Epics like the Ramayana, no matter how many times they may be told and retold, teachs us valuable life lessons. It was no different with Pratidwandi Ramayana; a thought-provoking thematic presentation of the epic where four eminent danseuses of Kathak, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam came together to portray crucial characters at Ravindra Bharathi on Wednesday.
Whenever people have read the Ramayana, Lord Rama’s, Sita’s and Laxman’s characters have made the most impact. But the dance production Pratidwandi Ramayana brought forward characters whose actions resulted in the making of the epic, like Manthara, Kaikeyi, Surpanaka and Ravana. Without Manthara poisoning Kaikeyi’s mind against Lord Rama, she wouldn’t have sent him into exile and neither would Ravana’s sister Surpanaka have fallen in love with Lord Rama or Ravana have exacted revenge.
All these strong yet antagonistic characters were brought to life by eminent dancers, Uma Dogra, Deepika Reddy, Gopika Varma, and Deepak Majumdar respectively. The sutradhar to string these characters together with a narrative was anchor and actress Jhansi Laxmi.
Packed to the rafters, the auditorium went silent as the characters stepped on stage to tell their side of the story. The pain, the happiness and the love all was expressed with sheer precision by the exponents, amidst a crucial interplay of light and music. The shadows of the characters were enabled to speak a language of their own and connect with the audience, who showed their appreciation with thunderous applause after each performance.
Deepak Mazumdar’s Ravana embodies love
The indomitable Ravana was presented by Deepak Mazumdar. A performer, teacher and choreographer, Deepak Mazumdar has been one of the most respected names in classical dance for more than three decades. His performance as the king and loving brother compelled the audience to
see his side of the story with great compassion.
Deepika Reddy convinces as Kaikeyi
Kaikeyi’s character was portrayed by Kuchipudi exponent Deepika Reddy. Deepika’s performance, as a first loving mother who then turned selfish, made quite an impact. With her dance journey spanning over four and a half decades, Deepika has performed at many dance festivals in India and abroad.
Gopika Varma lends Surpanaka grace
Surpanaka was brought to life by acclaimed Mohiniyattam dancer and guru Gopika Varma. Her Mohiniyattam performance as the lovelorn Surpanaka was marked by grace and fluidity of movement. Dressed in a green saree as against the quintessential white saree required for a Mohiniyattam performance, Gopika stayed true to the character of a rakshashi with her expressions. making the difference.
Jhansi Laxmi impresses as a sutradhar
Jhansi Laxmi in her own unique way made sure that the role of the sutradhar too stood out with strong lines powered with great acting. She made the character of a sutradhar too an integral part of the performance, connecting everything together.
Uma Dogra captures Manthara’s evil
Uma Dogra’s Kathak performance was as conniving as Manthara. She brought out the evil side of the character with her facial expressions. She is known for her great contribution as a dancer, teacher and choreographer.
HT02
