It was meant to be a homage to Guru H R Keshavamurthy, founder of Keshava Nritya Shala, one of the earliest classical dance schools of Karnataka.
What it turned out to be was a recollection of all that this tallest of teachers had striven for his entire life, while giving a glimpse of how his family is trying to uphold his name and tradition even now. It was as much a nostalgic trip for those who had the fortune of either being a ward of Keshavamurthy, or had interacted with him.
Aptly titled Keshavaaya Tubhyam Namaha, the evening was a mix of Bharatanatya and group dances by a host of dancers.
What made the event special to Guru Keshavamurthy’s family, and significant to the dance scene, is that his grand children too were part of the troupe, Raghunandan, Vidya Venkataram, Ashwini and Lasya being the next generation to hold aloft the banner of the school. Vidya, the eldest among them, is perhaps one of the best talents there is on the Bharatanatya firmament. But it goes to the credit of the others including Lasya, that they are well entrenched in the art.
Guru Keshavamurthy was the founder of the Karnataka Nrityakala Parishath, the only representative body of dancers of the state. It was in less than modest financial beginnings that he started his dance classes, and remained rooted to his values till the end. Little is it realized that if classical dance has gained a high degree of respectability, it is due to his untiring efforts. He put all his children including his daughters into dance, over five decades ago, which was certainly courageous and progressive by the yardstick of those times.
And this is the gratitude the dance fraternity owes him.
With this event, one hopes that one more theatre has been added to Malleswaram, which is starved of auditoria.
Keshava Kalpa is centrally located and is ideal for an audience committed to the performing arts.
B K Vasanthalakshmi, Shamprasad, and Ravi are continuing the work their father. They low profile, just was. But this does take away from talent.