Krithika Rangapravesha - Margam
Alarippu
Taala: Tishra Eka
Alarippu means ‘to blossom’ and represents the awakening of the dancer’s body and soul. It is an invocatory piece, performed with reverence as an offering to Nataraja, the god of dance, the Guru, and the Sabha. The dance is structured around basic rhythmic patterns and uses simple, controlled movements of the eyes, neck, shoulders, and legs. Performed solely to the rhythm of the mridangam, Alarippu reflects dance in its pure and abstract form.
Jatiswaram
Raaga: Vasantha
Taala: Roopaka
Jatiswaram is a combination of jatis and swaras, featuring intricate footwork and swift movements. The music for this piece has no lyrics or sahitya, making it a pure nritta composition. The dance consists of pure movements which closely follow the swaras, constantly shifting its rhythmic patterns, aptly set to the rich variety of musical notes.
Shabdam
Raaga: Raagamaalika
Taala: Mishra Chapu
Shabdam is a Bharatanatyam item where abhinaya, or expressive storytelling, is introduced. This Shabdam, Gokulambudi, is a praise of Lord Krishna. It describes his enchanting form that captivates the hearts of the gopikas, comparing him to the moon (chandra) rising from the ocean-like (ambudhi) lineage of Gokula. Krishna is celebrated as one who is radiant like the moon and adorned with a gentle, charming smile (mandahaasa). The piece concludes with the nayika expressing her longing to meet him, pleading for his grace and wondering why he delays in coming to her.
Varnam
Raaga : Todi
Taala : Adi
Music composer: Muttuswami Dikshitar
Dance Composer: Rukmini Devi Arundale
The Varnam is the central and most significant piece in a Bharatanatyam margam, encompassing all aspects of the dance form. The word varna literally means ‘to colour’ or ‘to describe’, and in dance it refers to the most vivid and detailed presentation, rich with intricate movements and layered abhinaya. A Varnam is a blend of nritta, nritya, and abhinaya, standing as a true testament to a dancer’s technical skill and emotional depth. Today’s Varnam, Roopamu Juchi, is a pada varnam in praise of Lord Tyagesha of Tiruvarur. It portrays the emotions of the nayika as she addresses the Lord. Captivated by His divine beauty (roopamu juchi), she comes to Him and pleads that He not be angry at her. She praises Him as the destroyer of the three kinds of suffering (tapatraya) and asks Him to accept her, as her love has overflowed under the influence of Manmatha’s arrows.
Padam
Raaga : Anandabhairavi
Taala : Tishra Triputa
Music composer: Kshetrayya
Dance Composer: Rukmini Devi Arundale
Padams are expressive compositions that explore the relationship between the nayika and the nayaka. Shringara is the dominant emotion in these pieces, often portraying themes of union or separation of the jeevatma (the individual soul), represented by the heroine, and the paramatma (the supreme soul), represented by the hero. Padams offer the widest scope for abhinaya, as they focus on conveying deep emotional monologues or dialogues. In today’s padam, Manchi Dinamu, the heroine questions her sakhi about why her beloved is secretly
peeping through the door. She says that today is an auspicious day and asks her friend to invite her lord to come openly and with dignity. She wonders why Gopala hesitates and waits in hiding, declaring that her body belongs only to him. She questions whether he fears her words and confesses that she can no longer bear separation from him. The heroine pleads with her sakhi to assure him that she will not tease or mock him, swearing that she will not even speak of the other woman.
Ashtapadi
Raaga : Aarabhi
Taala : Adi
Music composer: Jayadeva
Dance Composer: Prof. A Janardhanan
The Geetha Govindam is a dramatic lyrical poem, depicting the moods of Radha and Krishna and their divine love. This Ashtapadi is taken from the eighth sarga of Jayadeva’s Gita Govindam. Radha waits eagerly for Krishna, but when he does not arrive, she spends the night in anguish, wounded by Manmatha’s arrows. When Krishna appears before her the next morning, Radha notices his weary face and apologetic expression and confronts him. Overcome with hurt and anger, she remarks that his red, tired eyes show he has stayed awake all night and accuses him of spending the night with another woman. Refusing to believe his words, she says, “Oh Madhava, enough of your false stories. Go to that lotus-eyed woman who made you happy.” In her anger, Radha accuses him of roaming the forests of Brindavan to charm women, recalling how he once destroyed the demoness Pootana. Finally, in deep hurt, she commands him firmly to be off.
Devaranama
Raaga : Shivaranjini
Taala : Adi
Music composer: Shri Purandara Dasa
Dance Composer: Smt. Ranjini Jayasimha
Devaranamas are devotional compositions central to the Haridasa tradition and Dasa Sahitya, emphasizing Hari Bhakti—devotion to Vishnu or Krishna. In this Devaranama, the dancer conveys how Yama, the god of death, and Rama are one and the same. It also highlights contrasting stories of devotees and nonbelievers— Vibhishana and Ravana, Arjuna and Duryodhana, Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu, Ugrasena and Kamsa—showing how Lord Vishnu acts as a protector and friend to the righteous, and a foe to the wicked. The devaranama is preceded by an Ugabhoga, a devotional prelude, where the bhakta pleads the lord to appear before him as he did for Gajendra, Ajamila, Dhruva and Draupadi.
Tillana
Raaga : Hindola
Taala : Khanda Eka
Dance Composer: Rukmini Devi Arundale
Tillana is the concluding piece in a Bharatanatyam recital. It begins with graceful rhythmic movements of the neck, flows into expressive torso movements, and culminates in intricate footwork presented as korvais. The sahitya passage in this tillana is in praise of goddess Kamakshi of Kanchi.
Music Ensemble
Nattuvangam : Vid. Smt. Ranjini Jayasimha
Vocals : Vid. Eeshwar Aiyer
Mridangam : Vid. Srihari Rangaswamy
Violin : Vid. Pradesh Achar
Flute : Vid. Mahesh Swamy
Other Credits
Compering : Smt. Ranjani Ramaprasad
Costume : Shri Arumugam
Makeup : Shri Vimal Raj
Stage Decoration : Smt. Ashwini Belur
Photography & Videography : Universal Rasikas
Caterers : Shri Nagesh Chatra & Shri Vijaykumar Chatra
Brochure : Shri Umesh (Futura Digital)
