DANCING DUO - RAJA AND RADHA REDDY

Not for nothing has the Kuchipudi dancing couple - Raja and Radha Reddy, been awarded the Padma Bhushan, Padmashree, Sangeet Natak Academy and the Nritya Choodamani awards. Their recital at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, under the aegis of the Kartik Fine Arts, began with a vocal invocation on Devi, 'Ambastuti'. It is normally performed to seek the blessings of the Goddess, so that the programme is conducted without any hassles.

Raja Reddy, with his magnetic personality, and Radha Reddy, with her pleasant stage presence, made a striking couple. Aesthetically attired, they began the performance with 'Taraana', dedicated to Lord Ganesha, set to Hindustani music in Eka Tala. This piece, a composition by Pandit Ravi Shankar had fast paced rhythmic sequences (Characteristic of the Kuchupidi dance style) and was performed with amazing ease and dignity. The sculpturesque poses, executed in perfect co-ordination, were a visual treat. The swaram interlude in the item was very interesting.

Kaushalya Reddy performed the second item. This item - 'Kaliya Nartana', taken from the Krishna Ganam composed by Ooothakadu Venkatasubbiah, a legendary poet and a devotee of Lord Krishna, is the enactment of a Leela - 'The destruction of the wicked and blessing the faithful, in particular for protecting the Gopikas from the sufferings of the Kaliya Serpent.' The supreme confidence with which Kaushalya danced, showing the 'Triumphant dance on the subdued serpent Kalinga' was commendable. She brought life into the item with brisk rhythmic footsteps and lively facial expressions.

The next item, also performed by Kaushalya, was Jayadeva's Ashtapadi 'Nijagada Yedunandana' portraying Radha as a heroine basking in the glory of being loved and desired. Kaushalya brought out the erotic dimension with the skill and maturity of a seasoned artiste.

The final item, performed by Raja and Radha Reddy, was 'Natavara Taruni'. A composition of Ooothukadu Venkatasubbiah. The item describes the beauty of Krishna as an embodiment of eternal bliss. Raja and Radha Reddy chose to portray two different aspects of Lord Krishna. First as 'Rasa Vilasa Purusha', where he plays the Raas with the Gopikas and the second as 'Geetamruta Rasika' where he is shown preaching the Geeta Gyana to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The dancers depicted the leelas of Krishna with gay abandon and brought out the contrasting expression of seriousness in the second depiction - the preaching of the Gita. This particular episode could have been more succinct.

The music for the evening by vocalist Sai Bhavani provided good support, though she could have modulated her voice a little more. There was perfect understanding between the nattuvanar Raja Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy who were wielding the cymbals in turns and the mridangam player Bhaskar Rao. The Violin, by Annadurai, was melodious and unobtrusive.

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