Kalakshetra’s Remembering Rukmini Devi Festival opens with the premier of ‘Sarasvati Antarvahini.’ A new production of Kalakshetra it is about the river that has been likened to a woman that gives life and nurtures it. It has been conceived as an ode to the river, a deceptive charmer that delights the imagination of poets.
With experts from different fields as resource persons — Dr. Pappu Venugopal Rao, Dr. Chitra Madhavan, Dr. V.R. Devika, Michel Danino, Aravinth Kumaraswamy and Dr. R. Krishnamurthy Sastrigal — the dance on the mythical river has been choreographed by Hari Padman and K.R. Lokesh Raj.
Ancient texts
Dr. Pappu Venugopal Rao and Dr. Raghuraman have written the lyrics besides drawing from the rich ancient Tamil and Sanskrit texts. Music (recorded) has been composed by R.K. Shriram Kumar and K. Arun Prakash.
The dance team has K.P. Rakesh, Girish Madhu, Sanjith Lal, Saikrishnan, Rajkamal, Amalnath, Atul and Reshmi. Rakesh will also do the nattuvangam.
‘Sarasvati Antarvahini’ will be staged on February 26, 6 p.m. at Rukmini Arangam of Kalakshetra.
Feb 27, 6 p.m., Ranjana Gauhar will present gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama Chitrangada in Odissi.
Nadroop of Shama Bate, veteran Kathak guru, Pune-based is presenting ‘Krishna - The Liberator,’ a programme that looks at Gitacharya as Purnapurush.
In Shama’s hands His pranks get a contemporary twist and his image as the Saviour made to suit the modern milieu.
Shama is not new to the Chennai audience having wowed them with ‘Mahabharata Reinvented —Shadows of the Past that she presented for Kartik Fine Arts in December last.
‘Krishna - The Liberator’ will be staged on February 27, 7.30 p.m.
Feb 28, 6 p.m., Sri Purandara by Kalakshetra Foundation; March 1, 6 p.m., Koormavatharam by Kalakshetra Foundation; March 2, 6 p.m., concert by T. M. Krishna.
For details call 2452 0836 or visit www. kalakshetra.in.
