CHENNAI: He is a Bhagavatha mela artiste, an ancient Telugu theater art tradition that thrives in Melattur, with over two and half decade of experience in the field. Vijay Madhavan, a senior national scholarship holder, has won awards and accolades from various association from all over India, including the best dancer award from Indian fine arts society and Nartaka Nipuna, best male dancer award from the Association of Bharathanatyam artists of India.
Vijay, a senior disciple of Dance Maestro Chithra Visweswaran, who had his vocal tutelage under Swamimalai Janakiraman, obtained proficiency in nattuvangam from his guru.
Generally when it was felt that only girls could dance with skill and elegance, I wanted to prove that with width and depth of abhinya and variety and uncluttered movements, male dancers could dance with equal skill and elegance, he says. This globe trotter who has toured countries like the US, the UK, Germany and Sri Lanka is the founder of Rechita Nrutyalaya and has trained several students.
He takes immense pride in recalling his performance with legendary Gurus Kelucharan Mohapatra and Dr Padma Subrahmanyam. He also reminisces the days, when he used to perform several duet shows with his guru Chithra Visweswaran.
He also talks about training sessions with the children at Sivananda Gurukulam (a home for the underprivileged children) and beams with pride, his contribution towards helping mentally and intellectually disabled of Singapore by staging his programme as a fundraiser show and his performance at the Birmingham Festival.
Vijay emphasises on thematic presentations and says that he makes an attempt to create an interactive fulfillment for artistes and art lovers- seeking to bring the awareness of the original intention of traditional dance form.
His recently choreographed production conceptualised by him in ‘Alwar Innamudam’ outlining the ideology of Vaishnavism brings forth the vision of the lord in his multitude forms of Saulabya. He also illustrates his deeds of glory, revealing the expression of human emotions. Undoubtedly he is a talented dancer who infuses spontaneity in the characters he portrays.