Ramayana - Kuchipudi Dance Ballet: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR RAMAYANA - KUCHIPUDI DANCE...

In an elaboration of classical poetry and the designing of a whole legend's
presentation in a summarized form, guru Bhagavatula Sethuram choreographed a
Kuchipudi dance ballet titled 'Ramayanam'. "Bhavayami Raghuramam", the refined
song of the 18th century poet Swathi Tirunal set to a string of melodies like
Kalyani, Bilahari and Sahana, illustrated varied epics of the Ramayana. Based
on the same, over six dancers dramatized the scenic illustrations.

Sethuram is basically from the traditional family of Kuchipudi Bhagavatars,
whose specialty lies in their 'Rama Natakam' play. This present production was
an extension of the same. Only, to suite the modern theater, guru Sethuram stylized
it in a musical frame.

Commencing with the varied stories of the young valorous brothers and their
magnanimous actions and proceeding on to their adventures in the jungles, the
wedding of Rama and Sita, and the culmination with the battle at Lanka, the
one-and-half-hour ballet moulded itself into an aesthetic form of continuous
action and drama. Sucharita, Sajani, Smita, Sandhya, Daya, Srikanth and Sirisha
were the dancers donned in Kuchipudi 'Aharya' to carry out the narrative. Sethuram
conducted the play with his support of cymbals, while vocalists D V S Sastry
and Sweta, percussionist Vinod Kumar, flutist Ananta Krishna, violinist Sai
Kumar and keyboard player Brahmanandam comprised the musical group.