Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala will bring alive the essence and spirit of Muthiah Bhagavathar’s compositions on stage. Meanwhile, she and her students will revisit some of her earlier group productions including Tyagaraja Bhakthi Manjari’ and ‘Krsna Madhuryam.’Parvathi’s calendar:December 19, 6.30 p.m.: ‘Thyagaraja Bhakthi Manjari’ - Meenakshi College.December 20, 7 p.m.: ‘Krsna Madhuryam’ at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, KilpaukDecember 23, 10 a.m.: ‘Tyagaraja Bhakthi Manjari’ at Krishna Gana Sabha.December 30, 6.30 p.m.: ‘Krsna Madhuryam’ - Chennai Cultural AcademyJanuary 12, 2014, 7 p.m. Solo - Brahma Gana Sabha at Sivagami Pethachi hallJanuary 25, 2014, 7 p.m.: Muthaiah Bhagavathar at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore
Narthaki Natraj has two reasons to celebrate this festival. It is the centenary of her guru, the legendary Thanjavur Kittappa Pillai and she has completely recovered from a health issue. Through vibrant varnams she will bring alive the grandeur of Tiruvarur, the beauty of the Ajaba dance and the greatness of Tyagaraja, the charm of Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy, the significance of She is presenting ‘Mohamana’ Bhairavi varnam, Ninaindodi, the Sapta Tala Ragamalika varnam, Mohalahiri Kondaen apart from Thillanas and Kavadichindu, rare padams and so on.Watch Narthaki unwind at:December 15, 7 p.m.: Aiyappan temple, MahalingapuramDecember 17, 6.15 p.m.: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's TAG Auditorium, Kilpauk Garden Road December 18, 7.30 p.m.: Sri Krishna Gana Sabha December 26, 2 p.m.: Narada Gana Sabha December 28, 6 p.m.: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore January 4, 6 p.m.: Balamandir German Hall (Indian Fine Arts Society) January 6, 7 p.m.: Tiruvavaduturai Rajarathinam Pillai Auditorium, R. A. Puram (For TAPAS Academy) January 7, 7.30 p.m.: Smt. Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium (Brahma Gana Sabha)
Sheela Unnikrishnan SRIDEVI NRITHYALAYA will present a thematic presentation titled ‘Param: The Ultimate.’ It deals with the male and the female principles and the unity of opposites in the Universe. The schedule:Dec 19, 7 p.m.: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Bhavan’s Tag auditorium, Kilpauk)Dec 27, 7 p.m.: Nungambakkam Cultural Academy (Karnataka Sangha hall, T. Nagar)Jan 1, 7 p.m.: Bharat kalachar (YGP auditorium)Jan12, 7 p.m.: Mylapore Fine ArtsJan 13, 6.30 p.m.: Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha (Vani Mahal, T. Nagar)Jan 14, 6.30 p.m.: Nadasudha (Velachery)Jan 16, 7 p.m.: Krishna Gana Sabha (T. Nagar)Jan 19, 7 p.m.: Brahma Gana Sabha (Sivagam Pethachi hall)
Students of Sheela Unnikrishnan's Sridevi Nrithyalaya will present its earlier production ‘Janani Jagath Karani.’ (Dec 1, at Narada Gana Sabha for Kartik Fine Arts)
Srekala Bharath: “Meerabai is close to my heart and I am going to bring her back on stage this Season,” says SREKALA BHARATH. The dancer last performed ‘Bhaktha Meera,’ an opera penned by Rukmini Ramani, last in 2003. “I have re-choreographed quite a bit, but to retain the original flavour have added some original bhajans such as ‘Hari tum haro.’ The opera will follow the grammar of Margam, but not be an exact format.” She and her students will present ‘Pancha Murti Natanam’ and ‘Dasavatharam.’Srekala’s schedule goes thus:Dec 16, 7 p.m.: Ayyappan Temple, MahalingapuramDec 18, 7 p.m.: Nungambakkam Cultural Academy, Ramarao Kalyana Mantapam, Habibullah Road, T. NagarDec 19, 6 p.m.: Kartik Fine Arts at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, T. NagarDec 24, 5 p.m., Tamil Isai Sangam, Raja Annamalai Manram, Esplanade.Jan 2, 2014, 6 p.m., Indian Fine Arts, German Hall, T. Nagar
Srinidhi Chidambaram has been innovating within Margam format to present items that are rooted in classicism, but novel in content. This Season, she will present items that have drawn inspiration from Tamil poetry and literature as well as Carnatic kutcheri music. IOne such inspiration is an item based on a poem composed by poet Vairamuthu on her request. “He is a big favourite of mine among Tamil modern poets,” says Srinidhi. Inspired by the destruction of Uttarakhand, the words attempt to depict Nature’s fury when we ignore and abuse Her. Her performances will also feature compositions by Ranjani-Gayatri and Lalgudi GJR Krishnan, as well as Tyagaraja kritis. Srinidhi’s schedule is :December 20, 7.30 p.m.: Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, T. NagarDecember 24, 7.30 p.m.: Kartik Fine Arts at Bharatiya Vidya BhavanDecember 28, 7 p.m.: Bharat Kalachar, YGP Auditorium
Urmila Sathyanarayanan will revisit her acclaimed production ‘Apruva Purva,’ which emphasises, explores and emotes the universal truth of Karma. However, audiences can look forward to a couple of new items such as her guru K.N. Dhandayudapani Pillai’s Shodasha Alarippu and a Purvi thillana. Urmila’s students too will present shows at various venues.
Urmila's Solo schedule is as follows:Dec 15, 7.30 p.m. - Margam at Narada Gana Sabha, TTK RoadDec 23, 7.30 p.m. - Apurva Purva at Krishna Gana Sabha, T. NagarDec 26, after 7 p.m. - Apurva Purva at Bharat Kalachar, T.NagarDec 29, 6 p.m. - Margam for Kartik Fine Arts
