Aruna’s Kuchipudi dance electrifying at Tamil Isai festival in Madurai

Aruna Rekha Varanasy performed an energetic and electrifying Kuchipudi dance on the eighth day of 52nd Tamil Isai Festival at Raja Muthiah Mandram .

The program commenced with the traditional opening prayer and invocation song on the deity of learning, Goddess Saraswathi through “Amba Paraku Devi Paraku”. Then the students performed the opening piece Pushpanjali.

The first item was Thyagaraja’s “Endaro mahanubhavulu” in Sri Ragam set to Adi Talam (The pancharatna kriti, which rasikas are accustomed to hearing only). Aruna produced some exceptional abhinaya (expression) and dramatic salutations to great souls. She transformed a purely musical masterpiece into dynamic visual storytelling. 

She then went on to perform “Kshira sagara Sayana” by Thyagaraja in Devagandhari ragam set to Adi Talam. She selected the mythological story of dice playing and protecting Draupadi’s honour by Lord Krishna (Vastrapaharanam) in the Kaurava court by providing endless garments. She showcased satvika abhinaya (subtle facial expressions and emotional storytelling).

The students, viz Malavika, Sahithi, Nitya and Charitha, on their first stage performance, presented a Viruttam viz Vasudeva Sutam Devam from Krishnashtagam by Adi Shankaracharya for “Swaagatam krishna” by Ootukkaadu Venkatasubbaiyyar, in ragam Mohanam set to Adi Talam. They executed it technically without overshadowing the lyrical bhakti (devotion).

The students also performed Sita Kalyanam, a classical dance presentation that portrayed the divine wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita from the Ramayana. Aruna also performed (Tarangam), an expansive dance for Ootukkaadu Venkata Subbaiyyar’s “Marakatha manimaya cela” in Aarabhi, in which she blended the physical balance on a brass plate, nattuvangam (cymbals) and vocals, creating an interactive soundscape where the plate itself acted as an instrument.

She seamlessly transitioned between multiple opposing and harmonious characters with distinct abhinaya (emotional expressions). The excellent choreography by Guru S. Krishnakumar and vocal support of D. V. Mohana krishna made the event lively.