Pavithra Srinivasan (13), of Kala Darsana, gave her first important solo recital at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan hall, just a week ago (Saturday, April 10), before a distinguished, full house. Given below are select excerpts from a mutual- review discussion with this 8th standard student of P S Senior Secondary School, Mylapore, of her performance.
“My Guru is well-known senior artiste Jayanthi Subramaniam, Director Founder, Kala Darsana. Earlier, I had learnt the fundamentals of dance under Guru Adyar K Lakshmanan. I have so far about seven years’ intensive- learning experience in this art form. I have participated in group dance productions.
My solo dance performance featured traditional margam format beginning with Pushpanjali - Slokam – Alarippu, wherein I offered my salutations to the Lord of dance, harmony and rhythm. You know, there is rhythm everywhere around us. We have to train ourselves to notice and appreciate this. I worshipped the Cosmic Lord in the ragam Nattai set to Adi Talam, supplemented by a slokam on the Obstacle-Remover Lord Ganesa and the Alarippu in Kandachapu talam. This is the beginning of the margam repertoire – like planting a seed in the fertile soil, holding the tree within itself in its latent form. It is a kind of mental preparedness for the more intricate numbers ahead. I had driven away the initial nervousness, natural on such big occasions, once I focussed myself on the numbers ahead. I admit I was nervous during the first few minutes.
No, I never looked at the audience . My platform was higher, so it was easier for me to look over them, without overlooking my rhythmic responsibilities.
As the seed gets watered and basks in the warmth of the sun, it germinates into a tender shoot. The Ragamalika Jathiswaram, was a pure dance number, studded with brisk adavus (basic units), set to relevant Jathis and Swarams. I gained confidence, became more and more focussed in my art.
The shabdam “Thandai Muzhanga’, a Chembanar Koil Shanmugam composition, on the myriad attributes of Lord Muruga - from a child to a handsome lad wooing Valli- was executed by me with meaningful Abhinaya, simple and striking, like the sprouting of leaves of a plant. The tunesmith was Madurai
T Sethuraman, it was a ragamalika in Misrachapu.
You tell me, Sir, about the quality of my varnam Roopamu Joochi in Thodi –Aadhi of Muthuswami
Dikshitar”.
‘Pavithra, the varnam is the most important item in any dance recital that brings out the best in the artiste, giving her plenty of scope to scale the heights of rhythmic complexities, to explore in great detail different shades of emotions- the rasas – bound by traditions and, yet, innovatively too. I thought you did very well. This is your first major performance. You are on the right track. The composition was in Telugu, it was a devotional piece suited to your age and psyche. You showed class, potential and promise of a high order throughout its 30-minute duration. Keep it up. You have been trained well. You have good stamina for a girl of your tender age.’
“Sir, I thought I enjoyed myself in the performance of the two padams Govindan Kuzhalosai (Ragamalika – Adi), and Shakti Mahadevi ( Charukesi – Adi). I did get enchanted with the lilting melodies of flautist Sri Krishna, in the first padam. I honestly feel I did these two numbers to all round satisfaction.”
‘Pavithra! The finale Thillana -another taxing dance number- in Hindolam, In Kanda Ekam, was short and sweet. You will go far and sooner too!"
“Sir, I owe it all to my revered Guru Jayanthi Subramaniam, who, apart from the intensive training she gave me, did the Nattuvangam too. The mellifluous music of vocalist Radha Badri, Nellai Kannan’s flawless beats on the mridangam, Vijayaraghavan’s blessed violin strings, Ramana’s flute strains and Sumithra’s compering, all these helped and encouraged me greatly. I hope to flower into a mature and seasoned artiste in the years to come. Bless me.”
‘We share your hopes and aspirations in full measure, Pavithra. There are minor faults. You will correct them in due course. Your Guru Jayanthi will certainly help and your parents will encourage you in your quest for perfection. Good Luck."
R Srinivasan
18 A 4th Main Road,
R A Puram
Chennai 28
Phone : 24355576.
e-mail: r_seema30@hotmail.com
Pavithra Srinivasan (13), of Kala Darsana, gave her first important solo recital at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan hall, just a week ago (Saturday, April 10), before a distinguished, full house. Given below are select excerpts from a mutual- review discussion with this 8th standard student of P S Senior Secondary School, Mylapore, of her performance.
No, I never looked at the audience . My platform was higher, so it was easier for me to look over them, without overlooking my rhythmic responsibilities.
You tell me, Sir, about the quality of my varnam Roopamu Joochi in Thodi –Aadhi of Muthuswami
Dikshitar”.
“Sir, I thought I enjoyed myself in the performance of the two padams Govindan Kuzhalosai (Ragamalika – Adi), and Shakti Mahadevi ( Charukesi – Adi). I did get enchanted with the lilting melodies of flautist Sri Krishna, in the first padam. I honestly feel I did these two numbers to all round satisfaction.”
