When a mall’s atrium turned into a stage

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: FOR FRIDAY REVIEW: Nithyashree performs Shiva’s Ananda Tandavam earlier than a 10-ft Nandi statue at VR mall in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: Akhila Easwaran/ The Hindu
| Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN

The atrium of VR Chennai in Anna Nagar echoed with music and sounds of the salangai throughout ‘Pradosha Arpana’, an occasion curated by Laasya Dance Academy, Bengaluru.

Anchored across the legend of Pradosham, when Shiva drank the lethal poison and danced to revive the cosmic steadiness, the night unfolded earlier than a majestic 10-ft Nandi.

The night featured Bengaluru-based younger Bharatanatyam artiste Nithyashree, who introduced three items that she carried out extra as an providing. She commenced with “Pradosha Samayadi”, set to raga Purvikalyani and Adi tala, which made for a becoming invocation. Composed by Padma Charan and choreographed by Gowri Sagar, the dance evoked the solemnity of twilight, when Shiva dances in response to the gods’ prayers. The interaction between the rhythm of Ganesha’s drums and Shiva’s cosmic dance was conveyed via assured footwork and apt abhinaya.

The second merchandise ‘Thillai ambalam shabdam’, introduced a shift within the tone . This Ragamalika piece, set to Adi Tala, traced the emotional arc of a religious lady pining for Nataraja, the Lord of Chidambaram. The shabdam, composed by Thanjavur Arunachalam Pillai, supplied Nithyashree a chance to delve into the layered feelings of Virahotkandhita nayika (one of many eight sorts of heroines in classical dance known as Ashta Nayika, who suffers the pangs of separation) .

Nithyashree performs Shiva’s Ananda Tandavam earlier than a 10-ft Nandi statue at VR mall in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
AKHILA EASWARAN

The ultimate piece, a Shiva padam, was a crescendo in each sense. Composed by G. Gurumurthy with music by Bala Subramanya Sharma, the choreography celebrated Shiva because the embodiment of the 5 components, the seven swaras, and the Omkara.

Nithyashree’s transitions between vigorous Tandava and delicate Lasya mirrored the duality of Ardhanarishwara, the union of Shiva and Shakti.

Pradosha Arpana was not simply a Bharatanatyam recital, however a reclaiming of a public house for cultural reminiscence — reminding you that even amongst essentially the most city settings, spirituality may be invoked via dance .