Changing trends in Bharatha Natyam

Subashini Pathmanathan

Bharatha Natyam, which originated in the temples and moved to the palaces of princes, and maharajahs, eventually moved to dance halls, in the 20th century.

In the 19th century, a dance recital followed an order that was devised by the Tanjore Quartette. However, to minimize the time today in normal recital, (not arrangetrams) Jatheesvaram and sabtham are frequently omitted. In the early days a Bharatha Natyam, recital started with Alarippu.However, today most of the Bharatha Natyam recitals begin with Pushpanjali, or Panchamoorthy Anjali, or panchamoorthy Vanthanam, or Gurupatha Anjali, or Mallaru or Thodayamangalam or Gowthavams, which involves the use of both Niutham, and Nirthiyam together from the very start of the recital.

Emotions play a pivotal role in Bharatha Natyam

Today the item Salamu is known as Sabtham. The Sabtham is performed in Misra Saapu Thala numbering seven in the thala scale. Originally, the Sabtham was sung in Kambothi raga, but now it has meandered into Ragamaliga as well.

Customary use

Varnam is the crowning piece in any Bharatha Natyam recital from ancient times. In between the Pallavi, and Anupallavi it is customary to use the oral Nattuvanga jathi sollukadu.

In recent times, some dance exponents omit the Nattuvanga jathi sollukadu. This is because some dancers prefer to follow the original composer's version. Mostly the Varnams used in dance are Patha Varnams which means that these compositions are most suited for the exposition of expression, bavas, and rasas.There are some Bharatha Natyam exponents who insert Oral Nattuvangam Jathis into the Padams, Keerthanams, even in the songs like folk songs, and kuravanchi. There is a growing tendency to insert oral Nattuvangam Jathis in between the lines, which enables one to compile adavus. So that now Padams, Keerthanams, and jaavalis, Nattuvanga jathi sollukadu are not totally based on Nirthiyam alone. It is a combination of both Nirutham and Nirthiyam together.

In ancient times the instruments used for Nirutham were called Niruthangam, those instruments used for the songs were called Geethangam.But this distinction is not at all existing today.

Particular emotions

Today the tendency is to use particular instruments to display the particular instruments to display the particular emotions in between the song lines. For instance, the Veena is used to display contemplative moods. Violin is used to portray sorrow or sadness. Miruthangam which is thala laya instrument is used to display the emotions like anger or veera or akangara.

The flute is used to display the emotions like happiness, and love.

These are some of the recent innovations. But the basic concepts of Bharatha Natyam then and now remain the same, but the changes have occurred to meet the challenges of modern times.