and influenced all corners of the globe.

Watching him play is akin to watching someone who has completely mastered their craft. With a style of playing so distinct, nuanced, and majestic, he elevates a concert so seamlessly. Every performance of his is a completely cathartic listening experience, and a listener is filled with an indescribable sphere of energy afterwards.  

I started learning from guruji when I was 15. As I vividly recall, sitting down in my first class with him was as though my life’s wishes in music had been fulfilled. He was my musical hero, someone I had drawn inspiration from for years. Since then, I have watched him teach for hours at a stretch, spontaneously creating unique korvais and patterns with his ever-flowing fountain of creativity. His compositions reflect his deep musical intellect and remind us to break barriers in the world of percussion, where exploration is eternal.  

Classes were an exercise in hard work, perseverance, and discipline, interwoven with invaluable lessons applicable to the real world, from the do’s and don’ts of life to core values of human dignity. At the same time, the more light-hearted moments outside of the teaching realm were equally special: hearing him reminisce about some of his most memorable concerts, joining him in prayer at various temples, and of course, eating his idli-sambar made from scratch.

Additionally, his U.S. tour in 2018 marked a series of truly unforgettable memories I have shared with him. I stayed by his side in Cleveland, New York, and New Jersey, and had the ultimate blessing of performing with him on stage. Being his sishya, few things mean more to me than expressing my gratitude through seva.

Mani sir’s life has been one dedicated to paying homage to this rich art form through unwavering determination. And though the weight of his legacy and lineage is heavy, it is one that I — along with all his students — feel privileged to carry forward.

Happiest of birthdays, guruji. May we continue to be recipients of your grace, and selflessly share this knowledge and wisdom with others as you have shown us.

Click here to watch vidwan guru Kaaraikkudi Mani’s 75th Birthday celebration Premiere by Udupa Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsFhjb7YdE4&feature=youtu.be

Veena Mahotsavam 2020

 

Social Media & the Shatripus

The sudden spurt in online performances and digital marketing pieces makes certain sahrudayas question what is the purpose of Naatya vs. classical dance today – does it only revovle around the artist’s perfect formations, ”collaborations” and ”concepts”? Can’t the performance go beyond just a personal experience? What is supposed to be the viewer’s takeaway? Are they just supposed to like, share, and subscribe or actually take the effort to reflect on their actions?

Most of us have heard, (and few have experienced) that Naatyam as per the Naatya Shastra has the potent ability to mentally and socially uplift those who witness it - compared often to that of performing a ”yagna” of the body and soul. This was also the main need/requirement it fulfilled in the temple festivals, court gatherings etc. The Nartaka or Nartaki becomes a prism through which the audience can see the best and worst of themselves, played out through the characters presented on stage. The Itihasa, and Puranas are presented time and again to help educate, evaluate and elevate every person’s dharma – from the kings to the common man.

But it’s quite a different story today.

While many a case study speaks to the ability of social media platforms in bringing about transparency and agency for civic wellbeing, the classical arts (especially Naatyam) have turned mostly into a grand Showcase. There is no use blaming the platforms, because that was precisely what they were supposed to do. Here, the dancer’s ’showcase’ and his/her ability to capture millions of netizens in 30 seconds or less - has eclipsed its content.

Alternatively, allow me to share one recent online performance that was able to tweak the narrative of a Bharatanatyam piece (within the traditional format and vocabulary), to address millions digitally at a safe distance – a good marriage of both worlds!

”Shatripu: Mukti Perum Vazhi” by Padmabhushan Dr. VP & Shanta Dhananjayan was a curated presentation that was in the works for 2+ years. ”The idea stemmed from a sanchari in our Kharaharapriya Nrityopahaaram, but it was only now that I had the time to give it form,” shares the Naatyacharya. Like a kurinchi tree that blooms only every 12 years, this Nrityopahaaram in a varnam format, chose this lockdown scenario and a digital medium for its birth – and how aptly so

”Shatripu” or ”Arupagai Agatral” is a piece that explores not the usual pangs of separation, srngara, or even bhakti towards a particular deity. It takes a hard look at our selves and at the 6 vices – Kaama ( lust), Krodha (anger), Moha(greed), Lobha (miserliness), Mada (arrogance) and Maatsarya ( jealousy ) mentioned time and again in the Vedas in preventing us from any progress in life. No gendered notions here, but just the self vs the Self.

From today’s political and financial news, to those detective series we read and watch – the seed of malicious intent can almost always be traced to these 6 villains. Such a blessing that our Vedas and Maha Yogis had identified this for us long before, and yet such a travesty that we have yet to learn our lesson!

Knowing these basic human traits that cut across all strata, and more importantly acknowledging their presence when it slips in unannounced in our own minds is the first step to reconciliation. ”One should try to get rid of them from an early age with the right kind of moral education,” says the Naatyacharya, ”Naatya, being a visual medium of education, leads us to Bhakti maarga, (path of devotion) and should be used to communicate this philosophy through creative ideas.” And a creative collaboration it was.

The link opened to an aesthetically decorated stage, with professional lighting and live musical accompaniment balanced beautifully for the screen. After the customary introductions, the lead dancers of Bharatakalanjali Sri Uttiya Barua and Sri Shivadasan presented a Panchanadai alarippu composed by Smt Shanta Dhananjayan. The piece had interesting alliterations of the traditional alarippu adavus in different jaatis, making for a intricate start to the evening. The evening concluded with a remembrance to Naatyacharya Sri CK Balagopal by his daughter Prithvija with the well-known Hindolam Khanda Eka Thillana.

The main presentation of the evening was a new Nrityopahaaram entittled “Arupagai agatral” (expel six enemies). The lyrics were in simple chaste Tamizh penned by Smt. Nirmala Nagaraajan of Kalakshetra, and tuned by Dr. Vaanathi Raghuraman.

Couplets for each of the vices had a very similar treatment to the Tirukkural – describing the vice and its effect on us. The beauty of the kavitvam came to light with a recitation of the verses first, followed by melody and finally finishing off with swarams or jatis. The swaras (musical notes) passages were composed by Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan and jatis and Naatya composition by Sri V.P.Dhananjayan. Another interesting choice was the usage of ”Jati-sanchari””: ”We did not use the usual format of ‘varnam’ pattern, but used the ‘jatis’ as communicative expressive narration of certain ideas taken from the Puranas, Panchatantra and contemporary incidents.”

Kama (lust) was elucidated through a quick jati-sanchari of Indra’s escapade with Ahalya. Krodha (anger) brought back the well-known panchatantra tale of a mother beating her pet mongoose for having harmed her child, when it had infact defended the child from a snake attack. Moha (Greed) was a contemporary take on present-day politicians and businessmen who seek to possess material wealth and power only to pass away alone. Lobha (Miserliness) recalled the nose ring episode that made Purandara Dasar realize his miserliness. Madam (Pride) showed a quick exposition of how an arrogant student who disrespects his Guru, meets his doom in no time. Lastly, Matsaryam (Jealousy) also hit close to home – recounting the unhealthy competition between two dancers a la Vanjikottai Valiban.

The uniqueness of the jati-sanchari composition lies in its efficacy – testing the Nartaka’s ability to communicate with minimal gestures, time and iterations. Announcements of the sancharis ahead of time helped the trained eye to follow through on its quick delination, but could likely be missed by a wandering audience. The seed of creativity, however, has been sowed again by the innovative Naatya dampati for the community to consider – very similar to the swara-sanchari innovation in their Attana Nrtyopaharam way back in 1967.

The performers per se showed strong dedication towards the task at hand. The nritta passages had signature new adavus, hinting at the sthayi bhava to follow with the usage of specific hastas and adavus. For the right rasottpatti, a medley of ragas were chosen from Kamavardhini (Pantuvarali for Kama - Lust), Kannada (Krodha/Anger), Ratipatipriya (Moha/Greed), Kuntalavarali (Lobha/Miserliness), Mukhari (Madha/Pride), and Vaagadheeshwari (Matsarya/Jealousy). One notes that while depicting a series of vices, it is easy to slip into a single-faceted approach and mukhajaabhinaya. The lines get especially blurry between Kama, Moha and Lobha, all commonly driven by a unappeasable Want to own. Krodha and Matsaryam by Shivadasan, and Moha by Uttiya Barua showed good balance of angika and mukhajabhinaya, displaying the different stages of intoxication and repentance in quick succession.

The need for such innovations is self-explanatory. Its presentation takes us to the first level of realizing that the enemy and obstacle to spiritual growth lies within. Multiple puranas, itihaasa, slokas, tevaram, paasuram and prayers across religions speak to this. But what is truly noxious, which we encounter everyday, is the surreptitious manner in which infects the mind, clouding all objectivity and judgement. In most cases, all this happens behind the veil of civility. This duality can be explored more by the performers of this piece.

In this way, as one pens his thoughts, one realizes there is a strong resemblance between the Shatripus inside and the Corona outside. It can come from anywhere, anyone, anytime, only vigilance and distancing can help.The time has come to better enable the divine artform to educate, evaluate, and elevate this truth.

Nattuvangam: Smt Shanta Dhananjayan

Vocal: Sri Shalin M Nair

Violin: Sri R Kalaiarasan

Mrdangam: Sri KP Ramesh Babu

Stage & Technical Direction: Sri CP Satyajit

Nartakas: Sri Uttiya Barua & Sri Sivadasan

~Nandi~

Anand Satchidanandan is a Bharatanatyam Practitioner, Director of the Shanmukhananda Natya Vidyalaya, Mumbai, and Associate Director of Consumer Science & Research at Nepa India