Program
Pushpanjali
Ragam : Naatai Talam : Adi
Composer : Traditional
Pushpanjali means offering of flowers to the Lord of dance, Natraja.
This is the first dance in an arangetram. The dancer offers flowers to the Gods and salutes Lord Nataraja. She also seeks blessing from her gurus, and the audience. She also seeks both blessings and forgiveness to Mother Earth for dancing on her.
In this pushpanjali, the dancer seeks blessings from Lord Ganesha, for the removal of obstacles.
Pushpanjali
Gajavadana
Gajavadana
Ragam : Sri Ranjani Talam : Adi
Composer : Papanasam Sivam
In this song, he praises Lord Ganapathy who is the first and foremost God in the hindu pantheon. He is the son of Lord Shankara (Shiva).He has a big stomach but he is beautiful. Before anyone starts any important work, they invoke Lord Ganapathy. Lord Ganesha has a lotus feet which all these people come and kneel before.
Kali Kavuthuvam
Raagam : Hamsadhwani Talam : Eka Talam
Composer : Kangaimuthu Pillai
Kavuthuvam is a hymn of devotion in praise of a deity. It was performed by the devadasis as part of daily rituals, or on special occasions or during festivals. This kavuthubam is in praise of Goddess Kali, the mighty and powerful.
Kali Kavuthuvam
Jatiswaram
Jatiswaram
Ragam : Thodi Talam : Rupakam
Composer : Tanjore Quartet
Jatheeshwaram is pure dance, nritta, with no abhinaya. It starts with a jathi which alternates with swarams. The rhythmic patterns are followed bu a charanam and pallavi.
Varnam
Ragam : Panthuvarali Talam : Adi
Composer : Madurai N. Krishnan
Varnam is the centerpiece and one of the complex parts of the performance. It is considered to be a display of the dancer’s nritta, nritya and natya skills since it combines both the laya (footwork) as well as abhinaya (facial expression). It is also a test of the dancer’s temperament and stamina since a varnam demands both fast paced pure dance parts and story-telling expressions with jathis, swaras and the lyrical prts performed alternatively in the elaborate pieve. This varnam depicts the dashavatarams or ten avatars of Lord Vishnu which include matsya(fish) , kurma(tortoise), and varaha(boar).
Varnam
Bhajare Hanumantham
Bhajare Hanumantham
Ragam : Kapi
Talam : Adi
Composer : Kanaka Dasar
This piece is in praise of Lord Hanuman-the monkey god who is a great devotee of Lord Rama. The dancer expresses the story of how Lord Hanuman lights Lanka on fire, during his search for Devi Sita and his unconditional devotion to Lord Rama.
Kavadi Chindu
Ragam : Bhairavi
Talam : Eka Talam
Composer : Subramania Bharathiyar
Kavadi Chindu is a folk dance performed to the song Villinaiotha.
In this, the king among poets tries to contrast the two elements of muruga that endear him to the tamizh people - his valor, and his romancing abilities. In this composition he alternately describes a valorous deed followed by description of a romantic act without skipping a beat.
Kavadi Chindu
Keerthanam
Keerthanam
Ragam : Kedara Gowla Talam : Adi
Composer : Papanasam Sivan
Ananda Nadamidum tells of Lord Shiva's other godly form Nataraja,
And how he dances blissfully expressing his joy through rhythm.
The dance represents both the natural cycles of creationand destruction and its mythological significance. The cosmic dance celebrates the harmonious nature of life.
Thillana
Ragam : Madhuvanthi Talam : Adi
Composer : Lalgudi G.Jayaraman
The Thillana is a rhythmic composition coming just before the end of of an arangetram. It blends artistic poses and vibrant dancing with beautiful lyrics to create a befitting ending.
The enchanting 'Madhuvanthi Tillana' of the legendary composer Shri. Lalgudi Jayaraman is visualized with new dimensions. Madhuvanthi is a romantic raga based on the foundation eternity and colors of love.Madhu literally means honey. It is a very sweet raga with a very simple philosophy of love and romance. The text at the end which is on Lord Krishna is explored as the divine ecstasy experienced by three heroines - Andal, Radha & Meerabai who were the greatest devotees of Lord.Sri.Krishna.
Thillana
Mangalam
Mangalam
Ragam : Maand Talam : Adi
Composer : M. Sambasiva Iyer
Mangalam in praise of Lord Krishna in Ragam Maand composed by M. Sambashiva Iyer. He is described as the one whose eyes are beautiful like the Lotus flower. Born in Dwarka and raised in Brindavan, Lord Krishna is the beloved of the Gopikas, he lifted the Govardhan mountains and wears beautiful silken garments. He is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and protects his devotees by vanquishing evil tendencies.