A Bharatanatyam guru's initiative to provide performance opportunity to her sishyas
Among the first beneficiaries was Mridula Shivakumar, who had to work on the compositions of K.N. Dandayudhapani Pillai. The dancer chose five of his compositions. She began with a jathiswaram, danced with precision and filled with dynamic movements. But it would have been more graceful if Mridula had tempered her pace.
Vibrant footwork
'Adi sivanai kana asaikondenadi thozhi' — the Thodi raga varnam dealt with a pining heroine beseeching her sakhi to fetch her lord. The theermanams explored varied rhythmic patterns and Mridula's clarity of footwork revealed her sense of rhythm. The depiction of Ardhanaari, which was incorporated into a jathi, saw her transform from male to female with ease, and made for an appealing addition. The dancer addressed this aspect of love with a combination of Sringara and Bhakti bhava, and the sancharis explored the familiar poetic imagery through relevant ideas.
The dance picked up momentum in the charanam lines 'Mathe yarukakilum bhayama' and the chittaswaras that followed. Mridula could do well with a little more attention to the delineation of emotions by maintaining the sthayi bhava.
The padam 'Muthamizh cholaiyile' is not frequently presented on dance platforms. It speaks of the heroine's mood and incorporates references to poets Avvaiyar, Elango Adigalar and Thiruvalluvar.
The finale was a thillana, originally choreographed for Kumari Kamala for the Hindi film Chori Chori (1956). This complex composition, filled with a lot of calculation and poses, is challenging, but Mridula rose up to it with finesse.
Chitrambari Krishnakumar provided melodic support on the vocals. Guru Bharadwaj's flourishes on the mridangam charmed, and Sashidar on the flute and Anantanarayan on the veena provided adequate support. Nattuvangam was by Kausalya Shivkumar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Pankaj Tripathi recalls waiting for a call at 8 pm every day at hostel. Criminal Justice actor opens up about romance, Bihar and marriage
In an era where love is often measured in DMs and delivered through Instagram stories, Pankaj Tripathi 's old-school romance feels like a breath of fresh air. Long before he became a household name with unforgettable roles in Gangs of Wasseypur , Criminal Justice , and Mirzapur, the acclaimed actor was just a young man waiting every evening by a hostel landline — hoping to hear his future wife's voice. It wasn't instant, flashy, or filtered. It was simple, patient, and built on the kind of trust that rarely makes headlines anymore. In a nostalgic chat with IANS, Tripathi opened up about those days, saying he didn't grow up with smartphones in hand. Instead, he recalled how, during his hostel days, he'd wait near the canteen phone booth for a call from Mridula — the woman he would eventually marry. He recalled how in those times, there was no ringtone or caller ID, so he would just sit in the canteen with his dinner plate and wait for his now-wife Mridula to call at 8 pm. Pankaj Tripathi on romance Recently, on The Great Indian Kapil Show, Tripathi spoke again about love — this time with his signature wit. Appearing alongside the cast of his upcoming film Metro… In Dino, the actor admitted that he's not the most romantic man. 'I don't know much about romance,' he said. He confessed that the only person he ever fell in love with was his wife, whom he married later. He also joked that being from Bihar meant that the "quota of romance" was very little. Pankaj Tripathi and Mridula's marriage Pankaj and Mridula's journey began at a wedding in 1993 when they were both in college. After over a decade of love and long-distance phone calls, they tied the knot in 2004. Two years later, they welcomed their daughter, Aashi, and moved to Mumbai, where Pankaj's acting career would slowly but surely blossom. Pankaj Tripathi's upcoming movie Now, as he gears up for the release of Metro… In Dino, a film that explores modern relationships, heartbreak, and connection. The movie hits cinemas on July 4, starring a powerhouse ensemble cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh, alongside Tripathi. Directed by Anurag Basu , the film promises to be a poignant take on urban love.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
When life is a game
While I was researching options for this article, my husband was joking about how some childhood memories linger forever. He then went on to recite a couplet written by Kabir Das that he had learned in school. It was almost as if he had just studied it for a test yesterday. Kabir Das was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint whose verses continue to resonate across religious and cultural boundaries. Born in or around 1398 in Varanasi, Kabir was one of the most influential figures of the Bhakti movement. It was his birthday in June, which was reason enough to do some digging. With my passion for traditional games, I started researching Kabir Das's associations with games and play. There is no historical record or mention of Kabir Das engaging in games or recreational play as we think of it today. His life was centered around spiritual inquiry, poetic expression, and challenging the religious orthodoxy of his time, even when he was a child.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- The Hindu
Nirmala Lakshman to discuss ‘The Tamils' at BIC on June 17 )
Around 90 million-strong today, the community of Tamils is not only spread across India but is a growing global diaspora which hold on to their distinct cultural identity even as they fan out. Nirmala Lakshman, in her book The Tamils, chronicles the journey of this civilisation from the Stone Age and the Sangam era to the Bhakti movement and colonial history. On June 17, Ms. Lakshman, Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications, will engage in a discussion on her book with Ranvir Shah, cultural activist, philanthropist and businessman, at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). Ramachandra Guha, writer and historian, will do the introduction. The discussion will not only explore the themes of the book but also examine the Tamil identity in the 21st century, its evolution through intersections of caste, religion and gender, and how modernity and migration have given the culture newer meanings as the community across the globe continues to adapt and thrive. Ms. Lakshman, who founded and edited The Hindu Literary Review, conceptualised and created Young World, India's only children's newspaper supplement, and launched Lit for Life, The Hindu's annual literature festival. She is also the author of Degree Coffee by the Yard. Mr. Shah founded the Prakriti Foundation in 1998 with the idea of enlivening Chennai's cultural arena through scholarly discourses, multi-media events, experimental and protest cinema, music festivals and contemporary dance performances. Dr. Guha is a public intellectual whose research interests range from political and environmental history to cricket history. The programme begins at 6.30 p.m. and entry is free.
