The 33rd Natyanjali festival in the precincts of Sri Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram, commenced on the Maha Sivaratri day ( February 27), in which about 75 dancers or troupes participated.
On the inaugural day, the Uzhikkuttu presented by Padma Subrahmanyam and Mahati Kannan , was followed by Urmila Satyanarayanan , who did a Kharaharapriya varnam of K.N. Dhandayudhapani Pillai.
Geeta Chandran from Delhi gave an attractive presentation of the varna – Sarojakshiro, in Khambodi, of Thanjavur Ponnayya. Akshaya Arunkumar , a student of Krishnakumari Narendran, and the students from Nritya Prerana, Pune, gave a wonderful performance .
Dr. Mahalakshmi Bhaktavatsalam, Kamala Karpagavalli and Malavika Kumaran , all from the Vazhuvurar Dance Academy, gave a neat and scintillating performance, under the baton of Sridevi Senthilnathan.
Some of Akka Mahadevi’s vachanas were depicted in a catchy manner by Bangalore Rakshita Prasad . Meenakshi Chittaranjan’s student, Aisvarya Krishnakumar did the varna ‘Karunai Vadive’ in Revati, a composition of Pandanallur Srinivasan which won great applause from the audience.
On the second day, Krishna Praneeta , disciple of Mumbai Harikrishna Kalyanasundaram, presented the Chokkanatha kavuttuvam and one verse each from Tiruvarutpa and Tirumandiram.
Thematic performancesMeenakshi Chittaranjan and her students presented a thematic concert, ‘Thedi-k-Kandukonden,’ sutured with some verses from Tiruttandakam and Tiruvangamalai.
Ardhanareeswar stotram was the one taken up by Nelamana sisters , Dr. Draupadi Praveen (Bharatam) and Dr. Padmini Krishnan (Kuchipudi). This was billed as a Jugalbandhi.
The dance performance by Chidambaram Kalaivani Isai Natya Palli , on March 1, was highly appreciated.
Subhashini Visvesvaran , a student of Mumbai Kalyanasundaram Pillai, revealed her prowess in the abhinaya number, but it was also exciting to watch her doing the nritta aspects.
Sheela Unnikrishnan , presented another theme ‘Param’ with her students, the basic idea being the unison of Jeevatma and Paramatma.
Gopika Varma and her students rendered Mohiniyattom for Kavalam Narayana Panicker’s song and Swati Tirunal’s Bhoopala thillana.
Though the performance of Lavanya Sankar and her students was quite enjoyable, it is not known why the theme was chosen as ‘Perur Patteeswararudan Oru Naal.’ It simply portrayed how devotees worshipped Lord Patteeswarar, every day.
Shobana and her students impressed the audience with fine anga suddham and precise execution of movements in the varnam ‘Sadakalam’ in ragamalika, a composition of Shobana.
The fourth day event featured the performance by Thillai Sivakami Natya Palli for ‘Karunai Seivai,’ a varnam by Pandanallur Srinivasan in Sankarabharanam.
Sruti Raghavan , from France, gave a mesmerising dance performance. Saptya Tandavam was performed by Chennai Nupura Dance School , in an exquisite manner. J. Suryanarayanamurthi and his students took up the composition of Oothukkadu Venkatasubbaiyar, ‘Jatadhara’ in Thodi.
Radhe Jaggi’s performance was marked by vibrancy and enthusiasm. Koodiyattam expert Margi Madhu Chakyar , presented slokas from Bhasa’s ‘Abhisheka Nataka,’ depicting Vali Vadham. But he, for some reason, incorporated the killing of Hiranyakasipu by Narasimha.
Binesh Mahadeva n and his students, who won laurels from the audience, presented ‘Angayarkanni Anandam Kondalae,’ a varnam of Lalgudi Jayaraman in ragamalika.
The last programme on the fifth day was by Dr. Varsha Ramesh of Neyveli, who did Varnamala stotram in Kuchipudi style.
Though many young artists were brilliant in technique and danced with precision, they need to concentrate more on aesthetics to win the audience.
The highlight of the festival was the stage backdrop that looked naturally like a temple. Kudos to Sampatkumar, the architect.
