Exceptional traditions in Bharatha Natyam

Subashini PATHMANATHAN

The four different well known styles in Bharatha Natyam are Pantha Nallur, Vazhuvuoor, Thanjavur, and Kanchipuram. The Thanjavur, and Kachipuram, have virtually disappeared. The two popular styles or schools still exist are Vazhuvoor and Panda Nallur. There is no main difference between these two styles, except in the execution of inner sub Adavus.

There are quite a number of people who speak of Kalashethra style or Adyar style. This is a gross misconception. Kalashethra is an institution situated in Adyar founded by Rukmani Devi who herself was trained by Panda Nallur Gurus.

Present generation

Panda Nallur style still follows the traditional patterns, and frowns upon the innovations made by the present generation teachers. The present Gurus of Panda Nallur schools still adhere to the classical standards.

Today Vahuvoor tradition is a rear tradition and it is still preserved and protected by certain families, getting training in this tradition is very expensive. The Vazhuvoor style then as now remains the same and adheres to the classical traditions.

It has not moved to the institutions. Because it is taught by certain families of Vazhuvoor, and those who trained in Vazhuvoor tradition, continue to maintain the purity of the same tradition and dance. However it may help the general public to gain some knowledge about the art. In institutions the art is taught to a set syllabus, within a time frame which tends to emasculate the art, and leads to a craze for obtaining a certificate.

Earlier the Sathir dances were trained by a particular clan, it was not institutionalized. Any art, whether it is music or dance must be learnt under one particular Guru. Under a Guru one imbibes the art, whilst in an institution one learns the art.

There is a world of difference between imbibing the art, and learning the art. At present learning dance has become more mechanical as compared to the past.

Popular styles

Even in Kathak, there are four main styles, Lucknow style, Rampur style, Jaipur style, and Varansi style. But also in Kathak, there are two main popular styles or schools. But the fundamental aspects are the same. The Lucknow style and Jaipur style are the popular styles in Kathak. So too in martial arts, there are different styles.

Vazhuvoor Ramiahpillai was a unique teacher in Vazhuvoor tradition in the 20th century. He trained his students with dedication and instilled into them the need to give of their best to Bharatha Natyam.Vazhuvoor Ramiapillai was born into an Isai Vellalar family, the traditional breeding ground of dancers and musicians; Ramiah Pillai was a dance master cast in the traditional mould. He was born in the village Vazhuvoor, a few miles from Mayapuram. He trained numerous cinema artistes, and numerous cinema actors, who wanted to get training under him because they wanted to learn appropriate emotional expression through bhava, and rasas.But unfortunately, today in classical Bharatha Natyam which has become so mechanical, and lacks the most important essence of Bharatha Natyam such as bhava and rasas.

The temple at Vazhuvoor village is dedicated to lord Shiva, under the name of Gnanasbeshan and to this day, the students of Vazhuvoor School, pay obeisance to the deity Gnanasabeshan in the form of Thodayamangalam, a devotional song dedicated to the diety, at the beginning of each dance recital.

Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai trained numerous dance teachers, and numerous outstanding dancers of today. He also composed a number of kuravanjies, and was the first one to introduced the snake dance, which was very much popularized by Kamala Lakshmanan---. An outstanding student of him. He used mainly Tamil compositions, and varnams by Papansasivam, Swathi Thirunal maharaja and Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi. Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai himself composed many sabthams keerthanams, padams, Varnams and Thillanas in Tamil and Telegu languages.

Lakshmi Visvanathan, an exceptional writer on Bharatha Natyam says “the nirtha aspect of Bharatha Natyam shone in vibrant vitality throughout Ramiah Pillai’s teaching career. He gave equal importance to abinaya, but his style demanded a certain lilt which was at once dynamic and graceful. He was the first one to introduce stricking poses in Bharatha Natyam. This sculpture quality became his hallmark and to this he added facial movements to make his dancers look like elegant ballerinas.”

Popular belief

It is this unique portrayal that lends charm to the Bharatha Natyam presented by Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai’s school and makes Vazhuvoor tradition a unique one. Generally there is a popular belief that there are four different styles in Baratha Natyam, among them Vazhuvoor style gained the world wide reorganization which was Vazhuvoorar’s lasting contribution to this great art.

Ramiah Pillai moved to Chennai and took up residence at Mylapore, in 1938.It was a great turning point in the life of Ramiah Pillai and in the general history of Baratha Natyam. He became an outstanding choreographer and dance director.

He founded Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharatha Natya Art centre, at Mylapore, and organized Vazhuvoorar art festival in Chennai during the December season. In the closing years of his life he wrote a book ‘Thevika Aadal Kalai’ on dance.

A style is a work of individual teachers but it has not changed the basic aspect of dance or any arts. Bharatha Natyam remains Bharatha Natyam, whatever the styles may be.