Rithu Bharatam, the 26th edition of Natyarangam’s annual dance festival, was an exuberant celebration of nature’s beauty, intricately woven through the art of dance. Held over the course of six days, this recent festival featured a blend of seasoned and budding dancers who embarked on a captivating journey through the six distinct seasons, drawing inspiration from Kalidasa’s Rithu Samharam, Sangam literature, and Ragamala paintings.
The festival presented an intellectually rich tapestry of themes curated by resource persons such as Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, R.K. Shriram Kumar, Monali Bala, and S. Raghuraman. The challenging concepts were brought to life by the dancers with remarkable skill and creativity.
The fourth day of the festival was particularly memorable with the theme ‘Sharad Rithu’ — Rising through Fall. Ramya Suresh, a senior disciple and daughter-in-law of guru Indira Kadambi, showcased a performance deeply rooted in her mastery of Angika and Aharya abhinayas. Ramya’s enactment highlighted her profound understanding and artistic interpretation of the autumn season, adorned in a light, flowing colorful skirt and a handmade garland that resonated with the changing hues of fall. Her portrayal captured the poignant relationship between a leaf and the earth over the passage of time, transforming her lithe movements into an evocative dance of swaying leaves tethered to a symbolic tree under the radiant moon.
The evening’s orchestration, led by T.V. Ramprasad’s vocal versatility, supported by the mridangam played by Sri. Vinay Nagarajan, rhythm pads by Pranav Dath, flute by Vivek Krishna, veena by Rakshita Ramesh, and narrative contributions by Apeksha Kamath, enriched the overall aesthetic.
. Cheoreographic themes with a metaphysical twist brought the essence of Ragamala paintings to life, reminding the audience of humanity’s broader spiritual journey and introspection, akin to the transformative journey depicted in ‘The Pilgrims’ Progress’. Ramya’s performance was an homage to the autumnal celebration during Durga Puja, concluding with a powerful invocation to Devi.
As the festival progressed, ‘Hemanth Rithu’ — representing pre-winter — was presented by Uma Satyanarayanan, a senior disciple of guru Chitra Visveswaran. Her performance, known for its versatility, highlighted her multifaceted talents as a dancer, musician, actor, choreographer, and teacher. Uma’s graceful movements and deft Angikabhinaya – the expressive use of the body – spoke to her extensive training. She illustrated the pre-winter season’s beauty and introspective novelty, transitioning from Dakshinayan to Uttarayan, through mythical tales, poetry, and Ragamala’s evocative imagery. Despite the challenging material, Uma’s puppetry segment was both compelling and met with spontaneous applause. Her expressive portrayal of longing and separation in the Sangam passages highlighted her theatrical skills, ending her act with a soulful rendition in raag Surya, signifying the dawn of a new life under the Sun God.
The concluding days saw Indu Nidheesh and Nidheesh’s presentation of ‘Sisiram,’ the late winter season. Their performance explored philosophical undertones with finesse, capturing the season’s stillness and rhythms through various Yatis – specific patterns that give shape to music. The duo’s portrayal reflected life’s different stages, from infancy to old age, creating a narrative that paralleled a tree experiencing different seasons. Indu’s depiction of a pregnant heroine, juxtaposed with the wisdom of a tree, along Sa and other emotive lyrics in multiple languages, anchored the concept to a profound philosophical query. The performance skillfully conveyed themes of transformation and renewal, capturing the essence of Sisiram – the prelude to blossoming. Indu’s poignant portrayal of Kali’s destruction of internal demons and eventual return to serenity depicted a powerful cyclical portrayal of life and nature’s continuity.
In sum, Rithu Bharatam was not merely a dance festival but a profound reflection on nature and human experience, brought to vivid life by the dedication, skill, and interpretative prowess of its performers. Indu and Nidheesh, founders of the Indisha Trust, concluded the event on a high note, earning commendation for their passionate and committed presentation.
