Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Indika and Vaishaalini

Chelvatam by Maniccavasagar

The Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Vaishaalini Rajaratnam and Indika Ponraj was held recently. “Bharatha Choodamani”, Natya Shiron Mani” Srimathy Vasanthakumari, Director of Bharathashethra Natyalayam, Middlesex, UK was the chief guest while T P L Raj was the guest of honour.

Selvi Indika Ponraj and Selvi Vaishaalini Rajaratnam are the disciples of Srimathy Suryakala Chandrika Jeevananthan who is one of the dedicated Bharatha Natya exponent. She stands out as a classicist in the field of Bharatha Natyam endowed with splendour. She was born in Haputhale and received her education at Girls High School, Kandy. She has done her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA) from the Bharathidasan University, Trichirapalli and she is also a research scholar at Sangutha Nataka Academy, New Delhi.

Indika Priyadharshani Ponraj is the daughter of Mr & Mrs Govindan Ponraj. She was educated at St Anthony’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo 3. She has participated in many dance programmes and television programmes choreographed by her teacher. Currently she is working as an assistant teacher at Shriram Shrishti School of Dance.

Vaishaalini Rajaratnam is a past pupil of Colombo Good Shepherd Convent. She excelled in her studies and developed a special talent on leadership. Since an early age, she had shown immense talent in dance and had received many prizes at school for her achievements in classical dance. In addition to all these she was prizes in announcing and debate competitions.

Arangetram implies scholars’ approval before a learned body. According to Bharatha Natya sastric principle it is clearly defined:- “Where the hands go, there also should go the eyes, where the eyes go, there should go the mind, where the mind goes, Bhava should follow and where the Bhava goes, there rasa arises”

Indeed, the dance performances of Indika Ponraj and Vaishaalini Rajaratnam, were of high standard and the audience marvelled at the astounding mastery of the difficult dance techniques of these students and the power of their exposition was unique.

Indika and Vaishaalini started their performance with Pushpanjali followed by Alarippu which is always the first item in the Bharatha Natyam performance and literally means flowering. This dance is in the nature of an invocation commencing with the salutation of God, Guru and the Learned. This is followed by Jathiswaram which is a dance of pure Nirthana made up of Jathis (time measures) and swaras (musical notes) composed to synchronize with intricate movements and drum syllabuses.

The varnam combines both Nirthana and Abhinaya. The theme in this piece normally expresses a love sentiment. A dancer’s standard is normally judged by this particular item which is the most intricate and difficult in Bharatha Natya performance.

Thillana is a pure dance with intricate footwork showing the dances in sculpturesque poses. The grace and movement of steps, expressions are combined to complete perfection in dancing and it is followed by mangalam.

Indika and Vaishaalini enthralled the audience with their uninhibited and impeccable dancing. They had the magic to make every item appealing to the audience. They had excelled in all, particularly in their facial expression, manual gesture and deft footwork.

Furthermore, much of the success in creating the right atmosphere in a dance performance depends on dance compositions and nattuwangam and indeed their Guru Srimathy Suryakala Chandrika Jeevananthan has done the dance composition with meticulous care and thoroughness.

The vocal was done by Arunanthy Aruran, flute by Sivabalaratnam Kandhayah, Mirudangam by Shri Pathanjali Pathmalathan, violin by Isaisealaiman Thibakaran and Thala Tharangam by Visharatha Ratnam Ratnadurai.

Selvi Mayoori Joseph and Selvi Sangeetha Sathiyananthan compered the programme in English and Tamil respectively to the greatest satisfaction of the audience.