Nithyakalyani Vaidyanathan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“It is not just the rehearsals of the last six months but the rigorous training I received from my guru in my early years that has given me the strength and stamina to present Margam today,” said Nithyakalyani Vaidyanathan at the start of her full-fledged Margam for Natyarangam at the Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall. In times when retaining the attention of the audience is a tough task, it is a challenge to keep their interest for two and a half hours. And Nithyakalyani lived up to it.
Given her experience, it was no surprise that she was able to masterfully present the core elements of Bharatanatyam – Adavu, Attami and Teramanam – with subtle abhinaya and a great selection of songs.
The opening pieces Alaripppu (choreographed by Adyar Lakshmana) and Jathiswaram (choreographed by Kanjeevaram Ellapappa Pillai) in Tisra Dhruva taal brought a lot of rhythmic energy. This was followed by the popular Shabdam ‘Sarasijakshudu’.
KN Dhandayuthapani Pillai raised a grand edifice of musical aesthetics in his Navaragamalika varnam ‘Swamiyi Azhaithodi Vaa’, weaving appropriate ragas to suit the mood of the songs. The heroine asks her friend to bring her lord, who is adorned with a crescent moon and has the Ganges flowing through his hair. At the beginning of each line, Nityakalyani expressed the essence through mukhabhinaya before expanding the ideas with elaborate sancharis.
In poet Kunjara Bharati’s padam, ‘Yenganum Vaara Vaara’ in Raga Kalyani, and Patnam Subramanya Iyer’s Javali, ‘Appudu Manasu’ in Raga Khamas, the dancer performed various heroines with contrasting emotions. But the highlight was the Kshetrayya padam ‘Ninnu Jochi’. Radha Bhadri’s soulful singing added to the charm. The padam describes the heroine’s reaction when the hero returns home after a long time. Her apt abhinaya made the audience experience the heroine’s emotional state.
Nithyakalyani’s acting conveyed the essence of the song. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Nityakalyani’s experience once again came to the fore in Behag Tillana, which was danced at such a pace that one could enjoy the rhythmic beauty of the dance.
The musical group comprised Jayanti Subramaniam on nattuvangam, Radha Badri on vocals, KP Nandini on violin, Guru Bharadwaj on mridangam and Shruti Sagar on flute.
