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Can two cute 'live' baby dolls, representing a groom and bride, and six other 'invisible' girls hiding in the garb of cows and calf steal thunder from the others in a spectacular dance -ballet comprising a 60-strong cast?
Yes, they can, they did. 'They' are Shreya Suresh, 'Kutti' Sanjana, Janani, Sruthi, Krithika, Dhavalya, Medha Hari, and Akshaya, who, with their frozen postures, wagging tails and divin.e bobbing mischievous heads, won everybody's appreciation. It was last Tuesday evening at the Naradha Gana Sabha hall, when Anitha Guha's Bharathanjali staged the story of the Lord of Tirumala-Tirupati-'Sadha Venketesam Smaraami Smaraami" - 'I meditate on Lord Venketesa, ever.'
 Scenes rolled by swiftly and brilliantly in that 90-minute breathtaking show from Satyalokam (Creator Brahma's abode) to Mount Kailas (Siva's dwelling) and Sri Vaikuntam, Lakshmi Narayana's heavenly residence. Sage Brighu's quest to ascertain who is the Lord Supreme ends at Vaikuntam. Slighted by Brahma and Siva at the other two places, Brighu gets his answer at Vaikuntam. In the process, Lord Vishnu gets kicked by an incensed sage in his chest where consort Lakshmi is the in-dweller. The sage is pacified, honoured and pleased. Lakshmi deserts her Lord in a huff. It is all a divine drama in a dance drama for the sake of devotees in their larger interests. Revathi Sankaran briefed the audience in inimitable style.
The story unfolds gradually. Vishnu incarnates as Srinivasa, meets Padmavathi whom he marries eventually after many blessed trials. Even heaven hath no fury like a woman in a huff. The story is too well-known for detailed repetition here. The narration was through crisp flow of thoughtfully chosen lyrics in Tamil, with appropriate melodies, 50 of them, if you please.
 The scenic boom was admirable. The Lord resting on Adhisesha with his consort Lakshmi (Madhumathi Thyagarajan and Charanya Narayanaswamy) beside him, playing dice and having a pleasant and blissful interlude : the many-hooded serpent bobbing soothingly on the milky ocean ( Anitha, that is Thirupaarkkadal and not Vaikuntam): the Siva Parvathi - Ardhanariswara dance (faultless execution by Charanya Ragothhaman and Prathiba), the two in one male - female representational dance: the divine cow feeding Srinivasa in the ant-hill: the gradual flowering of Padmavathy from infanthood to maidenhood: her sports with her companions ( the Pinnallattam-Kolattam scene was well knit, well-structured and delightfully unravelled): Child Krishna's heart-warming pranks and many other episodes were winsomely presented without in anyway offending aesthetic sensibilities.
The trouble is, which to mention, which to elaborate, which to gloss over and which to dwell upon, when every scene was powerfully and grippingly played.
 But then, the divine pair Lord Venketasa (Madhumathi) and consort Padmavathy (Aishwarya Narayanaswamy) were just divine. At the end of the show, it was noticed that many touched the pair with a lot of reverence and others jostling with each other just to touch them 'stealthily'. How could Madhumathi wear all those heavy ornaments and the large garland for long duration should have caused many to wonder?The Lord wore many more jewels than his consort
The Kurathi (gypsy girl -Charanya) was natty and naughty, delightfully so. The 'finale' was superb, what with the bride and bridegroom and their respective parties making a grand procession on either side, walking slowly down the aisles, producing a feast for the eyes. It was a divine wedding.
 Anitha's dance-ballets are a welcome problem. She entertains us, delights us with a huge cast, each one of them making on each and every one in the audience an indelible impact. Seasonal space crunch bars individual mention. Friends, courtiers, thozhis, peacocks, the sage, Yasodha and the one and only male cast Yatin (courtier) need better mention. Sorry please.
Veteran P.R. Venkatasubramaniam's lyrics and compositions, concept, choreography, nattuvangam and vocal by Anitha, vocal support by Kalyani Kalyanaraman, Padmanaban's mridangam, Muruganandam's violin, Ramesh's flute, and many other supports enhanced the presentation greatly.
A truly remarkable ballet by Anitha Guha and her Bharatanjali family. Do go and witness this show of shows.
R Srinivasan
18 A, 4th Main Road, RA. Puram,
Chennai 600 028. Phone 24355576
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