 Reaching solo age
 Poornima Rangadurai is the disciple of Sudharani Raghupathy, the eminent danseuse-director, Shree Bharatalaya, Chennai. That privilege is enough ‘review’ for the 15-year-old, for Sudharani does not allow any of her disciples to go on stage for a solo recital unless she feels honestly that her ward has come of solo-age.
Poornima had her Rangapravesam in August 2003. She has actively participated in many of the meaningful dance productions of Bharatalaya. She is also the first-place winner in the popular Sunday morning dance-show ‘Thaka Thimi Tha’ on Jaya TV. Poornima has had a six-year assiduous training programme under Sudharani so far and is "fast becoming a complete dancer".
Her solo dance recital, under the aegis of Kartik Fine Arts, at the Mylapore Fine Arts Club, recently, substantiated truly her clear merits right from the Raga Thala Malika Ranganjali to the Hamsanadham (Adi) Thillana of Madurai N. Krishnan.
The ‘Ambha Akilandeswari’ Kalyani: Adi, Madurai Krishnan - Varnam that lasted a full 30 minutes, indicated the committed homework that justly earned for her spontaneous plaudits of the large rasika gathering. She passed with practised ease this prime test for any danseuse who wanted to stay in the dance arena with public support for long. One does hope that Poornima will take to Bharatanatyam seriously for many, many more years and win coveted laurels.
Her ‘jathis’ were appealing in the Suddha Danyasi - Roopakam (Vidwan N.Krishnan) composition. The Varali Varuna sthuthi, and the Kunthalavarali Niruthi sthuthi were good presentations. The two Padams ‘Then Inikkuthe Kalaivani’ (Ranjani, Adi, Suddha Satvananda), and ‘Talar Nadai Ittu Vaarai’ (Mohanam, Adi, Ambujam Krishna) were eloquently elegant. The Krishna theme, in particular, was a winsome portrayal. The Thillana is an important number in a dance recital. Poornima was very much aware of that and her intricate footwork was pleasing.
Roshni’s music, Priya Murle’s nattuvangam, Vijayaraghavan’s violin and the master percussionist K S R Anirudha’s support enhanced the dance recital by several notches.
R Srinivasan
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