“God lies in the details”, goes a popular saying. And it is very often those details that we miss out on, when it comes to the big picture. The four-letter word called ‘love’ has been defined, described and debated most often. But more than often, it is in those seemingly insignificant gestures that convey the message of love with profoundness.
Love - the Rasa - Kadhalagi Kasindhu, a Kalayagnam and First Xpressions Studio Production at the Music Academy explored the magic of love through six mythological instances, featuring Aparna Pillai and troupe. Aparna Pillai had visualised and conceptualised the play The performance which lasted for about two hours saw some spectacular aerial dances and mind blowing live special effects.
Choreography by Kavitha Ramu saw not just classical dance forms but also folk and a glimpse of the bamboo dance. Whilst Revathy Sankkaran had penned lyrics, Mitran Devanesan had penned the dialogues. The music was composed by the renowned Musician and Flutist B.V. Balasai and the rhythm was by D.A. Srinivas. The ballet featured many new innovations such as aerial dances; LEDs and mind boggling set designs along with stunning performances by the dancers and in different colours through various moods, vibrant costumes, mind-blowing props, lights and visuals to support it.
The rather interactive narrative intervention through two storytellers played by Jagan and Smitha Madhav was filled with humour with a dash of sarcastic take on current affairs, thanks to Jagan who didn’t leave out either Preity Zinta’s IPL hugs or US Visa delays.
The mythological instances that were cited in the performance established and justified the theme of the performance very well.
The ballet commenced with a Thirukural, which explained the greatness of love. And it took the audiences on a journey to the past through myths, epics and legends to discover love. All this was depicted through different styles of dances and movements like Bharathanatyam, Folk, Kalari and Contemporary styles. Various facets of love from the lord Almighty, to love for friendship, love for creatures, love for the country, love which is unknown and unconditional and so on and so forth were explored.
One such instance was that of the legend of Ponanayal, whose sole wish was to see her lord clad in gold. When she gets her wish fulfilled, she with all her purity pinches his cheek to leave a mark of her affection through history.
Astounding aerial dances was one of the main highlights of the show. Ushe and Anirudh’s “aerial lover’s dance” was mind blowing a sight. The legendary instance of Pari Vallal who gave up his golden chariot for a floral creeper formed the first instance, followed by the mythological story where Goddess Parvati puts Lord Shiva, through a test or the legendary story of the true love of princess Ushe for Anirudh, Lord Krishna coming to the rescue of Panjali during the disrobing. The lamentation of Devaki who missed out on memorable instances of Krishna’s childhood had an array of instances which included the Kalinga Narthana.
At the end of the performance, it could be said that those unseen instances were actually relived by the audiences.