Dancers are driven by visual imageries apart from the technique of their form. Abhinaya helps them experience the moods of a character, while movements are like connecting thoughts to tell a tale. Senior Kuchipudi artist Anupama Kylas loves to put across these essential aspects of Indian classical arts, which she imbibed through training and understanding, in her won words. Thus the book ‘The Nayikas of Annamacharya’, which will be released in Chennai on April 10 in the presence of Priyadarsini Govind, director of Kalakshetra, senior Bharatanatyam exponent Nandini Ramani and scholar V.A.K Ranga Rao.
“I was keen to know more about the heroines of Annamacharya’s compositions,” says Anupama, who earlier penned a book on “Nayikas in Kshetrayya padams’.
She feels that it’s Annamayya’s devotional lyrics that are more popular. So she brought in the focus on sringara in her latest book.
Anupama, who learnt Kuchipudi under Uma Rama Rao. has been learning Vilasini Natyam from Swapna Sundari. She feels that these nayikas are strong-willed women who knew what they wanted. “A reason why they are relevant to contemporary times,” she says.
“With most classical dance performances being based on modern themes and issues, I know people, especially youngsters, wonder if these nayikas’ joys and angst can be understood and appreciated,” adds Anupama. “But my research into these compositions revealed that we shouldn’t have a blinkered view. There are many interesting layers to their characters. The more I began to explore, the more I was drawn in and excited to put them down in words.”
She wanted to simplify the expressions in these verses. “The aim was to bring out the poetic essence, its link with arts and how life-like these nayikas are,” says Anupama.
To showcase these, she will present ‘Jeeva Nayika’, a summary of her experiences in dance format, after the book launch.
