Bharatanatyam Recital by Satyavani

It's always a pleasure to see that perfection in classical dance, and a delight to carry back with you that image of a precise recital. Nuti Satya Vani's performance aptly fits this description. Disciple of veteran guru V S Rama Murthy and his daughter Manjula Ramaswamy, Satya Vani underwent careful training of those intricate nuances in classical dance. From her subtle expressions to her stylized hand gestures and movements, the dancer personifies that 'perfection'.

The performance, organized by the Uttaraa Centre for Performing Arts in collaboration with Sri Rama Nataka Niketan, saw the dancer on stage for over one-and-a-half-hours rendering those revered numbers of Bharatanatyam. A ritual floral offering and a Vinayaka Stuti in Nattai and Chakravaham set the impression for a detailed and stimulating recital.

A grand Ragamalika Varnam composed by the Tanjore Quartett - "Saami Nine Korinanu Ra" attributed to Brihadeeswara - showed the dancer as a devoted Nayika singing praises of the ascetic Siva. The Nayika desires the company of the Lord who magnanimously swallowed the poison churned out of the milky ocean, all to save the world. This theme elaborated systematically was further framed with a festoon of pure rhythmic patterns.

"Ododo Vanden", a Tamil song of Ambujam Krishna, narrated the divine music of Krishna and its effect on nature. Another "Adenamma" of Dorai Swamy took you back to the mood of Siva, this time illustrating his cosmic dance. Satya Vani struck those difficult 'Karanas' to draw the image of Siva, and created perfect contours and stills.

After a demanding series of dance numbers, the dancer relaxed with an expressional Javali of Poochi Srinivasa, which, in a leisurely mode, illustrated a romantic situation of a classical hero-heroine, before winding up with yet another brilliant Tillana. It is interesting to note that this Tillana set to the melody of Uma is a contemporary composition of the city-based young flutist Jayaprada Ramamurthy.

Guru Manjula supported the artist with her rhythmic cymbals, while vocalist Prema Ramamurthy, percussionist Rajagopala Chary, flutist Dattatreya and violinist Subba Lakshmi teamed up the orchestra.