50 Scholars Light Up PSTU Auditorium

The NTR Auditorium at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University was buzzing with activity when nearly 50 scholars came together to present their research papers at the two-day Gaandharvam …Saadhanaath Saadhyam, a National Paper Presentation Seminar on Indian Classical Music and Dance hosted by the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Department of Dance and Navya Nataka Samiti at N.T.R. Auditorium, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, last weekend. Many dancers picked up interesting topics and set the thought process rolling. All the research papers submitted have been brought out in a book format, while some of them were present in person, some were absent. Dr. Indira Hema, Seminar Incharge, Dr. Vanaja Uday, HoD, Dept. of Dance, PSTU; Smt. N. Sudhamala Co-ordinator, were very pleased with the response to the seminar. Dr. Aruna Bhikshu, HoD, Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad,  was the chief guest at the concluding day.   

After the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, the programme started with Dr. Bhagavatula Sethuram, chairing the session and Satvika Penna as the session convenor. M. Sudhamala presented a paper on Lasyangalu Pariseelana, Vani Ramana V. on Yakshagana Kavayitrulu – Vaari Rachanalu, Rohini Kandala on Hasthabhinayam, Dr. P. Indira Hema on Lalitha Kalalu – Soundarya Darsanam, Madhumathi Kulkarni on Karnataka Yakshaganallo Paatra Pravesa Vidhanam, Dr. Vanaja Uday presented a brief note on Abhinavagupta, while Dr. Vijaypal Pathloth highlighted the Dasharoopakam – The Ten Categories of Drama. 

In the second session before lunch, Kuchipudi dancer Pujita Krishna spoke about Nayaka-Nayika Bhedas in “Rasa Kalika”, Deviation from Natyasastra, which was chaired by Dr. Vanaja Uday and Dr. Vijaypal Pathloth was the convenor. Prasanna Bakshi spoke on Chandrika Parinayam- Nrutyam, Aditya P. Deshmukh presented Innovations in Tabla Solo Rendition of Banaras Gharana, G. Vedavathi on Artistic Evolution in a Child – A Comprehensive Nurturing Classical Dance and Its Role, Aparna Mahesh on Reflections of a Specially Skilled Dance Teacher Working With Visually Impaired Girls,  Sahiti Iyengar on Yakshagaana Traditions of Melattur and Kuchipudi, K Y Manjula on Sri Radhesyam Vedantam Natya Prasthanam and Dr. B. Radha Sarangapani on  Noukacharitram – Yakshaganam. 

In the third session on the inaugural day, many interesting topics were presented. It began with Sangeeta Bodhana Parinaamam by Dr. Vijay Oni, followed by Dr. V. Tirupataiah on Jathiswaram – Swarajathi, Sarvesh Joshi on Vedic Literature in Indian Music, Emani Sri Poornima on Vivadi Ragas handled by Thyagaraju, Indumathi G. Taalavaisishtyam on Kuchipudi Natyam, Dr. P. V. Kundanika on The Art of Healing a Scientific and Therapeutic Perspective of Dance, and Dr. R. Sreekanth on Mridanga Bodhana Paddhatulu. This session was chaired by Dr. Radha Sarangapani, while Smt. Rohini Kandala was the session convenor.

On Day 2, of session one, Dr. Radha Sarangapani was in the chair with Smt. Vani Ramana V. as the convenor. Srinidhi Chakravartula presented a Compositional Study of Graha Swara Bheda Vinyasam in Abhyasaganam and Sabhaganam, Pranathi Vyzarsu on Rare Ettugada Swaraas of Musical Compositions, Sarvani Eswara on Aesthetics and Techniques from Varnams (With a Special Reference to Veena Kuppaiyar’s Reethigaula Atatala Varnam), Sesha Sudhamadhuri SV on Classification of Musical Instruments In Various Treatises, Dr. Sindhuja on The Vocals of Kuchipudi, Pavithra Akunuri on Kuchipudi Nrutya Rupakalu- Kavi Lakshanalu, Lalitha Sree Sowmya on Pratyabhinayam and Dr. Ratnasree on Bhamakalapam Nayikavasthalu-Jadacharita.

In session two, Kuchipudi dancer Koka Vijaya Lakshmi presented a paper on Jaavali – Sringara Kaahali, S. Manognya spoke about Paatra Pariseelana Badhyatalu, N. Sreelatha on Gollakalapam – Adhyatmika Samajika Prayojanam, Satwika Penna on Desi Techniques in Eka Patra Kelika Repertoire,  Dr. Sravana Koumudi on The Health Benefits of Kuchipudi Dance, K. Hima Teja on Kuchipudi Natya Prasthanamlo Paatrala Visishtatha and Sonu SK on Traversing Traditions (an analytical study of the characters presented In Kutiyattam and Kuchipudi) was chaired by Dr. Ratnasree, with Smt. Sneha Ramachander G. as the convenor.

The last two-hour session was chaired by Dr. R. Sudhakar with Smt. Sreelatha N. as the convenor. Those who presented papers included Rekha Garishakurthi on Andhra Natyam Naadu-Nedu, K. Sneha Ramchander on Contribution by Dr. Balantrapu Rajani Kantha Rao to Dance, Kanaka Vijaya Lakshmi D. on Nrutya Rupaka Parikalpanalo Dr. Uma Rama Rao Krushi, Satya Rekha Voleti on C.R. Acharyulu Yokka Alamelu Manga Vilasam -Sameeksha, Radhika K. a brief review on Spirituality in Annamacharya Sankeertanaas, Priyanka Bharde on Shiva as Layam in Music and Dance and Mahathi Mudumbai on Aharyabhinayam.

Among the notable absentees who could not present their papers included 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗸𝗮 P𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿, 𝗗𝗿. P 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮 D𝗲𝘃𝗶, 𝗠. 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗷𝗶𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘀𝗵, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮, 𝗡𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣. 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿. 𝗥, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦. 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝘆𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮, and 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗷𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗶 𝗗. While majority of the scholars were from the city, those who came from outside were – 𝗔𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘆𝗮 𝗣. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝘂𝗸𝗵 and 𝗔𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮 M𝗮𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗵 from Pune, 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗶 from 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗽𝘂𝗿, 𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗶 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗿 from 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗿, 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶 from 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗩. 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 from 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹 and 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶 S𝗿𝗶 P𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮, 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗵𝗶 C𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮, 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗘𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮 S𝘂𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗶 from 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶 and 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗮 K𝗼𝘂𝗺𝘂𝗱𝗶, a government doctor from 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 added interesting facts and value to the conference.