Ernakulam: Kuchipudi exponent Geetha Padmakumar gave a commendable performance at the Changampuzha Park, Edappilly, Ernakulam district on the second day of the Kalabharathi National Dance Music Festival. The performance was followed by Kathak recital by Marathi cine actor Aditi Bhagwat from Jaipur.
As part of the recital, she had depicted the goddess "Kamakshi" in Kanchipuram, Lord "Murukan" and Lord "Sreekrishna." Geetha, who has taught other famous personalities like Manju Warrier and Rachana Narayanankutty, learnt Kuchipudi from the legendry Padmabhushan Vembati Chinna Satyam. Her first item was a "Mallari" by Oothukadu Venkata Subbayya set to "Gambhira Natta" Ragam and "Khanda Thriputa" thalam.
This was followed by a piece which praised goddess "Kamakshi" who was described as "Devi" with the lotus shaped eyes. This composition was was choreographed by Vembati Chinna Satyam in "Kamala Manohari" Ragam and was set to "Aadi" thalam.
The third item was an adaptation from the book "Periya Swany Thoran," which was choreographed by Geetha herself. The composition was praised the son of Lord "Shiva," Lord "Karthikeyan" alias "Murukan" who killed "Tharakasuran." The song, composed in "Vrindavana" Ragam was set to "Aadi" thalam.
The last item that was performed was a song dedicated to Lord Krishna in set in "Kappi" ragam. The dance was choreographed in the "Khanda Chappa" thalam. The theme of the song was about a devotee who loses the idol of Sreekrishna and on her ardent prayers the lord himself appears in front her.
Geetha was accompanied on the stage by Anjana Anand on Nattuvangam, Bhagyalakshmi Maneesh for Vocal, Kalamandalam Charudath on Mrudungam, Thrissur Murali Narayanan on Flute and Suresh Namboothiri on Violin.
The second performance in the evening was Kathak by Marathi cine actor Aditi Bhagwat from Jaipur. Aditi represents the Jaipur Gharana of Kathak Dancers. These dancers were ardsent followers of Lord Shiva.
Aditi commenced her recital with an invocation to Lord Shiva "Om Namoh Mamah Shivaya" composed in Raag "Basant Bahar" that was set to "Teen Taal." It was followed by Nritta, which refers to dance compositions that displaying various aspects of Kathak dance, the footwork, the pirouettes and the exhibition of lai taal.
Aditi concluded the performance with a traditional musical composition called the "Thumri” showcasing the "Abhinay" aspect of Kathak. This was followed by a "Tarana" portraying the agility of the dancer and the dance bols (syllables). Both the Thumri and Tarana were composed in Raag "Malkous" and set to "Teen taal."