Sarvam Vishnu Mayam - A dance Draama
sadananda (sada@anvil.nrl.navy.mil)
Tue, 22 Oct 1996 08:22:25 -0400
Sarvam Vishnu Mayam
(KuchipuDi Dance Draama)
This announcement goes along with other unbiased! reviews we saw about the
Kuchipudi dance dramas. - An Introductory statement to make me feel not
guilty about it.
Kuchipudi Dance Drama - Sarvam Vishnu Mayam will be performed at
Pittsburgh, Sri Venkateswara Temple Auditorium this Saturday at 6:00PM -
Those who missed the chance to see the drama in Washington this march -
here is another opportunity.
Sarvam Vishnu Mayam, is a Kuchipudi dance drama, composed, choreographed as
well as directed by one of the great dancers and teachers in the
Washington area - Smt. Mrinalini Sadananda ( I am trying to detach myself
and be as objective as possible here, since she has acquired my name by
virtue of our marriage). Mrinalini is the director of Kalamandapam, a
dance and music school in Virginia. She has learned both Bharata Natyam
and Kuchipudi from many masters, including Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. She
will be joined by her daughter, Keerthana who was also trained by Dr.
Vempati. Keerthana is currently a third year student at NW Medical School
in Chicago, is flying on Friday just to take part in the dance.
There are 26 artists participating in this drama and all of them are from
Kalamandapam. There are 60+ characters in the draama - so each dancer will
be rushing back and forth with different costumes in each scene.
The music director is nothing but my great brother-in-law, Vinjamuri
Subhash who is grand disciple of Dwaaram NaayuDu. Subash is well known in
the east coast, since he has performed at many places, many times.
The program will be with live orchestra.
All most all lyrics, excepting the two famous one (bhaamanE and tarangam)
were written by Smt. Mrinalini and set to tune by Subash.
The program starts with the first dance, an invocation dance by all the
students of Kalamandapam - Jaja Jaya NaTaraaja - a theme song of the
Kalamandapam - invoking the blessing of the Lord of the Dance
Sarvam Vishnu Mayam has 8 scenes - The first scene naturally starts with
VikunTa with Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi dancing. Here how the whole creation
process starts- as depicted in Bhagavatam - is presented. The lyrics
start with - VaikunTa Vaasi Naaraayana - then to Janiyinche Brhmaa nii
naabhi nunDii - etc. Then the creation of Siva, and the rest of devaas and
the lokas etc. The scene leads us to the next with the arrival of -
Narada compiling why Vishnu is dancing (goofing off) when his disciple
Prahallada is suffering out there. Vishnu naturally defends his management
techniques - asks Naaradu to observe again (in tune of course) -
aTuchuuDumu aTuchooDumu.
The next episode is the Bhakta Prahallada - with Parhallaada dancing away
with his friends teaching them how to sing the glory of Naaraayana -
Haranyakashipu arrives on the scene and some classical dance dialogue goes
between the father and son. The dialogue starts with soft lyrics (tanayaa
Prahallaada ...) The son responds to father's inquiry (sakala
saastramuluu .....) that he has learned everything and the essences is
Sarvam Vishnu Mayam - The title song is introduced with Prahallada -
Furious HaranyakaSipu calls his wife, leelaavati, and forces her to
administer Poison to get rid of the thorn in the family. - Father's anger,
mother's love -( trying to plead one side her son ( chepparaa tandrii ...)
and compassion from her husband (pasibaaluDu ...) ) and Prahalladaa's
indifference to everything else other than to his Om namo Naaraayana. -
brings vividly the story of Bhakta Prahallada in front of the audience.
Last time we found few crying mothers in the audience in sympathy with
Leelaavati. The telugu audience were reminded of Potana Bhagavatam -
lyrics in parallel to indugala Dandu lEDanu .- With Prahallada singing
away the title song of the drama - sarvam vishnu mayam - as Hiranyakasipu
fights with Narahari (Nari hari ruupa Naaraayana ...) that emerged from the
pillar. .
The Third scene is Krishna Leela - Paarijaata pushpam episode - with Narada
bringing the flower and requesting that to be given to his favorite wife
- Satyabhaama so sure that she is going to get that flower with - Bhaamane
satya bhaamane dance gets disappointed when Rukmini gets that flower by her
devotion. Naturally Rakmini and Krishna dance together on the plate - thus
introducing the classic Kuchipudi tarangam scene.
The fourth scene is the saving of Droupadi's grace - scene starts with
panDavaas and kouravaas assembling together and plying with dies, Dharmaja
loosing every thing, Dussaasana dragging Droupadi to the court, on the
orders of Duryodhana trying to strip her naked, Krishna coming to her
rescue ending with the title song - Sarvam Vishnu Mayam - You will here
little bit of Annamaachaaryaas - Narii manikii cheeralu ....- from the
kshiirasaagara song)
The fifth scene is the Mohini Bhasmaasura episode - Bhasmaasura getting the
boon to burn everything that he lays his hands on from Siva, Siva running
for his life and surrendering to Vishnu and Vishnu coming as Mohini to lure
away Bhasmaasura and challenges him in dance and in the process getting
himself burned. - Mohini turns back into Vishnu reminding the audience
about the Sarvam Vishnu Mayam.
After the intermission, the scene takes us to the glory of the Lakshi
-Lakshmi's ashta laksmi vaihbavam is depicted. (This dance is introduced
either because Vishnu has been getting all the credit so far and to silence
some feminists in the audience to show the potential of Lakshmi - or
introduced as a solo dance to show the graceful dance of my daughter
Keerthana - I am sure the audience will find out) - but impartially this is
one of the best dances of the drama - with beautiful tune. Actually without
Sri , - Naaraayana is not praised - That is why Ramaanuja's disciples are
called Sri Vaishnavaites - In the end of the scene, Lakshmi also looks for
Naaraayan - (ekkaDo - aataDekkaO ... ) and find the he has gone to save
sakkubai! .
Next scene naturally takes us to Sakkubai story - In the story of sakkubai
- to make it more entertaining - several Krishna leela's are introduced -
in the end Krishna comes to the rescue of sakkubai from her mother-in-law.
Final scene is the gala of Brindaavan - This is the climax of the drama
with Tillaana - Krihsna dancing in the Brindaavan with gopies, with
peacock, with cows - with everything he can find.
Sarvam Vishnu Mayam a beautifully choreographed and pleasing to see drama.
Subash has introduced many raagas, some of them are quite rare indeed and
each raaga to suit the mood of the scene. With brother and sister team,
the music and dance are brought to the peak and if you have not seen this,
this is the time to see.
Hope to see you there in Pittsburgh this Saturday.
Hari Om1
Sadananda