Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav : Enchanting Kuchipudi Dance Sets the Stage On Fire
Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav : Enchanting Kuchipudi Dance Sets the Stage On Fire
Pune, 16 December 2023
Kuchipudi Dancer Yamini Reddy set the stage on fire with her enchanting dance performance during the second half of the 4th day of the 69th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav 2023. The Mahotsav is a sanctum for music connoisseurs and is being held at the Maharashtriya Mandal Krida Sankul, Mukund Nagar, and Pune. The dance recital began with the chanting of ‘Vakra Tunda’ after which Yamini resented a beautiful dance invoking goddess Saraswati with’ Saraswati Vandana’.
Yamini Reddy subtly and precisely evoked the nava rasa (nine emotions) and the five rhythms of Shiva Tandavam with her flawless expressions, rhythmic footwork and graceful poise perfectly bringing out the dramatic aspect of the Kuchipudi dance style. The intricate dance and drama performance was performed by her father for over 5 decades and Yamini followed in his footsteps with utmost precision. She performed on Raag Paras set on Adi Taal.
Her next performance was on Saint Tulsidas’ Bhajan – ‘Bhaj Mana Ram Charan Sukhdai’ sung by Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi on many occasions. Through the dance, Yamini depicted the tale of the Indian Epic Ramayana as narrated by Tulisdas in his composition. Â
She concluded her dance with a mesmerizing glimpse of the rare Shiva Tarangam on the Kuchipudi style of dance performed on the edge of a brass plate which is a unique feature of the Kuchipudi dance style. She performed this in Raag Sourashtra.
She was accompanied by Guru Kaushalya Reddy on Nattuvangam, Dr. Aditi Sharma Garg with Hindustani Vocal, D V Ravikanth with Carnatic Vocal, Manohar Bhalchandra on Mridangam, VSK Annadurai on Violin and Azaruddin Shaikh on Flute
Yamini is a three-time National awardee and a flag bearer of the legacy she has inherited from her parents, the allegorical Kuchipudi dancers Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan Dr. Raja and Dr. Radha Reddy
The dance recital was followed by a felicitation ceremony wherein the Master of Ceremony and Marathi voice-over narrator Anand Deshmukh and English Narrator Dr. Purva Shah were both honored by Chandrakant Patil- Minister of Higher and Technical Education of Maharashtra. Both were honored for their immense contribution to Sawai Gadharva Bhimsen Mahotsav for their narration. Shrinivas Joshi, Shilpa Joshi, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
