In the SOUP!!

As we entered the auditorium at H.N.Kalakshetra,we were greeted by the Mohiniattam performance going on.It was Dr.Neena Prasad. I being a student of Kathak,had always wondered that may be the guy who had developed Kathak was in such a great hurry that he packed so much of grace in swift chakkars and quick movements.And after watching Mohiniyattam , I had a feeling that the man who developed it was in no great hurry and had wonderfully crafted it with the same grace and elegance as in any dance form. I had goosebumps as I watched the danseuse performing a verse from Jayadeva’s Geet Govind.It was an amazing performance.
Then came the next session for the evening.It was my Gurus,Smt.Nirupama and Sri.Rajendra who would take over the stage for the next one and a half hours.Now,this program was special for me as I was going to witness the show of my Gurus for the first time after joining Abhinava!!I would see it from a disciple’s perspective rather than an art lover.
The musicians occupied the stage as the Gurus were going to perform for LIVE MUSIC.It was a very rare and wonderful line-up.There was Music director Sri.Praveen.D.Rao( Tabla),Smt.Pallavi Arun (vocals),Sri.Fayyaz Khan (Saarangi and vocals),Smt.Suma Rani(sitar),Praveen(Recital of rhythm patterns) ,Sri.Vaidya(Pakhawaj) and flute(whose name I don’t remember).
The couple began with a Shiv Vandan in Raag Puria.Their entery itself was welcomed by a round of applause .The rendition was beautiful describing Lord Shiva and paying an obeisance to him.Then came the piece called TeenTaal. Teentaal is a 16-beat calculation of rhythm pattern.Its the basic Taal in Kathak.They initially started with vilambit and jumped effortlessly from one speed to the other. It was a sight to behold.!
The next part of the same piece was the variations in calculations alongwith reciting of the bols.Nirupama ma’am went on to take 16 chakkars at one go and Rajendra Sir went a step ahead to take 33 chakkars!!The crowd went totally excited watching them do this.Then came a small portion of non-choreographed piece. Both of them took turns to explain the various stances in Kathak what we call as Gath or Gait(walk).The first one was a Gajagamini,a woman walking with the grandeur of an elephant,calm and poised.This was exhibited by ma’am.Sir took up the gait called Ruksaar which imitates a Begum of Mughal era and demands attitude.The different styles of holding the ghoonghat were exhibited again by ma’am.Although it was a piece that was’nt choreographed, their performance reflected the individual hold on the dance form.The piece was concluded with a short and brisk jugalbandi.
A Mira bhajan was next on the list.It was a composition depicting the desperate Mira, who yearns to have just a glimpse of her Giridhar Gopal not knowing that He is omnipresent and guides every action as the Paramathma. Finally when she sees him ,she is dumbstruck with happiness and joy.It was an Abhinaya-oriented piece,something which my Gurus do with amazing expertise!
Raju Sir gave a solo rendition on a verse from Jayadeva’s Geet Govind titled ‘Priye chaarusheele’ .Krishna pleads Radha to meet him once and show her charming face to him.Radha just turns away and Krishna tries to woo her in different ways and succeeds in the end.
The Taraana was indicative of the end of the performance.It was a wonderfully choreographed piece ,that proved to be a befitting way to wind-up the day. In totality ,it was one-of-its-kind type of a program and I was just lucky to be present there and felt luckier to be a disciple of these two great performers!It is such performances that make me fall in love with dance again and again!!