Bani, parampara and gharana, refer to a tradition, a style, an approach developed based on a distinct aesthetic concept that was nurtured and safeguarded, and which is slowly fading. What one sees today is the emergence of a trend towards a new and global bani, especially in the area of dance. It is therefore important to have a re-look at the contributions of legends, and the Bani Festival, curated by dancer Alarmel Valli aims to do just that. The festival that paid a tribute to Pandanallur Subbaraya Pillai in 2013 is turning the spotlight this year on another legend, T. Muktha, in her centenary year.
Mukthamma’s name is synonymous with padams and javalis and appropriately this becomes the focus. ‘See the Music, and Hear the Dance’ is one such tribute to the guru that Valli pays, as she collaborates with Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath for the first time. Jayashri is an unusual choice for the collaboration, as she does not come from that bani, and is not known for singing padams and javalis. “I instantly agreed to this collaboration, because not only would it give me an opportunity to learn, but also enable me to see the beauty of the art closely from Valli whom I admire. It has been an enriching experience for me, learning something new, assimilating and exploring it,” explains Jayashri.
In an era when most performers are content to remain in their artistic space, it is heartening to see someone willing to step out of that space to grow creatively. Naina Pillai taught Brinda directly, and Muktha absorbed it as she played the tambura. The anecdote is relevant, as Jayashri’s collaboration is also based on all that she absorbs. It becomes relevant here to have Jayashri, whose collaboration is based on what she heard and absorbed.
Valli reiterates this as she speaks about her collaborator: “Jayashri’s commitment and sincerity, and the willingness to move out of her comfort zone is heartening. She has worked on it for months to learn every padam and javali, and devoted so much of her time for the numerous rehearsals that we had to understand each other’s sensibilities. She is giving aural expression to my rasabhinaya.”
About the occasion, Valli observes: “Every dancer and musician cannot but venerate the contribution of the Veena Dhanammal parampara, reaching for the high ideals in music and poetry. We cannot but move our bodies in response to their music.” Poet Arundathi Subamanian puts it succinctly: “Padams are dynamic listening.”
This programme has been crafted highlighting some rare gems of the school. “What we want to present is planned, but how we want to say it within the framework is our creative choice,” says Jayashri. “Javalis and viruthams have been chosen keeping in mind not only their musical appeal, but also to portray varied emotions. These compositions are leisurely paced, full of pregnant pauses, giving scope for imaginary improvisations,” adds Valli.
(This festival is presented by Ahalya Bespoke along with Aalaap, which is the ideating partner, Alliance Française of Madras,event partner and The Hindu,media partner. For passes/ enquiries, call 04424983152/ +919840248444)
