Bharatha Natyam and the Tamil culture

by Subashini Pathmanathan

The folk dance form is regarded as Desi dance form, because it belongs to a certain Pradesha. It reflects religion, regional customs, and traditions, of the selective area. These folk dance forms differ, from region to region, place to place, and district to district. Hence the folk dance varies from place to place.

Similarly, a dance form which transcends the international barriers acquires worldwide recognition, which is known as Margi. This Margi dance form is deeply rooted in culture, tradition, philosophy, and religion.

Bharatha Natyam dancer

Bhartha Natyam is certainly a margi dance form. It has a well refined and highly sophisticated art form. Bhartha Natyam is a Tamil Classical dance form based on Hindu philosophy, and Hindu traditions and Hindu culture. Besides these, Bharatha Natyam is totally based on the Tamil Language, yet some of the Kirthanams, songs, surajathi and Varnam items are in Telugu language, because until 1953, Madras presidency and Andhra state were together. (Surajathi was only in Carnatic music but not included in the Bharatha Natyam. But now, some dancers adopt Surajathi for dance).

Bharatha Natyam is the classical dance form of the Tamils. It has its own grace, charm, and standing in the international sphere. Wherever Bharatha Natyam is practised, it is expected to remain the same quality, and norms.

This particular art form is not only followed and practised in India alone, but also preserved and practised by the expatriate Tamil community all over the world. Bharatha Natyam is often referred to as ‘Bharatham’. This word is derived from the Tamil word “bavam”,”ragam”, and “Thalam’.

Yet Bharatha Natyam is often regarded as the state dance of Tamil Nadu.

However, the Tamils all over the world preserve and practise, and carry out this art form.

Some times back, some section of Sri Lankan Tamil expatriate community wanted to have a separate dance of their own. Even still some sections of the Sri Lankan Tamils, want to develop a new classical dance form of their own identity. They regard that Bharatha Natyam is an Indian Classical dance form.

It actually reveals that they are ignorant, and they do not have any deep knowledge and depth in the traditional Tamil culture and Tamil civilization. Such a suggestion is preposterous. They argue that the style of spoken Tamil language and their social practices differ from place to place, and region to region. Even it differs from one area to an other area; within the same country, the Tamil grammar and the Tamil alphabetical letters remain the same. Similarly, the classical Tamil music and the Tamil classical dance form must be always one and the same for all the Tamil community all over the world.

Some self-styled business minded dance teachers introduce numerous, baseless innovations in the classical Bharatha Natyam dances,which cannot be regarded as the rich classical oriental dance form of Sri Lanka. Hence it is impossible to advocate that Sri Lankan Tamil community must try to develop a classical dance form of their own by using their own ideas, without any firm footing.

A classical dance form must substantially adhere to the principles of Natya Sastra. To develop a separate classical dance form one must understand that a distinct literature and deep philosophy are needed. Above all a separate music, which must be entirely different from the classical Carnatic Music is needed. Besides all these, a separate Thala structure should be found.

It means that such a dance form needs a grammar and idiom of its own.

India is the homeland for 55 million Tamils, and Sri Lanka is geographically separated by only 18 miles of sea. The Indian influence has inevitably continued to dominate the Sri Lankan Tamil culture.

There is no doubt that Sri Lankan Tamil community has variety of folk dances. These folk dances vary from area to area, and province to province according to the social customs, and practices.

Due to the 30 years of war in this beautiful island, numerous folk (Desi) dance traditions, and traditional folk dance artistes have migrated, or died or many of them have abanded their professions due to numerous reasons. The reasons for the less popularity of the folk dances today are being shaded by the popularity of the classical dances, and also due to the development of the modern technology like T.V, Cds, Home video system, and computer technology. Some of them are trying to revive it. Some of the traditional folk dance forms have gained state recognition, and are being preserved, and imparted as a subject at the university level.