One story, one character, but numerous interpretations. Silappadikaram’s Madhavi takes centre stage in this routine.Swarnamalya Ganesh is all set to narrate the ancient story of Kovalan-Kannagi-Madhavi again on April 17.
CHENNAI: If you have read the Silappadikaram by Ilango Adigal, one of the five great epics of Tamil literature, you may not have missed the section of ‘Kanal Vari’, in which Madhavi, the celebrated danseuse, declares Nammai Marandarai Naam Marakkamattom (I forget not even those who forget me). This declaration becomes a statement that enables readers to see the story from Madhavi’s perspective — rather unusual considering how Madhavi is always referred to the ‘other woman’ and Kannagi is deified. Though Adigal describes Madhavi as a woman of great beauty, intellect and talent, over the decades, multiple discussions have left people marginalising Madhavi as the dancer who separated a couple — Kovalan and Kannagi. But in 2015, things took a turn when Bharatanatyam dancer Swarnamalya Ganesh decided to revise the poem through Madhavi’s perspective, on stage.
Talking to CE, she narrates, “In 2005, I started reading Silappadikaram as a text, a literature to inspire myself and know about one of the important epics. As I read, I was struck by the finesse with which the poet had handled the characters of Kovalan, Kannagi and Madhavi. But what I noticed was that this deification of Kannagi came from fear and not reverence; while on the other hand, Madhavi had several qualities woven within her character which were overseen.”
Madhavi’s relationship with the world, Kovalan, Kannagi and later on, with her daughter, Manimekalai, inspired Swarnamalya. “At the end, I felt greatly inspired by Madhavi. I felt that she was an embodiment of the modern women of today. I often go back to Madhavi for strength and inspiration,” she smiles.
Calling Madhavi’s journey as not one of a tragedy, but that of transcendence, Swarnamalya opines that women today are also put in a spot and often subjected to several character judgements. “She transcended from who she was to what she can become...” gushes the dancer.
But to retell an epic with grandeur and authenticity on stage was a herculean task for her. “I wanted to bring Madhavi to life, on stage. But I wanted it to be larger than life. When I was planning the whole concept with virtual sets, my friends and family couldn’t comprehend my idea. Having virtual backgrounds in a Bharatanatyam performance was unheard of back then,” she laughs. With the help of several technicians and artists including National Award winner Krishnamurthy, the grand production premiered in 2015 to an audience of over 3,000 people, despite the infamous floods.
Gearing up to bring the same grandeur back on stage again, with a bigger cast, she enthusiastically recalls, “The initial production was larger in scale…but with a small cast of six to seven artists. When we started performing in different stages and countries, it grew and we have evolved along with Madhavi. To have the epic translated on stage takes a lot!”
As she takes us through the production which will be a mix of both intellectual and visual elements that reflect the Sangam period, she talks about the costumes and music. “KN Sashikiran has set the music and we have many great singers and voice-over artists who have lent their voice.” With the help of Krishnamurthy, Swarnamalya says that she made sure that the costumes are authentic. “In fact, it doesn’t have colours that did not exist during the Sangam period. Most of the costumes, are hand woven and dip dyed!” she exclaims.
Talking about the prelude to the dance-theatre production, ‘Breaking the mould: Re-visioning women in the epics’, curated by Let’s Talk Life at Inko Centre on April 13, she shares that there are several women in the epics who need to be reinterpreted. “Several reinterpretations and reinventions of epics are necessary and that’s what I will be taking about. And it’s not just going to be about Madhavi, there are other ‘epic women’ too!” she adds.
Nammai Marandarai Naam Marakkamattom will be staged on April 17 at Narada Gana Sabha, Alwarpet at 6.30 pm.
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