 Jyotsna’s true-to-life presentation
Dr. Jyotsna Jagannathan, MBBS, disciple of Natanamaamani
A. Lakshman, presented a very impressive Bharatanatyam recital, under the aegis of Natyarangam, the dance-wing of Narada Gana Sabha, at the Sabha’s mini-hall, recently.
Right from the traditional opening ‘Pushpanjali’ in Malayalamarutham (Adi), the following Lalgudi Charukesi-Adi-Varnam ‘Innum En Manam’, the piece-de-resistance of the performance, and to the finale Thillana (Revathi-Madurai Krishnan) Jyotsna displayed, commendably, variegated skills and techniques of a high order relating to this fine art form. She is certainly a classicist passionately devoted to the established norms and values of dance.
Blessedly endowed with winsome stage presence, Jyotsna’s decade-long intensive training in Bharatanatyam enabled her, particularly in the all-important varnam, to present a comprehensive, meaningful delineation of the related aspects of dance – Nritta, Natya, Nritya, Abhinaya, and
Bhaava.
The Varnam highlighted the relevant rasas (sentiments) embedded in the Lalgudi Varnam lyric in a picturesque fashion. The discerning rasika could appreciate fully the agony and ecstasy of the ‘Naayika’. There was distinguished vitality in the cogent sancharis and expressions in the presentation. That was indeed a colourful, varnam-depiction. Thank you,
Jyotsna.
However, it was in the remarkable portrayal of the Kurinji (Adi) -oriented folksy ‘Maadu Meykkum Kanne’, in catchy tuneful dialogue form between mother Yashoda and her darling son Krishna, that gave the evening’s honours to Jyotsna delightfully. The mother’s neurotic entreaties and the boy’s confident reassurances, impishly characteristic of that tender- don’t-worry-age, were innovatively staged. The boy’s nonchalant scorn pooh-poohing his fond mother’s imagined fears, the mother’s typical concerns for his well-being, were true-to-life sketches. Well done.
Jyotsna’s earlier girlhood years were in Nairobi. She is now well-settled in Chennai making an indelible impression on the Metro rasikas. She has, in the course of this steady progress, won a number of credit-worthy prizes. However, Jyotsna will surely realize, like all true artistes, that she has miles to traverse yet.
The supportive accompanists were; Guru Lakshman (Nattuvangam), Sharanya Krishnan (mellifluous vocal music), Nellai D Kannan (Mridangam), Sitarama Sharma (Violin) and Vijay Venkatesh (Flute).
R Srinivasan
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