S asirekha Parinayam ’, a traditional Kuchipudi dance drama presented by Mummaneni Subba Rao Siddhardha Kalapeetham, Vijayawada, was a superb treat for classical dance lovers. Brilliantly composed, choreographed and conducted by Professor Pasumarthi Ramalinga Sastri of Cental University, Hyderabad, a disciple of Kuchipudi gurus Vedantam Parvatheesam and Venugopala Krishna Sarma.
Incidentally Ramalinga Sastri learnt Bharatanatyam in Rukmini Arundale’s Kalakshetra, Chennai. Scripted by Vallabhaneni Chowdary, ‘ Sasirekha Parinayam ’ narrates the episodes of Subhadra proposing the wedding of her son Abhimanyu with Balarama’s winsome daughter Sasirekha. Brothers Balarama and Krishna accept the proposal. Abhimanyu and Sasirekha also fall in love with each other in Dwaraka.
Meanwhile King Duryodhana, due to wily Sakuni’s plans, demands that his son Lakshmana Kumar marry Sasirekha. Alarmed, Subhadra seeks the intervention of Srikrishna to resolve the crisis. Srikrishna deputes Ghatotkacha, son of Hidimbi and Bhima to go and set things right so that the Sasirekha - Abhimanyu wedding takes place as planned.
Retelling a story Scenes from the ballet ‘Sasirekha Parinayam’.
Ghatotkacha goes to Dwaraka and with his magical powers, settles the matter. The dance drama ends with Sasirekha’s parinayam (wedding) with Abhimanyu.
Excellent performances came from V. Venkateswarlu (as Ganapathi), Venkatanaga Chalapathi Rao (Srikrishna), Surendra (Balarama), Girija (Subhadra), Subbaraju (Abhimanyu), Sahitya (Sasirekha), Swetha, Vaishnavi, Deepika, Priya (Sakhis), P.Srinivasa Sarma (Duryodhana), Ajaya Srinivas (Ghatotkacha) and Bh. Ramamurthi (Lakshmana Kumara).
Efficient orchestral support by D.V.S.Sastri and his wife Padma Sasti (vocal), K.Rajagopalachary and P.Anjaneyulu (violins), V.L.Narayana (veena), V.B.S.Murali (flute) and D. Jayakumarachary (tabla) as well as D.S.V.Sastri’s melodious singing and Ramalinga Sastri’s superb intricate nattuvangam deserve special mention. The credits for technical finesse go to Prabhu, Yugandher, Lakshmi and Jitendra.
