There is also a cultural and religious flower month, Margazhi, when the saint-poet Andal is celebrated.
His image is so ingrained in the repertoire of classical dancers that he keeps returning to Thiruppavai verses to choreograph solo or group productions.
Urmila Satyanarayana’s recent presentation ‘Godha’, staged as part of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Natya Utsavam, combined verses of Thiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi.
It is always a challenge for a dancer to interpret these familiar works in her own unique way. Urmila’s choreography reverts to interesting group formations and floats, which are popular with the audience.
‘Sudi Kodutha Sudarkodiye’, the opening lines of which a group of young girls danced happily, introduced us to Andal’s birth and its early years, and it was a segment that was marked by graceful movements. Three dancers at different ages portray Andal, which was created for the dramatic look.
The transformation from child to young girl to a mature woman (portrayed by Urmila) came seamlessly in the movements and narrative. As the elder Andal, Urmila impeccably conveys the feelings of love associated with devotion.
Familiar sequences such as girls playing, Margazhi descending into the river for Neeradal, Krishna wearing the Andal garland and then wearing it himself were all there. The story kept the momentum going by the inclusion of popular songs like ‘Oruthi Magnai Pirandhu’, ‘Karpuram Narumo’ and ‘Varanam Aiyaram’.
A strong music team for such subjects inspires the dancers and also conveys the emotions to the audience. Venugopal’s melodious and soulful voice brought life to the verses. Sai Kripa Prasanna’s thighs were powerful and restrained according to the requirements of the hierarchy. Guru Bharadwaj on the mridangam, Kalairasan on the violin, and Shrutisagar on the flute shone.
The success of a production also depends on other factors like music, lighting, costume and choreography. The lighting design by Murugan used strong lighting and shadows as well as an appropriate color palette, which enhanced the visual impact of the production. A simple color scheme of red and green was both traditional and aesthetic for the costumes.
The slightly more intense acting in scenes that evoked Andal’s emotions would have helped the production move beyond the realm of visual appeal and leave a lasting impression.
Critics from Chennai write on classical dance.
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