Tamil Isai Sangam gave an opportunity for its teachers and students to expose their skill in Bharatanatyam on the eighth day of the annual Tamil music festival on Thursday.
Various mythological characters, such as Ganapathi on his Mooshika vahana, Muruga on his peacock, the pancha bhoothams, Siva and Soorapadman were portrayed with suitable make-up and abhinaya by them. Vishwambara Madhusoodhan’s solo performance was appreciated for his footwork.
The dance, which began with a pushpanjali, traced the life of Muruga, from his birth to the samharam of Soorapadman.
The film songs, particularly those with unforgettable lyrics and set to Carnatic ragas, hold an estimable place in Tamil music is the stance taken by veena artist Revathy Krishna.
The audience did not just agree with her but applauded with delight as she played selections in Keeravani, Hemavathi, Kapi, Kanada, Saranga and many more to familiar and much loved lyrics from yesteryear Tamil films in the concert that followed the dance.
Her orchestra consisted of Prakash on the keyboard, Sai Suresh on the rhythm pack and Parthasarathy on the tabla.
Apart from mentioning the names of the films, the composer, the lyricist and the singers, Revathy entertained the audience with anecdotes and trivia.
When Kannadasan wanted an appointment with the then Chief Minister Kamaraj, he penned the lines, “Andha Sivagami maganidam,” as Sivagami was the CM’s mother. Kalki was inspired by a melody sung by a young girl and wrote ‘Katrinile varum geetam’ to the same tune.
She narrated several such stories behind the songs. Revathy played with practised ease and took all her listeners on a nostalgic trip to the past.
RAJALAKSHMI PADMANABHAN
