This November, be prepared to watch a contemporary version of Ilango’s Silapathikaram.
Dancer R Muralidaran will bring a new angle to the famous epic through a rare combination of talents. Nrithyakshethra, the dance academy run by Murali and his wife Chithra is celebrating its 30th year. Through Silapathikaram, he decided to give the celebration a perfect end.
Murali has made the classic epic into a Broadway musical. “This is not going to be the usual dance-drama, i'ts purely a musical,” stresses the dancer. When he approached the prominent dancers in the city, they were more than happy to be part of it. With dancers from various dance schools coming on the same platform, it promises to be a visual delight.
The cast of Silapathikaram includes leading danseuses like, Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, Uma Muralikrishna, Revathy Ramachandran, Kavitha Ramu, Padmalakshmi Suresh, Shiva Kumar, and Binesh Mahadevan. There will also be the new generation of dancers who will try to match their steps with their gurus.
Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala who dons the role of Kannaki says that she actually grabbed the role as soon as she heard about the offer. She adds that she enjoys every bit of the practice especially with the youngsters. Madhavi’s role will come alive through Uma Muralikrishna, the famous Kuchupudi dancer. “I am getting back to Bharatanatyam after 15 years. I had to make a conscious effort to come in their lines and there is lot of hard work involved,” says Uma. Murali will play Kovalan’s role.
The music of Silapathikaram needs special mention. With more than 20 leading musicians lending their talents for it, Murali promises it to be an acoustic treat! He is also planning to take it to the New York Broadway. Another highlight of the show is the Indra Vizha scene. You will see at least seven to eight various dance forms coming alive in that one scene.
Silapathikaram will be staged at Narada Gana Sabha on November 21 and the proceedings of the show will go to Little Drops, a home for destitute.