SANJAY’S ELEVATING PERFORMANCE

Shivapriya School of Dance (Bengaluru) presented the elevating Bharata Natyam performance by Dr. Sanjay Shantaram on the occasion of his birthday on 7 th March at Seva Sadan auditorium, Malleswaram, Bengaluru. The holistic performance “Kavi Kavya Namana” was a tribute to the great scholars whose soulful compositions have enriched and elevated the field of Indian classical dance.

Guru Kala Arathi Rathna, Dr Sanjay Shantaram is the leading Bharata Natyma exponent,mentor and actor with several performances both in India and overseas. Several dance aspirants are learning Bharata Natyam at Shivapriya School , surprisingly there are lot of male students , which is quite encouraging and exhilarating too, they also play lead roles in most of the dance drama productions.

Dr. Sanjay Shantaram ; PC: Guru Vijay Shanker

The immaculate performance commenced with Ganesha Stuti, Namma Sharade Uma Maheswari, a composition of Kanakadasa in Hamsadhwani raga and aditala, interpreted the episode and the sanchari in which the young Ganesha’s head is cut off by Lord Shiva and later replaced by the head of the elephant as requested by Parvathi, while strengthening the family relations between Shiva,Parvati and Gajamukha. A fine start to the performance that proved the prowess of the dancer in expressional dancing with complete devotion to the dance form. The second number was composition of Muthuswamy Dikshitar in praise of the goddess “Kanjadalayatakshi Kamakshi” described as “tripura sundari”, also known for her gracious walk “gaja gamini”. Sanjay is undoubtedly a versatile artist, who has the calibre to adapt to any mood or ‘angika abhinaya’ as per the requirement of the performance.

The piece –de resistance of the evening, composition of Papanasan Sivan Varnam“Tamadam Seyyada Vandarul” that dramatized the Markandeya episode, whose devotion to Lord Shiva pays off as he is saved from the clutches of Lord Yama, the hunter whose devotion to Lord Shiva is tested when he sees the eyes of the Lord is bleeding and he decides to donate his eyes to the Lord and ultimately the Lord Blesses him and regains his sight. This number was enacted with intense ‘abhinaya” that could resonate with the audience, winning him a thunderous applause.

The post interval session consisted of the Purandaradasa Devarnama in praise of Lord Rama and another number in praise of Lord Vitthala that demonstrates the ardent devotion of child Prahlada and the appearance of the Narasimha avatara. The programme concluded with the popular Swati Thirunal Thillana in Dhanasri ragam in praise of Lord Padbanabha. Sanjay received fine orchestral support with the commendable team of musicians lead by Deepthi Srinath for vocal, Dhanush Natampalli for mridangam, Gopal Ventaramana for veena, Nitish Ammannaya for flute and Lakshminarayan G for rhythm pads.

Distinguished guests for the occasion were Karnataka Kalashree Guru Sunanda Devi, Guru Usha Basappa, Guru Rekha Jagadish and yours truly. Vindhya was the wonderful compere of the evening and the photography was done by Madhukar. Sanjay received a standing occasion for his elevating performance that transported the audience to the supreme level of consciousness.