The Navaratri Art Festival celebrated at Srirangam was indeed a salutation to motherhood. The students of Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts, Tiruchi, presented a variety programme on the inaugural day. The performances included folk, classical, dandiya and bhangra. The students also performed skits focusing on the importance of national integration, religious harmony and protecting the senior citizens.
The saxophone recital by S. Lavanya and S. Subbulakshmi, both of Mangalore, on the second day of the festival, was enchanting. The third day’s programme included the dance performance ‘Prabanjathin Adhisayam,’ by the students of Bharathanatyalaya, Srirangam.
There were other dance performances in praise of mother Thamizh (Thamizhannai) and mother Durga . In ‘Kalaigal Migundha Engal Thamizh Vazhgave,’ the dancers brought to life almost all Tamizh poets .
The spell-binding Durga puja dance made the audience visualise a real Durga puja with all the necessary properties on stage. This was followed by the masterpiece ‘Arupadai Veedu,’ which exhibited all the nuances of Bharatanatyam.
Peacock and Snake dances were indeed visual treats. ‘Kutrala Kuravanji,’ a dance drama consisting of folklore narrating the prosperity of ancient Tamil Nadu added aesthetic value to the show.
The credits: Dancers – Suganthi, Rajeswari, Mushaliny, Godhasree, Anuja, Deepika, Jayasudha, Hemamalini, Saranya, Sowmiya Sri, Durga Devi, Srinidhi and Harini. Choreography and nattuvangam – Revathy Muthuswamy. Vocal – Rasiga Prasadh. Mridangam – Madhusudhanan and Keyboard – Jegan.
Revathi Krishnaswamy, a renowned veena artist, presented hits songs from Tamizh films on the occasion.
The navaratri festival culminated with the Bharatanatyam performance by Lakshmi Ramaswamy and Students of Sri Mudra School of Dance, Chennai.
