Mysore/Mysuru: The endowment programme of A. Shankara Chetty & Sons was held at Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha’s Mysore Vasudevacharya Bhavan on JLB Road in city recently.

Four established Bharatanatyam dancers, choreographers and organisers — Vidushi Dr. Lakshmi Rekha Arun, Vidu. Vibha Divakar, Lakshmi Tejas and Vidu. Soundarya Panapil (all senior disciples of Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy) — commenced their evening presentation with Mela Prapthi in Ragamalika set to Tala Aadi. Unlike most Bharatanatyam dancers, they fill the stage with lightning movements, their footwork was akin to perfect Solakuttu (Jatis). In this Abhinaya, they portrayed episodes from Ramayana.

Breaking Shiva Dhanush, encountering Parashurama, Sita Swayamvara, Sita Harana, Jatayu Vadha, Sugreeva Milana, Vali Vadha, Lanka Dahana, Ravana Kumbakarna Vadha episodes were presented by them with precession and the rasikas were spell-bound. They continued with Vighnarajam Bhaje, in praise of Lord Ganesha, based on the composition of Vid. Oothukadu Venkatasubba Iyer.

The centre-piece of Bharatanatyam is Vaarna and they chose Dharuvarna in Raga Andolika, set to  Adi Tala composed by Vidu. Nagamani Srinath. Here, they executed several pleasing poses in Abhinaya; their Nruta Nritya and Sanchari were receptive.

Then they presented a popular Vachana in Adi Tala Krishna Mani Raga. The danseuses chose Abhinaya and Sancharis in narrating the Vachana by Akka Mahadevi ‘Betada Mele Ondu Mane Katte.’ This was followed by Dashavatara in Raga Malika, Tala Malika composed by Saint Kanakadasa. They ably depicted the story of Matsya Kurma, Vamana, Narasimha, Rama, Balarama, Krishna and Kalki which were mesmerising. In the most popular Javali Madhura Nagarilo set to Aditala, in Raga Ananda-Bhyravi, Krishna blocks the way to Gopika. He cajoles her, teases her and continues to block her way to Mathura. Finally, he yields to her request and makes way for her to go to Mathura.

The concluding Tillana was in Dhanashree, Tala Adi of Sri Swati Tirunal Maharaja. Here, he praises the presiding deity of Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabha. Dance choreography in Vasundhara Bani was by Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy. Dr. Lakshmi welcomed. Dr. Lakshmi Rekha’s disciple Sai Raksha compered. —Gemini