Arangetram Write-up
Namaskaram and good evening to everyone. We welcome you all to the Arangetram of
Kumari Ruthreshwari and Kumari Sahaana. On this special occasion we have with us …….
This evening’s performers, Kumari Ruthreshwari and Kumari Sahaana, are trained in the
Pandanallur style of Bharatanatam by Smt. Anitha Suren, a disciple of “Kalaimamani” Smt. Indra
Rajan, who is a direct disciple of Shri. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, to whom the Pandanallur style is
attributed to, who lived in the village of Pandanallur, in Thanjavur district from 1869 to 1964.
The Pandanallur style developed a reputation for the emphasis on linear geometry that can
be found in the ‘adavu’ techniques and for its intensity and understatement in Abhinaya.
An arangetram is the debut performance of a student of classical dance and music. The first
performance follows years of training and is done when a student reaches a stage of graduation
where the guru presents his/her disciple to the public.
A few words about the artists today. On the Nattuvangam, is Smt. Anitha Suren. On the
vocals we have Kumari Reshika, a former student of Isha Samskriti, trained in classical music by Smt.
Jayashree. On the mridangam is Shri Venkatesh from Palakkad, who had his advanced training under
Shri S.A. Ramakrishnan and Shri Parassala Ravi. On the violin, we have Shri Sivaramakrishnan, who is
a disciple of Vidhwan Sri T.V. Ramanujacharulu and on the flute we have Shri Shankar, a disciple of
Shri Jothi Sharma.
We will begin today’s performance with an invocation song.
A Bharatanatyam recital, especially an arangetram has a definite traditional order of the
items that are performed. This is called a margam. The format of this was formed by the Thanjavur
Quartet, the four court musicians at the time of King Sarfoji in the late 18 th century and till today, this
basic format is taught in the exact same pattern. A margam consists of the following items.
Pushpanjali, Alaripu, Jathiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam or Kirtanam, Thillana and Mangalam.
We will begin the performance with Pushpanjali, which is an offering of flowers to the God,
Guru and the audience in order to seek their blessings. This Pushpanjali is set to Adi thalam and in
the ragam Nattakurinji. Following this, there will be an alaripu, set to thisra eka thalam. The alaripu
is a Nritta piece. It will be supported by a melody in ragam Aberi, from the thirupugazh, an extract
composed by the Shri Balamurali Krishna.
(After alaripu)
The next item in today’s performance is Jathiswaram. The jathiswaram brings out three
aspects of a dance performance. It is a unity of music, rhythm and movement. It is a pure Nritta
piece and thus Anga Shudhdham or proper postures and movements in combination with the flow of
melody and rhythm, evoke a sense of harmony and joy. This Jathiswaram is in Ragam Saraswathi set
to Rupaka thalam. It has been composed by Shri Kanchipuram Ellapa Pillai.
(After jathiswaram)
In the next item, Shabdam, for the first time, Sahithya or words and the Abhinaya or the
expression are introduced. The lyrics and the rhythemic syllables known as jathis alternate in the
Shabdam. Thus both Abhinaya as well as Nritta are found here. Shabda means word of praise. Hence
the Shabdam is a piece in which the God or the King is praised for their beauty, their glory and their
various other qualities. Today’s Ragamalika Shabdam is about Lord Muruga and is composed by Shri
Dhanan Jayan and is set to MIsra Chapu thalam
(After shabdam)
The Varnam is the most enthralling, interesting and challenging item of a Bharatanatyam
recital. There is a perfect synchronization of Bhava, Raga and Tala and also the measure of one of
the Dasapranas or the ten vital characteristics of a good dancer that is Ashrama, endurance, since it
is the longest and the most enduring piece of a Bharatanatyam recital. Today’s Varnam is a
composition of Shri Papanasam Sivan. It is in ragam Nattakurinji and set to Adi thalam.
The Nayika expresses that she is willingly enslaved to the Lord Nataraja and the whole world
knows it. She considers Lord Nataraja as her Nayaka and asks him not to be late as she is waiting for
his blessings. She says that she spends her life uttering his name, and yearns to see his dancing feet.
She is mesmerized by his dance, his beautiful matt-locked hair, the Ganga on his head, the snake
around his neck and calls him Sachidananda, the one in true bliss. He is the one worshipped by
Nandi, Bringi, the ganas, the saints and sages, by Lord Indra and by all the Devas. The Nayika finally
says, Oh! Lord Nataraja, the one with smiling lips, beautiful eyes, magnificent hair and a majestic
walk, please come and bless me.
Now, without further delay, the varnam.
(After varnam)
Before we proceed with the performance, we would like to honor the artists for today.
On nattuvangam, Smt. Anitha Suren ……
On vocals, Kumari Reshika …..
On mridangam, Shri Venkatesh
On violin, Shri Sivaramakrishnan
On flute, Shri Shankar
(After the felicitation)
The next item in today’s performance is a Kirtanam. A kirtanam is an expressive piece and is
characterized by the devotional mood it evokes. A kirtanam describes the virtues or the acts of the
God. Often the lyrics are in praise of a particular deity. This Kirtanam is on Lord Krishna. Here, the
Nayikas call upon Lord Krishna who danced with Gopis of unequalled beauty on the banks of the
river Yamuna. They describe the peacock feather which adorns his knot of hair, swaying slightly
while he dances, his crown encrusted with the nine gems, his Makara shaped earrings swaying, a
mischievous smile flitting across his moon-like face and the fragrant garland on his chest. They say
that, “With the sweet music from his flute, with the women’s eyes revealing their infatuation, you
have understood the desire of the gopis, showering them with your grace, you dance and unite with
them as one.”
(After kirtanam)
The last item for this evening’s performance is Thillana. The thillana is a fast paced Nritta
item which comprises of Pallavi, Anupallavi and the Shaithya which is in the praise of the God or the
deity. Today’s thillana is in the praise of Lord Muruga, in ragam Thilang and set to Adi thalam. We
will conclude this evening’s performance with a mangalam. Thank you one and all for being with us
this evening.
