Two lead players belonging to Kuchipudi artist Satyanarayanachari’s troupe suddenly broke away to join a rival team, just before a major dance competition. Totally unprepared, Satyanarayana was at a loss. It was his wife who suggested that he train their two children. So at the age of five, Narasimhachari and his brother, then seven, wore their anklets and soon danced their way into the hearts of the judges and the audience - the lads were adjudged the Best Child Performers of the State.
Narasimhachari became Destiny’s child and his artistic journey, pre-ordained. And joining him on this journey was his student, and later wife, Vasanthalakshmi.
Today, the dancer-couple are names to reckon with in the Chennai Bharatanatyam scene and best known for their grand dance-dramas on varied themes, including a 17th Century opera, ‘Pallaki Seva Prabandham’.
The love for the art has been inherited by their daughters, Lasya and Lavanya, who are carrying forward the baton. They showcase the rich legacy of their parents’ contributions to dance dramas through their annual Rasoham Unity Concert Series.
The third edition of Rasoham brings ‘Bhakti Yogam,’ a thematic dance production in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, on November 23. ‘Bhakti Yogam’ is based on the concept of ‘Nava Vidha Bhakti, the nine modes of devotion propounded by the child devotee, Prahlada, as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatham.
In a marked departure, instead of repeating their earlier choreography, the couple has invited nine young dancers to choreograph this year’s edition - Madhavapeddi Murthy, Shivakumar. S, Narendra Kumar L, Binesh Mahadevan, R. Vijay Madhavan, V. Balagurunathan, Madhusudhanan K.B, Hari Padman and Swamimalai K. Suresh. The prelude and the finale will retain the dance choreography of the original production.
The lyrics have been drawn from various sources including Srimad Bhagavatham, Tulsidas’s Ramayan, Kavi Aravindakshan, Tyagaraja and Purandara Dasa.
The music, composed and orchestrated by Guru Narasimhachari, is in seven languages.
‘Bhakti Yogam’ will be presented on November 23, 5 p.m., at Narada Gana Sabha. It’s open to all.
