Precision and finesse marked A. Lakshmanaswamy’s performance

The high moment of the inaugural performance by A. Lakshmanaswamy — for Krishna Gana Sabha’s 69th Margazhi Mela — was an excerpt from ‘Shivagitimala’, by Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. The varied emotions were explored in detail in this piece set to raga Durga.

A. Lakshmanaswamy explored the myriad shades of love in detail.
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

The opening number, a jatiswaram composed by Madurai N. Krishnan in raga Rasali, offered a vibrant start and stood out for the dancer’s precision and finesse in movements.

The Karnataka Kapi varnam, composed by Swati Tirunal, ‘Sumasayakha’ dealt with the familiar terrain of a Nayika beseeching her Padmanabha to relieve her from the tormented state of love she is in. From establishing the state of her viraha in the opening lines, the sancharis depicted love in all its hues. However, the frequent portrayal of Manmadha and his arrows at varied points, though relevant to the theme, proved a little weary. The leisurely pace, in which the varnam was danced and the comfort that Lakshmanaswamy shared with his musical team, reflected in his nritta and abhinaya. 

A. Lakshmanaswamy.
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

‘Yaaro ivar yaaro’ the popular song from Arunachala Kavi’s Rama Naatakam, dealt with the beautiful sequence of Sita and Rama catching a glimpse of each other before the swayamvara. The detailing of Sita playing with her friends, and the exchange of glances were poetically delineated.

The presentation concluded with a Thanjavur Quartet thillana in raga Mandari. The accompanying artistes — vocalist Hariprasad, Nellai Kannan on the mridangam, Kalaiarasan on the violin, Muthukumar on the flute and Sudharma Vaidhyanathan on the cymbals — were an asset to the performance.