Kuchipudi dancer Dr. P Rama Devi led her disciples from the front, on Saturday last, when they took the stage at the Amphitheatre Shilparamam Madhapur and enthralled the audience with their performances at a programme jointly organised by Sri Sai Nataraja Academy of Dance and Shilparamam Madhapur. After the traditional Kuchipudi prayer ‘Ambaparaku’, dancers Dr. Rama Devi, Dr. Athira, S. Aiswarya, Kruthika Priya, Dhruti and Syamantaka Nidhi sought the blessings of Lord Vinayaka – Sri Mahaganapathe Surapathe set in Nata Raga and Adi Tala, setting the mood for the evening. Athira breathed life into the famous Kriti of Dayananda Saraswati ‘Bhosambho’, set in Revathi Ragam and Adi Talam.
Dr. Rama Devi presented the Khandita Nayika Avastha in a Javali written by Thanjavur Chinnayya’s ‘Kopanetula Raka Undunura’ set in Kedaragoula Raga and Rupaka Talam. The dancer brought out all the moods of the nayika to perfection. This was followed by Tyagaraja Kirtana ‘Sambho Mahadeva’ in Panthuvarali Ragam and Rupaka Talam, where Dhruti emoted the Lord of Dance in all his myriad forms.
After obeisance to Lord Shiva, it was seeking the blessings of Goddess Saraswathi. Aiswarya presented Muthuswami Deekshita’s Kirtana ‘Maa Mavathu Sri Saraswati’ in Hindola Ragam and Adi Talam. Kruthika Priya held the audience spellbound, when she presented a piece choreographed by her Guru Dr. Rama Devi and beautifully penned by Swathi Thirunal in Sanskrit in Hamsanandi Raga and Adi Tala. Kruthika attractively presented the piece where on the request of the Gods, during the Pradosha period, Lord Nataraja danced in Chitra Sabha at Chidambaram.
In Annamacharya Kirtana, Syamantakanidhi exhibited how gracefully Alamelumanga dances and meets Lord Srinivasa and falls in love with him. The Kirtana ‘Alarulu Kuriyaga Aadinade’ set in Shankarabharanam Raga and Adi Tala was a treat to watch. The evening concluded with a brisk Thillana, ‘Niri Niri Gamagarisa’ where the origin of Saptaswaras were explained and left the audience tapping their feet.
Though there was no live orchestra, those who lent support to the pre-recorded music, included Srivalli Sharma and Sweta Prasad on the vocals, Guru Dr. P. Rama Devi and Renuka Prasad on the Nattuvangam, Sridharacharya on the Mrudangam, Sai Kolanka on Violin and Uma Venkateswarlu on Flute.