Raga Saptha Swaram, a cultural and social service organisation, celebrated Vijayadasami in a significant way. Presentation of ‘Swarna Kankanam’ to renowned dancer Rajeswari Sainath and hosting of the Bharatantyam ballet, ‘Sri Lalitha Vaibhavam’.
Staged at Ravindra Bharati, this ballet was composite of some chosen ‘Lalitha Sahasranama Stotrams’ converted into lyrical form and presented in dance format.
It was floating effulgence, radiant splendour of scintillating cosmic energy though invisible but felt in this show. Rajeswari Sainath conceived this theme with the help of scholar Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma who also added some slokas from Sankaracharya’s Soundarya Lahari .
The strong points of this show were dance choreography by Rajeswari, music score by Rajkumar Bharati and rhythm concept of Guru Karaikkudi Mani. The dances were presented to a pre-recorded music. The ballet was a continuous flow of dance and music divided between two groups — one led by Rajeswari and other by her daughter Vaishnavie. The choreography and rhythm were so taut, they demanded perfection in every move of the artistes in jati presentation and mimetic spells that artistes met with ease. The devotional element was taken care of byRajeswari and the narrative part of the theme went to Vaishnavie.
In the final part, Lalitha’s dynamism, radiance, beauty and equanimity were all brought into view by Vyshnavie, particularly in sequences where Lalitha faces demon Bhandasura. The way Goddess Lalitha equips herself with a chariot, elephants, horses and weapons and then riding chariot were all mimetically shown was worth watching. The saber duel between Lalita and the demon mirrored Vaishnavie’s newly acquired knowledge of Kerala martial art form Kalarippu that she used in fight with the demon. It also included engaging sword play, catapults and so on. Finally the Goddess stabbing Bhandasura with a trident and standing by the side of vertical sword she put in his belly added to the thrill of the drama.
Rajeswari stood central figure in most of the drama with awesome dances etched in complicated jatis presented with utter devotion and perfection. Her depiction of Dasavatara just sitting and portraying the ten avatars by just holding hastas to the Sanskrit line Karanguli Nakothapa Narayana Dasaakriti was another impressive sequence. The ballet ended with Sri Lalitha seated in her throne under a silvery arch resembling what we see in sanctum sanctorum of a temple; where part of the text of Soundaryalahari was rendered.
At a function arranged later, K.V. Ramanachari IAS (Retd.) advisor, Culture, Telangana State while honouring Rajeswari Sainath called it an unmatched event at an appropriate time. Vijayababu, Commissioner, Right to Information, presided over the function while R.V. Chandravadan, Commissioner, Information and Public relations, Telangana; K.I. Varaparasada Reddy, Chairman, Shanta Biotechnics were the special invitees.
