They have used Sanskrit poetry to evolve the language of performing arts. Chennai-based renowned vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath and well-known choreographers and dancers Shijith Nambiar and Parvathy Menon have woven the verses from Kalidasa’s epic poem, Meghadhootham into music and dance. Meghadhootham, the ballet was presented in Chennai and Coimbatore recently. Performed on recorded music, the ballet is currently touring North America for 14 shows.
Jayashri says, “I was open to the ideas from Shijith and Parvathy. I would compose the songs, record them with one of my students and send them across to Shijith and Parvathy. If they felt that it didn’t suit the choreography, I would readily change it.” The music and dance evolved gradually over the beautiful poem. “If the lyric said that the frightened eyes of the deer remind me of your eyes, I had to compose the music to help the choreography bring out the emotion in the lyric,” adds Jayashri who watched the ballet premiere in Chennai in July. “I felt sad that my part was over. The music and the sound effects are superb. Biju James did a great job with the audio.”
Fascinated by the vivid imagery of the story of Yaksha requesting a cloud to carry a message to his lady love, the artistes decided to reinterpret the element of the cloud. They selected some of the best verses and wove them into a story by adding layers of music and dance. The cloud, which actually represents the mind or soul of the Yaksha, transforms into the real hero. The Navamegha, or the new cloud, is formed from the tears that the other clouds shed in empathy when Yaksha is heartbroken by pangs of separation. Carrying his message of love, the cloud travels five days and five nights to reach the Yakshi. The rain that drenches her becomes the message of culmination. Jayashri used her observations of the rains and nature to express while Shijith and Parvathy adhered to the Kalakshetra style and used folk elements in the choreography. “Meghadhootam is not really presented like a dance drama. It is more like a beautiful dream,” say Shijith and Parvathy.
It all began two years ago, when Uma Ganesan, from the Cleveland Cultural Alliance brought together the three artistes for initiating the project.
The artistes had heard the recitation of Meghadhootham by the erudite professor, the late Revathy. “She was a great inspiration. Unfortunately, she passed away before the show. We dedicated the show to her,” says Shijith. Shijith and Parvathy liked the tune Jayashri composed. “We liked it so much that we tried to incorporate it throughout the improvisations. The music and dance evolved continuously,” says Parvathy who is not touring with the troupe as she is expecting her first child.
The set for the ballet consisted of simple white panels to depict the sky and the earth. Lighting was used to highlight day and night and the course of the cloud’s journey. Imaginative lighting design by Victor Paulraj and soundscape by Biju James added more dimensions and texture to the performance.
Can Sanskrit be understood and appreciated by the contemporary audience? Based on her vast concert experiences, Jayashri believes that the audience will accept the ballet and Sanskrit. Jayashri says, “Sanskrit is used everyday in most Hindu households through shlokas and prayers and it will always remain an integral part of the music and dance repertoire. The challenge while composing music for Meghadhootham was ensuring that it did not take away the quintessential beauty of Kalidasa’s Sanskrit lyrics.”