We’ve been living in a state of terror for awhile and with random acts of violence like the recent Boston bombing, it creates a perpetual state of fear.
As an artist in constant communication with the more sensitive conscious, Aarthi Natrajan has felt a need to voice her own thoughts on this pervading state of mind.
A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, she decided to voice her thoughts the best way she knew – through dance. And thus was born her solo performance Parinati which relates to the subject of terrorism.
Telling us more about Parinati she says, “Parinati is a dance drama. It is a transformation of a woman who undergoes emotional agony with the killing of her parents in a communal riot. She feels injustice and feels convinced that mass killing and revenge are the solution to her problems. However, she undergoes a change in heart while sleeping. She reconnects with her soul of humanity, realises her mistake and becomes optimistic towards life.”
Choreographed by Aarthi herself, the struggle of the girl is also portrayed by the danseuse. The drama is set and narrated in Hindi verse form and is accompanied by music compositions done by city-based Manjula Ponnapalli. The script is written by Dr Avinash Yadav from Barielly.
Lamenting on the loss of inner voice, the important message that Aarthi is trying to pass is that there is always a happier way out. Being torn by grief and becoming violent and cynical are choices that we make. Instead of choosing to inflict mass destruction, like the protagonist in her drama, one can have a change of heart and choose a more peaceful life.
“There is a lot of social turmoil that is fuelled by communal feelings and politics. People lose their loved ones and hence a sense of right and wrong in that grief. This leads to a loss of inner voice. Parinati is about finding that inner voice again,” she explains.
A dancer from her childhood, Aarthi has found her joy of expression through movement. She began her tryst with Bharatanatyam at the Century Rayon Mahila Mandal Kalyan where she learnt the basics and completed a four-year diploma course Bharatanatyam from the famed Kalakshetra at Chennai. Not stopping there, she even went on to finish a two-year Post Graduate diploma from there. Besides dancing, Aarthi also trained in Carnatic vocals. A prudent artist, she graduated in commerce as well in her under graduation.
Since ‘choosing’ to take up the arts, Aarthi has extensively toured across the country and beyond in countries like Thailand and Bangkok with the Kalakshetra troupe. An choreographer at heart, most of her performances have been crafted by herself. Taking the classical to an experimental level, Aarthi collaborated with the German artist Rabea Michler at Mumbai in 2009. Despite dancing at various national level festivals like Bharathotsava in 2009 in Hubli, Rukmini Devi festival 2010 in Kolkata and other local festivals, Aarthi feels she is still discovering her inner dancer.
But more importantly, for the accomplished artist, dancing a way of life and communication.
“Dancing is like a divine experience, besides being an exercise which keeps a person mentally and physically fit. Through dance you can showcase different social issues to people. For a dancer, the expression does all the talking and as Bharatanatyam has too many movements, the movements should be done with clarity as it leads to better understanding of the issue by the audiences.”
Aarthi hopes that her Parinati will be an eloquent dialogue that will inspire many.
The artist will be performing in the city today at Saptaparni, Road no 8, Banjara Hills at 7 pm.