KHAJURAHO TEMPLES - THE SACRED AND SECULAR

A classical dance presentation by renowned danseuse Malavika Sarukkai, (on the occasion of the anniversary of late S. Vishwanathan - founder of the Kalamandir trust), was the dancer's reaction to the architecture and the space of Khajuraho temples.

The production, conceived and choreographed by Malavika, was a journey that expressed love, beauty, rhythm, ecstasy and purity, through dance. Here was a tribute to the architects and sculptors who created the temples, which reaffirmed the belief that the sacred and secular can co-exist.

This unique one-woman ballet consisted of four scenes.

'Vishwamandiram' in Ragam Amritavarshini and Keeravani, had the temple conceived as a model of the cosmos that rises through the self-replication of forms, each part similar to the whole. Nrittanjali was homage to the temples of Khajuraho.

The second scene, Kamakrida in Ragam Kalyani showed Manmatha - the God of love, awakening desire in all living things. Beautifully presented by Malavika, this piece showed the lovers immortalised in Khajuraho, telling their stories.

Leave-taking in Ragam - Ragamalika, was depicted with great poignancy. The lovers' voice recedes as the sounds of battle preparation rise. Against this backdrop, untold stories of the wrench of leave-taking are told. Sorrow, an essential part of life, was very effectively brought out in this piece.

The final scene was Laya - a combined composition of tillana /tarana (a pure dance sequence) music commissioned by Dancer C.V. Chandrashekar. A commendable effort in portraying the physical and the emotional space of the temple.

The simple stage décor, minimal music ensemble and the beautiful costume, with just a change of an accessory to bring out the essence of the scene, helped embellish Malavika's truly excellent performance.

Author : Janaki Subramaniam |