Noted Kuchipudi artiste Hima Bindu Kanoj presented an interesting ballet — ‘Sujala Sravanthi’, a Kuchipudi dance drama on rivers and their protection. This was a ‘Grant-in-Aid’ production from the Ministry of Culture, government of India. The event was held at Priyadarshini Auditorium, Public Gardens.
The ballet is intended to raise awareness on protecting rivers for the survival of humans and cattle
For this ballet Hima Bindu segregated the dancers into two groups and positioned them to perform in a way the audience could understand the intent of a particular scene. She brought into her list almost all the rivers that flow in Andhra Pradesh and other places too. At each of these rivers the students got involved depicting how great the river is where even sages performed their ‘tapassu’, how festivities are held. Even small children in the cast gave big performance in handling performing poojas on the banks of these rivers with apt make up as rishis. As all the rivers carry the same look, a lengthy cloth was spread on the stage and a fan created an impression of waves by blowing into this huge cloth.
Another aspect of this production was to show a flowing river while its name is mentioned as part of the song. The richness was added by the lyrics aptly written by Madabhushi Badrinath. He wrote a song for each of the rivers and also to some situations of activity on the banks. It also touched that part of agony when it was polluted with industrial waste. It ended pleading to keep rivers clean and safe and never pollute them lest the users of its waters get polluted and harm their life. Even the activity of agriculture from sowing to reaping the acts were mimicked impressively by the children. All the students who took part in the ballet were given mementoes. And the specialists on the technical side were felicitated. Noted among them were vocalist Srivardhani, lyric writer and composer Badrinath, Sunitha who provided costumes and jewelry. Harikrishna, director, Telangana, Culture and Language Department added his commentary into the narrative.
