Bharathanatyam by Layakshethra Dance Academy enthrals audience at music festival

The students of Bala Nandakumar (Jatayu Moksham fame) of the Layakshethra Dance Academy presented a colourful bharathanatyam astatine the Lakshmi Sundaram Hall connected the seventh time of the 74th day celebrations, euphony and arts festival of Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam.

They commenced with Pushpanjali successful raga gambira nattai, an invocatory creation and sought the blessings of the Almighty. This was followed by a krithi connected lord Ganesha,”Aanai Mugava”, composed by Ambujam Vedantham. 

Then Alarippu successful Misrachaapu tal, the accepted rhythmic opening piece (exhibiting the movements of eyes, hands and legs), offering respect to God and audience was performed.

They paid respects to Guru, Sri Sringeri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswami, done “Garuda Gamana Tava” .

Arunagiri Nathar’s Tirupugazh Pathikam on Siruvapuri Murugan was performed successful speedy succession.

Madurai Sri Muralidharan’s varnam, the main item, in praise of Goddess Meenakshi, successful Simhendramadhyamam and Tala Adi, portrayed the incidents that happened during the operation of “Pudu mandapam” through “Maye manamkanindarulvaye,” Goddess Meenakshi’s birth viz.,“ Thaye kadambavanam tanil udittaye malayadhvajan magal”, Mahishasura Samhaaram done “ Thaye mahishasura vadam purindaye “ and the apt recital of Adi Sankaracharya’s “ayi girinandini nanditamedini visvavinodini nandinute (embodying the divine feminine energy)” received applause from the audience.

Other numbers see selected verses from Purandara Daasar (by Praveena Mukundan), a solo presumption of Nivetha Mohan for Ambujam Krishna’s “konjum silamboli ketkudamma” with a Virutam “ Pangayak Kannan Enpom”, came successful for appreciation from the rasikas.

Next came the opus “Konji konji vaguhane” by Periyasami Tooran, successful khamas acceptable to Adi and Andal’s Thirupavai” Chitram chirugale “ were presented with precision by the artists.  The dancers Bhaava, speedy changeover for consequent episodes, blending intricate axenic creation (Nritta) with expressive storytelling (Nritya/Abhinaya) was adorable. 

The orchestra consisted of vocal by Archana Praveen, Mridangam by Srigokulnath, Violin by Srichandru, peculiar effects by Harikrishna and flautist Master Sai Sree Krishna, provided the indispensable melody, rhythm, emotional extent and acted as the dancer’s musical counterpart.

The artists include Akshaya Senthil Kumar, Koushika Vivek, Gayathri.S, Narayani Sankara, Sornalakshmi, Shamvardini R, Selvathiruvasuki, Kavishasri Ramji and Gurulaksha Kannan.

The creation choreography was done by Dr. Bala Nandakumar, Aishwarya Shyam Sundar and Nivetha Mohan, module members of Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Vidyalayam College of Music.

In lieu of vocalist Ramakrishnan Murthy, the students of Bala Nandakumar staged the performance.