Bompelli Sudheer Rao, a Kuchipudi exponent from Warangal, along with his students, gave an impressive dance recital at Ravindra Bharati last week. This show was presented in association with Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana.
The students, mostly children in the age group ranging between five and 20, all hailing from Warangal, stunned the houseful audience with their well measured footwork and abhinaya in their well-knit jatis. The theme of their presentation was ‘Kakatiya Kala Vaibhavam’ depicted in two segments — one displaying through the dance form, Kuchipudi and the second, a documentary-based show in which bits of dance and drama depicting the rule of Kakatiya rulers with more focus on Rani Rudramadevi. Both these segments were arresting because of their artistic grandeur.
Appealing presentations (Clockwise from top) Young dancers at the fest; Chinmayi during her performance; a scene from the ballet on Rudramadevi.
As to the first part of the show, it was the Kuchipudi dances that stole the hearts of audience, especially when the little children were on stage. All these students were form Sadguru Sri Sivananda Nritymala.
The dance included the numbers like Bho Sambho Siva Sambho in raga Revathi, Marakatha Manimaya , written by Oothukadu Venkatakavi, Rara Venu Gopabala , to which they added Annamacharya kirtana Alarulu Kuriyaga Adenade in Sankarabharanam.
The dance was followed by the documentary on Kakatiya rule with slides depicting important historic and cultural events.
Mother-daughter duo
Sridevi Mungara and her daughter Chinmayi, students of Sobha Naidu, presented a Kuchipudi recital at the open air theatre of Silparamam. This was presented to pre-recorded music.
The performance began with ian nvocation to Vinayaka, ‘Ganesha Pancharatnam’, set of five slokas. A group of six dancers portrayed various aspects of Lord Vinayaka that included his persona and benevolence. This was presented by a small group of students, who rightly interpreted the bhava with impressive abhinaya. This was set in ragamalika, Tisragathi.
The second number they presented was OkaparikokapariVayyaramai of Annamacharya, tuned in Kharaharapriya, beautifully presented by Chinmayi.
The number that followed was popular Jatiswaram in Athana that almost all Kuchipudi dancers follow. As the name indicates, it is a combination of rhythmic syllables and swaras. Here, the dancers executed varied rhythmic movements to matching musical notes in the chosen raga, this case it was Athana. The execution was set in two parts with pallavi being presented first, in medium tempo.
The final number of the concert was Bhamakalapam. Chinmayi chose to present the first daruvu of Bhamakalapam - Bhaamane Satya Bhamane. Chinmayi was at her best in interpreting the text of the letter in letter and spirit in her abhinaya, loading it with apt emotions. This was set in ragamalika using each of the ragas to aptly suit the bhava of each stanza. This was impressive show that brought back memories of Vempati School.
