Re: avadhaanaalu - kavitvam - MAA DIPLOMA IN USA : Bapa Rao

Bapa Rao (baparao@locus.com)
Tue, 5 Mar 1996 12:11:55 -0800 (PST)

>
>
> >If I may speculate on VCJ's critique of avadhaanaalu, I suggest that
> >an avadhaanam is very much like a men's gymnastics display. The emphasis
> >is on power and strength, less on beauty and grace. In women's gymnastics,
> >there is more emphasis (in terms of scoring) on grace, artistry etc.
>
> I have a couple of questions:
> (1) Are (were) there any lady avadha'nis (avadhanamma)?

I'll say something controversial here--some recent studies have claimed that
women's brains are, on the average less suited to mathematics and logic
than those of men. This explains why the best women chess players cannot
beat the best men chess players. I suspect that, even if there were to
be lady avadhanis (avadha'ninis?) they will never be as good as the best
male avadhaanis.

> (2) Is this avadhanam a male art?
> (3) Is this word "avadha'ni" identifying a male dha'ni only?
> If so, what is the word for lady avadha'ni?
>
> Probably the lady avadha'nis are more artistic in performing the
> avadha'nams!
>
> (4) Are n't the avadha'nis very handsome?
> (5) What grace got to do with avadha'nams? (Who knows?)

A gymnastics routine is usually pre-choreographed, hence
amenable to an evaluation of grace in conception and execution.
I think it would be difficult to do the same for an avadhaanam given
that its essence is its spontaneity. Maybe wit would be a better
criterion.

Bapa Rao