Shirisha Shashank performing at The Music Academy | Photo Credit: M. Srinath
When dance and music blend seamlessly, the performance becomes worth watching. Shirisha Shashank, a disciple of Priyadarshini Govind, performed a solo Bharatanatyam recital at the Sangeet Academy’s mid-year dance festival.
The evening began with a pushpanjali in Raga Hansdhwani based on Rupaka taal, followed by the singing of the Ganesha stuti ‘Pahi pahi bala ganapate’ composed by Mazhwai Chidambara Swamy.
Shirish did justice to ‘Swamiye Vara Solladhi’ varnam. Photo courtesy: M. Srinath M
The next item was ‘Swamiye Vara Solladhi’ varnam in raga Poorvikalyani and taal Adi. This composition by KN Dandayuthapani Pillai expresses a deep sense of yearning and devotion. In this composition, the heroine (Nayika) requests her friend (Sakhi) to bring none other than Kumaraswamy, the Lord himself, to her. Having experienced his grace all her life, she now fully understands his love for her and yearns to see him. She wonders why he is taking so long, questions his intentions and whether he has a heart of stone or he truly loves her. She rendered this long composition with grace and ease.
After the varnam came a padam ‘Mogadochi’ in raga Sahana and it was set to Mishra Chappu, a composition in Telugu. In this piece, the heroine is preparing to bid farewell to Krishna. She says, ‘It is time for me to leave. My husband is at the door to take me away. Please don’t forget the feelings I had for you and please don’t forget me.’ She adds, ‘Don’t worry about me. Just like the sun and the lotus exist together, so do you (the sun), whose rays will always fall on me (the lotus).’ The feeling of love for the Lord was beautifully expressed through the subtle abhinaya.
Shirisha expressed the essence of Padam and Javali very well. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath
The Javali ‘Era Ra Ra’ was performed in Raga Khamas, a composition by Dharmapuri Subbaraya Iyer, set in Adi taal. Here, Radha yearns for Krishna’s attention. The evening concluded with a Tillana in Raga Vrindavani (Adi) composed by Balamuralikrishna.
