Dance-dramas for a noble cause

“The penultimate avatar of the reclining Lord Mahavishnu is adored and celebrated by poets and devotees across varied languages and cultures. He is the favourite of ancient composers like Purandara Dasa, Annamacharya, Surdaas, Meera, Narayana Theerthar, Jayadeva, (Ashtapathis), Oothukadu Venkatasubaiyar and many more. 

The thematic dance performance vows to bring to its audience the splendour of this ever charming ‘nighthued’ Lord through the mellifluous compositions of these legends along with those penned by current day vid wans like Neyveli Santhanagopalan and PR Venkatasubramanian. 

This multilingual performance will chronicle Lord Krishna’s life, re-told through dance and music, the stories of Kaliya Nardhanam , Govindha Patabhishekam (crowning of Govinda), Kamsa Vadha (killing of Kamsa) and Geethopadesham will be performed — in each of these highly trying circumstances he has emerged victorious with an ever-playful smile,” says Anitha Guha. 

The 14 members will enact 56 characters and apart from Bharatanatyam, there would be shades of Kathak, Kathakali and Kuchipudi. Talking about Jagat Pavani Ganga, Manasvini Ramachandran says, “This is my mother Revathi Ramachandran’s (Director of Kalakshetra Foundation) vision to showcase all aspects of life that are growing around Ganga. This stage presentation would essay the glory of Ganga interpreted through ancient and contemporary verses that extol her purity and sanctity with an underlying message to protect the sacred river. 

The production interweaves Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music, Garhwali folk music and dance, mime and theatre. The narrative is embedded in the tapestry of stories of the river, raises issues that concern all of us today — of heritage preservation, environmental degradation of our rivers and the scarcity of natural resources that is facing by modern society today.”