Six young dancers – Matsa Samyukta, Mahati Bhiksu, Venkata Srivani Suri, Lakshmi Vempadappa, Sri Chakravarthy and Sravya Pannala were honoured with the Natya Vikas award in recognition of their dedication in the field of Kuchipudi, at the Kalopasana event conducted by Nruthyadeekshalaya, the Gateway to Kuchipudi, at the Ravindra Bharathi on the last Sunday of June. All performances were of high quality. Doyens Sri LV Subrahmanyam garu and Dr. Aruna Bhikshu appreciated the artists and Nruthyadeekshalaya founder and dancer Lakshmi Shankar, and her son, S.V.K.V.P. Deekshitulu, for conducting a big festival for youngsters.
The evening’s performance began with Smt. Bala Tripura Sundari Chavali’s disciple Matsa Samyukta’s, ‘Pahi Pahi Bala Ganapate’, a composition of Mazhavai Chidambara Bharathi in Ragam Hamsadhwani. Next, she presented Sri Jayadeva’s Astapadi, ‘Sancharadadara’, a masterpiece of Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Set to Ragamalika beautifully choreographed by Sri Bhagavathula Seetharama Sarma.
The second performer of the evening was Mahati Bhiksu, who danced to choreographies tuned by her mother and Guru, Dr. Aruna Bhikshu Garu. She opened her recital with ‘Shiva Stuthi’, extraction of Sri Shiva Panchakshara Nakshatra Mala Stotram, a music composition of Sri DSV Sastry in Ragam Amritavarshini and Adi talam. This was followed by Sri Swati Thirunal’s Javali, ‘Saramaina Matalanni’, portraying khanditha nayika. Set to Behag Ragam and Rupaka talam.
Venkata Srivani Suri, disciple of Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, of Nruthyadeekshalaya performed to a spectacular Swarajathi, ‘Pahimam Brihannayike’, a composition of Sri Swathi Thirunal and choreographed by S.V.K.V.P. Deekshitulu. Srivani Suri performed only a single piece, which was 20-minute long. The dancer made full justice to the song. She carried the audience on a magical journey on this particular swarajathi. One word for the choreographer, who choose different gathis and jathis incorporating different hasta bhedas and chari bhedas to create more complex appeal.
Lakshmi Vempadappa, disciple of Smt. Sandhya Raju, following Srivani Suri, started her recital with Rukmini Pravesam taken from Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam’s awestruck choreography Rukmini Kalyanam, written by Sri Bhujangaraya Sarma and tuned by Sri Patrayani Sangeetha Rao in Ragam Kalyani and Misra Chapu talam. She next performed Sri Jai Kishore Mosalikanti’s choreography, ‘Bramhamokkate’, one of the most famous Annamacharya Keerthana describing the oneness in mankind and unites in Lord Venkateshwara, set in Ragam Bowli and Adi talam.
Sri Chakravarthy, Disciple of Smt. Srimayi Vempati, from Dr. Vempati’s Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai, presented Late Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam’s choreographies. He opened his performance with Natesha Kauthvam in Ragam Hamsadhwani, a composition of Gangai Muthu Nattuvanar, in praise of the Lord of Dance, Lord Nataraja, which helped him to portray the vibrancy and vigour of the Lord. His next performance was ‘Manduka Shabdam’, one of the most traditional compositions in Kuchipudi dance, set to Ragamalika and Misra Chapu talam. This was an episode from Maha Bhagavatham Gajendra Moksham and there is no denying that Sri Chakravarthy performed brilliantly.
Sravya Pannala, disciple of Smt. Pavani Sreelatha and Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda Tadakamalla, was the last artist to perform of the evening. The three dance pieces she selected to perform were choreographed by her Guru Smt. Pavani Sreelatha Prasad. She began her performance with Annamayya Kruthi – ‘Tiru Tiru Javarala’ set in Nata Ragam and Tisra Gathi Adi. Next, she performed Javali, composition of Sri Nallan Chakravarthula Krishnamacharyulu depicting the sweeya nayika and vasakasajjika avastha in Ragam Neelambari and Adi Talam. The curtains came down with Thillana, composed by Sri DSV Sastry in Ragam Anthya Surati and Adi Talam in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.
‘Vachaspati’ Murali Krishna held the evening’s show together with his beautiful narration.
Photos by Sri Muralidhar Gonugunta