MUSIC
SEASON
THE CHENNAI DECEMBER FESTIVAL ● TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2008
Padma Subrahmanyam
Abhinaya
says it all
page 4
T.V. Sankaranarayanan
Vintage Mani Iyer
moments
page 6
Lokanatha Sarma
Sensitive to
the core
page 7
Retelling the Ramayana
The curtain goes up tomorrow on the Natya Kala Conference 2008. The theme — Ramayana in Performing Arts.
ANJANA RAJAN
S
ri Krishna Gana Sabha’s annual
Natya Kala Conference, which
began in 1981, is one of the highlights of Chennai’s December
Season. It started on a promising
note, endowing the dance scene with
a mood of research and exploration
and bringing senior and junior dancers on to a common platform of discovery. Over the years, the number
of sabhas organising conferences has
grown, but the Natya Kala Conference has held its own.
This year, the sabha has named as
convener Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Ananda Shankar
Jayant. The theme of the Conference, on from December 17 to 23
(daily from 9.15 a.m. to 1 p.m.) is
‘Ramayana in Performing Arts.’
Even in an age of multi-tasking, it
is difficult to come across a dancer as
comfortable with written and spoken expression as with her art. For
this reason, the conference in the
past years suffered at times, as the
dancers selected to convene it
seemed at sea with respect to the
intellectual and practical inputs required to make the exercise worthwhile for students, professionals,
and interested rasikas. In this respect Ananda, a product of Kalakshetra, seems set to infuse the
proceedings with fresh enthusiasm.
Intensive research
EVERLASTING APPEAL: The Ramayana is Asia’s living story
Ananda’s inclusive approach is apparent from the outset, as even the
theme, she says is the outcome of
intensive ‘brainstorming’ with her
seniors and colleagues in the field.
Ananda says it was Anita Ratnam
who suggested, “Why don’t you
think of Ramayana?”, an idea she
forms from Andhra Pradesh that
will feature in a sale outside the
Sabha on all conference days.
These include Cherial (scroll) and
Kalamkari paintings and leather
puppets by National Award-winning artisans. Participants will include singers and ritual performers
such as Abhang singers from Maharashtra and Ojha Pali performers
from Assam, apart from known
names from the Carnatic tradition.
Besides, Sophiline Cheam Shapiro
from the Khmer Arts Academy,
Cambodia, will speak on Ramayana
in Cambodia.
‘God and the Musician’ — The
BIG TASK AHEAD Ananda
Role of Divine Inspiration in ToShankar Jayant
day’s Music, a session moderated
says was uppermost in her mind, by pianist and Carnatic musician
since it is an epic she has revisited Anil Srinivasan, sounds promising.
all her life. “The Ramayana is not A range of dance forms covering
just an Indian epic, it’s an Asian the country from Mohiniyattom to
epic. We keep returning to it for Sattriya will also be represented.
different reasons,” says Ananda. The valedictory address will be by
Calling it ‘the living story of India scholar Paula Richman, author of
— nay, Asia,’ she notes, “The Ra- “Many Ramayanas: The Diversity
mayana cannot be just dance. It is of a Narrative Tradition in South
poetry, art form, history, religion.” Asia,” and “Questioning RamayaThe collection of speakers she has nas: A South Asian Tradition” as
gathered reflects how these streams well as “Against the Current: Sita
of thought ‘intersect in our lives at and her Foils in Modern Tamil and
some point.’
Telugu Short Stories”, among othTellingly illustrating this concept ers. The ancient in constant conwill be the traditional visual art versation with the modern could be
said to be the underlying theme of
HIGHLIGHTS
the week. Epitomising this ap● Traditional art forms from Andhra
proach is the screening of “Sita
Pradesh will be featured.
Sings the Blues”, an award-winning
● The valedictory address will be
animation film by Nina Paley of the
by scholar Paula Richman.
U.S., at the Alliance Francaise on
● Ritual singers such as Abhang
December 20, 3 p.m. Here is hoping
singers from Maharashtra and Ojha
this year’s Natya Kala Conference
Pali performers from Assam will
gets the audience it deserves but
participate.
has not always managed to draw.