HYDERABAD: Grace, grammar and fluidity in movement are rarely found in dances of younger age groups as it takes time for them to accrue all these elements. Teenager Keerthana Reddy who gave a delightful Kuchipudi show at Ravindra Bharati last week, looked as though she was born to dance. A disciple of Bhagavatula Sethuram, Keerthana’s repertoire looked somewhat closer to that of Bharatanatyam with an unusual varnam also positioned after the invocatory number.
Though the repertoire looked different from the usual, packing it with a varnam, Saraswathi Vandanam, a Diskhitar’s and Annamayya compositions and a javali, the presentation style stuck to Kuchipudi system, Keerthana presented with alluring mime and graceful lasya. The choreography by Sethuram was well systematised to yield good results from the young girl.
Guru Sesturam conducted the show with crisp nattuvangam to Mantha Srinivas’ assertive vocal support and Nageswara Rao’s mridangam. Subbalakshmi on violin, Venkatesh on flute and Srikanth providing special effects to enhance dramatic appeal made the entire show an appealing one. It was AIR staffer broadcaster Muralikrishna blessed with rich voice and knowledge in Sahitya compeered the show so well that he made the intent and content of each number clear and appealing.
Keerthana opened with a composition of Mysore Vasudevachar Mamavathu Sri Saraswathi , invocation to goddess Saraswathi in Hindolam. Presenting this number Keerthana revealed how good she is at all the three essentials of dance art — Nritta, Nritya and Abhinaya. Her exit from the stage after finishing the presentation of the number was disciplined with dance moves. Later appeared major number of the show Navaragamalika varnam Valachi Vacchi Unna Naapai set to Adi talam of Patnam Subramania Iyer in nine rich ragas. Kanjadalayatakshi Kamakshi of Muttuswami Dikshitar in Kamalamanohari was followed by Annamacharya kirtana Entamatramuna Evvaru Talachina in Brundavani was pure abhinaya number. Keerthana appeared in different costumes to present this and other numbers that followed. Adenamma Harudu , a composition of Dayananda Saraswathi tuned by Puliyaar Dorasamiayya in Fharazu described Siva’s dance. Keerthana presented this number with utter freedom underlined by devotion with graceful foot work. Keerthana ended her recital with Dhanasri tillana of Swathi Tirunal which she presented with ease and perfection.
