Two popular Bharatha Natyam styles

Subashini Pathmanathan

Bharatha Natyam is one topmost outstanding classical dances of India. It preserves its own identity in the international spheres. Whatever it is, in the international spheres Bharatha Natyam has its own identity with its glamour. In practical Bharatha Natyam field, two main existing popular styles are facing severe cold war within the dance field itself.

It is a pity to note that most of the followers of these styles criticize one another. Originally there were four different well-known styles existed. Those were Pantha Nallur, Vazhuvuoor, Thanjavur and Kanchipuram. Thanjavur and Kanchipuram have virtually disappeared.

Who owns the elegance of dancing?

Bharatha Natyam is basically divided into Nirtha, Nirthya and Natya. Nirtha dance is firmly based on pure Adavus (steps) and poses. Adavus (steps) are fundamental in any dance, and these Adavus are generally common to all dances. Adavus are executed with selective Thala (rhythm), Laya, and Kala (thempo). In Bharatha Natyam the category of adavus are same for both the styles. But in the way of execution of Adavus, reflect slight and certain variations. These slight variations came into being, due to the approaches of different teachers stationed in different areas.

These slight differences have given a popular misconception that there are different types of Bharatha Natyam. It is wrong to say that Bhartha Natyam could be divided into two different types of Bharatha Natyam. It is more appropriate and correct to say that Bharatha Natyam has two different styles or two different schools in Bharatha Natyam instead of saying two different types of Bharatha Natyam or two different category of Bharatha Natyam.

There is a vast difference between the two terminologies of style and type. The word style is different from the word type. The word style reveals the methodology of execution. The term type reveals the nature or character of one. Hence one must understand the basic differences between the two terminologies. Among the two existing styles of Bharatha Natyam, the Vazhuvoor style of Bharatha Natyam gives more preference and importance to the facial expression, bava and rasas. The execution of adavus in Vazhuvoor style are gentle rather than that of the Pantha Nallur style.

Pantha Nallur gives more importance to the Nirtha especially it emphasizes firm and stiff way of execution of adavus (steps). Anyhow outwardly it is said that Bharatha Natyam has no style differences. But practically in the performing field it is noticeable that Bharatha Natyam has certain differences between the two existing styles. Vazhuvoor style and Pantha Nallur style are the main existing style in the Bharatha Natyam field with their certain identity.

Theoretically Bharatha Natyam styles have no differences. Both the styles of Bharatha Natyam follow the same theory. Basically History, origin, development, number of Adavus and category of adavus remain the same for these two existing styles. The eye movements, neck movements, body positions, leg positions, leg movements, hand positions, hand movements, hand gestures, divisions of Abinayas, are same for both styles.

Generally style is a frame work of individual teachers but it has not changed the basic concept or aspect or format of the selective dance form. Bharatha Natyam remains as Bharatha Natyam whatever the styles it is.

Pantha Nallur style has an exceptional beauty in the way of performing the pure Nirtha; meanwhile Vazhuvoor style has an excellent beauty in the way of execution of Nirthtya aspects such as facial expression, Bava and rasa. It gives more room for the imaginative creativity. In the Pantha Nallur style the scope of expressions are limited. But both the styles have their own excellence and their own footing, despite of certain differences.

But unfortunately the present dance world of Sri Lanka has missed the capability of comparing and analyzing the differences, of these two outstanding and existing Bharatha Natya styles with a broad mind and manner. Followers of each style are always projecting and praising their own selective style as the best style and ridicule the other style. All these occur due to the ignorance of the mediocre artistes.

Four main styles also exist in the other Indian classical dance Kathak. Those are Lucknow style, Banaras style, Jaipur style and Varanasi style. But the two main and major popular styles or schools in Kathak are Lucknow and Jaipur styles. It is worthy to mention that even in the martial arts such as Karate, Khufu and Judo are also having their own different styles. Simply it could be said that these differences arose due to adoption of certain different techniques.