The genius of maestro Lalgudi as a composer is well-known and endless tribute has been paid by dancers, who present his varnams in their performances. It is the turn of Ramya Ramnarayanan, U.S.-based Bharatanatyam dancer, to showcase the veteran's work.
“I'm happy this is coinciding with the guru's 80{+t}{+h} year celebrations,” says Ramya, who runs Nrityanjali dance school in New Jersey. An interesting aspect is that Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi will be singing the compositions. “I'm a big fan of Lalgudi's compositions. When Viji came to New Jersey last year, we discussed the subject at length and I wondered why not make a full-fledged presentation of the compositions, especially the varnams and the thillanas. Margam would be the appropriate medium, we decided. To my delight, Viji agreed to sing and thus was born ‘Lalgudi in Lavanya Margam,'” explains Ramya, who is busy with rehearsals.
Were the compositions chosen at random? “No. I came down in June last and Lalgudi was kind enough to go through the repertoire.”
Ramya is thrilled that the maestro has set to music excerpts from Subramanya Bharati's “Panchali Sabatham.” “My guru Kalanidi mami helped me choose the verses,” says Ramya, a disciple of the late Swamimalai Rajarathinam Pillai. Priyadarsini Govind is mentor to me and she gave valuable inputs,” acknowledges the dancer. Swamimalai Suresh will do the nattuvangam.
Padma Shankar will be providing violin accompaniment. “Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai” has some unique touches Lalgudi has conceived for the violin. That piece alone will be rendered on the violin by Viji,” says Ramya.
“Yes. The sangatis are so delicately eloquent and vocal,” echoes Vijayalaksmi, who mentions the thillana, a combination of three –Thilang, Yamankalyan and Chenjurutti – as another highlight. “This is the third occasion my father's compositions are presented in Margam and each experience is different, my singing being the new element here,” she says.
Sasidhar on the flute and Dhananjayan on the mridangam will complete the orchestra.
Show Time: At Sri Krishna Gana Sabha on December 28, 7.30 p.m. and Narada Gana Sabha on December 29, 2 p.m.
