Arathana, a splendid dance performance

by Priyadarshini Sadagopan

The Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Colombo 6 was packed with art lovers recently to see a dance performance presented by Subashini Pathmanathan and her pupils.

Students of Subashini Pathmanathan

Normally in Sri Lanka the recitals are displayed as carnival shows, using a large number of students and stage decorations. However, Arathana was quite a different show which revealed high standards. Subashini has maintained high standard while training her students.

The program started with Vinayagar Sthuthi followed by Pushpanjali performed by a group of students including Reeyana Nandwani, Oshadhi Uthpala, Sujth Nishantha, Yelani Siyara Wijesundara and Nakshathra Surendran. They performed four different classical dances. In each item the students proved their exceptional skills in pure Nirtha and Nirthya. Seven-year-old Reeyana Nandwani performed a Keerthanam on Lord Krishna. It was in the raga Sri Ranjani and set to Aathi Thala. It portrayed how the adopted mother of Lord Krishna advises him to be a good child by avoiding his mischievous pranks. She expressed her distress over his mischievous behaviour. Reeyana expressed her exceptional skills of Bhava in the Keerthanam. She captured the hearts of the audience.

Another remarkable talented dancer is Tharushi Yashodha Nimal Nishantha. She performed along with Grithvhina Ganesh and Mahetiri Mahendanayagam. Tharushi Yashodha’s expressions were excellent. Grithvhina Ganesh and Mahetiri Mahendanayagam also performed certain individual dances. Mahetiri Mahendanayagam performed a gypsy dance based on typical Themangu Raga.

The twin sisters Dineesha Wijayasuriya and Dinusha Wijayasuriya presented a brilliant performance. Both of them proved their skills in Nirtha with graceful Nirthya. They performed Sai Vanthanam in Gabiranatai raga, Ennavil in Malayamarutham raga and Kandavatham in Valachi raga. They never failed to prove their outstanding skills in the alien dance form.

Subashini is a disciple of world renowned dance maestro Padmashree Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai. Vazhuvoor’s classical Bharatha Natya style is unique. This is still protected only by the Gurukula tradition. It has not moved to the institutional level.

Hymn

Subashini started the evening with ‘Appannee Ammai Nee’ a Thiruthandakam hymn of Saint Appar which she dedicated to her late father. In the devotional hymn she addressed Lord Shiva as her father, mother and all of her relations in the world. The Virutham emotionally appealed to the audience. It was followed by a Keerthanam in the Mayamalagowlai raga set to Aathi thala,in which the dancer addressed the omnipotent Lord inquiring the mystery behind his cycle of creation and destruction.

It was followed by another descriptive Keerthanam ‘Adputha Chippi’ on Lord Shiva. It was one of Subashini’s favourite Keerthanams commonly seen in all her stage performances. It is a composition of the great Bharatha Natya maestro the late Padamashree Thandauthapanni Pillai. It is in the raga Ragamaliga, set to Aathi Thala. The deep devotional song described the beauty of Ananda Thandava pose, the sculptural piece of Lord Nataraja.

Next was a poetic item. It was a composition of the great Tamil poet Bharthi Dasan’s ‘Thunpam nerkyail’ which describes the exceptional melody of the ancient Tamil musical instrument Yarl.

It was in the raga Desh and set to Aathi Thala. The dancer executed the item with full involvement and emotions.

Lord Vishnu

The Telugu Keerthanam on Lord Vishnu described the divine acts of Lord Vishnu. Different incarnations of Lord Vishnu were beautifully described in the melodious Keerthanam in the heart-melting raga Kamas and set to Aathi Thala. Only an experienced and exceptional dancer can perform the complicated Keerthanam with full of Sakiythiya Swaras. The central piece of the dance recital was the one act dance drama Kutrala kuravanchi of the 18th century. It was an excellent item. Nearly six different characters were involved in the dance drama.

Subashini Pathmanathan

Subashini portrayed six different characters including Kadiyakaran (story teller), Lord Shiva, Vasantha Valli (heroine) maids of Vasantha Valli, Kuravan, (Gypsy man), and Kurathi–gypsy woman.

Attraction

Another attraction was her part in changing the rhythmic step patterns for different Thala, Kala and Laya. The story of the dance drama sarted with a procession of the presiding deity of Kutrala temple the Lord Shiva, named Kutrala Nathar.

According to the story, the Kutrala Nathar, goes in a procession on his vehicle bull. At that time the princess Vasantha Valli, who was playing with her maids saw the procession of the Kutrala Nathar and fell in love with him.

Due to the overwhelming love she refused to take food, or water, or to wear the fresh flower garlands. All her attitudes showed the signs of depression. Friends Vasantha Valli is were curious to know the cause of her abnormal behaviour.

They tried to perform numerous rituals to relieve her from her depression. At the end, the maids came across a gipsy woman, who was a soothsayer. They asked her to find out the cause of her depression.

The gypsy woman read the palm of the princess and told them that the lovelorn princess Vasantha Valli was attracted by the beauty of Lord Siva, (Kutrala Nathar) and said Lord Shiva, would be her husband.

The last scene of the dance drama depicted, how the husband of the gypsy woman was looking for his wife all over Tamil Nadu. At last he came to the sacred temple of Kutrala Nathar and worshipped the Lord. Then he found his wife. They prayed to the Lord and surrendered themselves to him.

Subashini played the vital role in the show Arathana and revealed her full dedication and long standing experience, hard work and determination in her dancing career.