Bhavya Balasubramanian is a confident, young dancer, who trained under Guru Vazhuvoor R. Samraj and dancer-teacher Srekala Bharath and is currently working with S. Srilatha of Kalakshetra. Her capsulated Bharatanatyam recital of little more than an hour was dominated by the story of Lord Rama, presented through Swati Tirunal’s Sanskrit kriti ‘Bhavayami Raghuramam’ (tuned by Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer in ragamalika, Rupaka tala).
From Sage Viswamitra’s visit to Ayodhya to the slaying of demoness Tataka in the Bala Kanda, until Rama’s Pattabhisheka in the Yuddha Kanda, the tale spanned six books and many, many incidents. The composer has condensed 24,000 slokas of the Valmiki Ramayana into one kriti with six verses (charanams), so the lyric is naturally indicative and requires elaboration.
Bhavya’s approach was neat, detailed and diligent as she captured the milestones in Rama’s story. There was a conscientious effort behind each expression and movement as every little story was given its due. Deftly, one incident flowed into another in a swiftly changing canvas, as the dancer introduced asides into the Valmiki Ramayana such as Manthara’s thirst for revenge, the Lakshman Rekha and others.
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While there was restraint in the drama, some scenes stood out for their visualisation or depth. One such scene was the kidnap when Sita cries out for help and throws down her jewellery from an airborne chariot. Another was of Hanuman growing in form in order to cross the seas and once in Lanka, shrinking to a small size, no bigger than a cat, to escape detection.
The best moment of the evening was, however, Rama’s reaction when Hanuman hands over Sita’s choodamani ornament; that one moment of recognition and intense longing captured by the dancer went beyond the dramatic role play and showed the dancer’s depth. In time, Bhavya should be able to access this stillness.
The engrossing delineation was enhanced by an involved group of artists: S. Srilatha (choreography and nattuvangam), Chitrambari Krishnakumar (vocal), K. R. Venkatasubramanian (mridangam), V. Muruganandam (violin) and Devaraj (flute).
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