An Enchanting Evening By Sindhuja & Group

Kuchipudi dancer and Founder of Sinjini School of Arts, Sindhuja and her group presented an enchanting Nrityollasam at the Mini Shilparamam, Uppal, on the eve of Christmas. Sindhuja, who earned her doctorate from the University of Hyderabad recently, presented four dance pieces. Her first piece was a Tyagaraja Kriti – Ma Janaki, set in Kambhoji Raga and Adi Talam. The dance piece was choreographed by her Guru, Dr. Yashoda Thakore. In this, the dancer brought out the qualities of Ma Janaki very beautifully. Her abhinaya was worth watching. Another dance piece choreographed by her Guru, Sindhuja danced was Devulapalli Krishna Sastry’s Ramacharanam, set in Raga Malika Raga and Misrachapu Talam. She picked two compositions based on the Ramayana basically to educate and motivate the audience at the open-air theatre that dance is protecting and spreading Indian culture.

The Kuchipudi dancer also presented Pattabhiramayya Javali, Ni Matalemayanura, set in Kapi Raga and Adi Talam a dance piece choreographed by her. Even in this her Abhinaya and footwork were superb. Her use of the vast stage was well taken care of and needs to be appreciated. She also performed Oothukkad Venkata Subbayar’s composition, Marakatamanimaya Chela, set in Raga Malika and Adi Talam, which had been originally choreographed by the Kuchipudi doyen Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam.

As is customary, the evening’s performance began with students of Sinjini School of Arts, presenting an ode to the elephant-headed God, Ganesha with Vighneswara Stuti, set in Raga Malika and Adi Talam and choreographed by Sindhuja herself. This was followed by Brahmanjali in Raga Malika and Adi Tala, which was composed by Vempati Chinna Satyam. Apart from this composition choreographed by Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, the students presented three more pieces choreographed by him. They were Jatisvaram, Ramayana Sabdam and Koluvaitiva.  

Sindhuja, the Guru is also passing down the art learnt from her Guru to her students. The students performed Swara Pallavi set in Hamsadhvani Raga and Adi Talam. There was lot of appreciation and laurels for Adi Sankaracharya’s penned Bhavani Bhujanga Stotram set in Raga Malika and Khandachapu Tala. The students danced their heart out in the ode to the Devi.

Dance means, Nataraja, and the students presented Swati Tirunal’s Sankara Srigiri set in Hamsanandi Raga and Adi Tala. The piece has been choreographed by Sindhuja and shows the work of a great choreographer in the making. The curtains came down with Tillana, where the students danced to a Lalgudi Jayaraman’s music in Sindhubhairavi Raga and set in Adi Tala choreographed by Aapeksha. The energy of the students was in full bloom in this piece and the audience loved it.