A vivacious evening of Veeranatyam and Chitra Veena

The incessant rains moved the audience from the open air auditorium to the indoor Ethnic Hall in Shilparamam, on day one of the Indian Dance Festival Hyderabad 2016, hosted by Naatyasamgraha, on Saturday. The showers led to a sparse attendance but those who braved the rains, experienced the magic of distinctive music and dance forms.
The concert was no ordinary affair. Hardly do Hyderabadis get to savour the rich sound of the Chitra Veena and the grandeur of Veeranatyam.The spectacular performances showcasing the diverse cultural heritage of South India kept the audience spellbound throughout the two-hour show. Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao, a well-known Telugu writer, composer and poet, was felicitated at the event with a 15-minute video, which was met with a thunderous applause as well.
A unique instrument and an expert musician
The crowd was treated to the rich music of Chitra Veena, a 20-string instrument played by Vishaal Sapuram. NC Bharadwaj on mridangam and Chandrasekhar Sharma on ghatam joined Vishaal to make some mesmerising music. While the sonorous sound of Chitra Veena took the audience into a trance, the quick and sharp
repartees between mridangam and ghatam was thoroughly entertaining.
Andhra’s ancient dance form takes the stage
The evening was enlivened with rivetting dhol beats and vibrant dance performances by folk artistes. Called Veeranatyam, this dance form has roots in a ritual performed in Shiva temples. Dressed in vibrant costumes, Chintha Venkateswarlu and his troupe moved energetically to the tempo of live percussion instruments. This traditional dance form of Andhra Pradesh was a fitting finale for Day 1.