Bhu SuktamFrom Natya Shastra & Rig Veda
In Sanskrit Concept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri Musical arrangement: Yamini Kalluri & Rohith Jayaraman This hymn, which is dedicated to Mother Earth, is from the Rig Veda. I have created a dance to this hymn during the pandemic as an apology and gratitude to Mother Earth for teaching me a lesson to be constantly mindful that I am just a spec of matter and to not take Her for granted. This particular piece is inspired from the iconic movie, Sapthapadi, where the heroine of the story who is a Kuchipudi dancer (Sabitha Bhamidipati) dances to veda mantra chanting in a temple. I choreographed this piece to recreate that magnanimous impact that film made on me as a child. As dancers we are taught to be connected to Mother Earth. We in fact do not begin or finish dance practice without paying homage to Bhu Devi. This very principle of expressing gratitude to Bhu Devi urged me to create this piece. (My interpretation) The first two verses are taken from the Natya Shastra. And this is how it goes, “Oh Mother Earth, you were manifested by Vishnu’s power. You are so vibrantly covered with all these innumerable colors which are beyond my imagination. Just when I conclude you are all just plain mud from the inside, you shocked me with all these precious shiny gems hidden in your womb. Mother, aren’t you full of mysteries?! To Such Mother embodies abundance, I bow down to your magnanimity.” “Here you are again surprising me with your infinite wonders, as I navigate you I discover the oceans are your very robes, the mountains are your breasts. And I finally realized, as I dance I am pounding on you. For all the damage I am causing with my selfish acts, I beg your pardon.” This sincere invocation is followed by the chanting of the Hymn, Bhoo Suktam. I chose a very abstract way to approach the rhythm while keeping a general metronome. “Adithi, You are not just the soil beneath my feet and the skies above me but you are also the space in the heavens which I cannot comprehend. The fire in your belly consumes everything near but is also serenely compassionate by providing us with all the necessary food. The sun shines on you. The divine sound vibrations which are the source of creation rings within you. You recharge yourself with every sunrise. The upward and downward movement of the sun creates a bright firmament above you. If I disintegrate you with my wrongful behavior, with the fire ritual I will rekindle you again. Whatever was scattered in distress, the Devatas always made sure to gather everything back to bring back balance. Let the ghee lubricate the light of my mind, and let the scattered fire come back together before as a yagna. May Brihaspathi, the great sage, invoke Bhu devi to dance in joy for us as we bring back balance.” |
Dhanyasi Padavarnam (Swathi Tirunal)In Sanskrit
Concept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri Musical Arrangement: Yamini Kalluri & Rohith Jayaraman This piece is about a concupiscent young woman who is deeply in love with Lord Vishnu who has deserted her after ensnared her with his divine charm. (My interpretation) “Alas! Vishnu, You are the one in the first place created this intense desire in me and then left me. Please, I have no one else but you. Your celestial yet charming form has seduced me.” I have here taken the artistic liberty of depicting the Dasavatharas. “The heroine is saying, whichever incarnation you’re in whether it is a Fish, a Lion, A dwarf, A married man or A Man with 16,000 partners, A monk, A king who’s too busy for me; Also If I encounter you in the female form I cannot help but fall in love with you. Isn’t it interesting that everytime you reincarnated yourself coincidentally I was also on Earth at the same time too and I kept falling in love with you for many lives. This happened because whichever form you are in I know that it is you, My Padmanabha!” “As I am intoxicated with desire, in complete abandon, I decided to immerse myself in fragrant roses which have blossomed in my backyard. As each of these rose petals caress my sensitive body, I am reminded of the times we made love endlessly. Anyway, were’nt you the one who promised to marry me?! As I dab some kasthuri scent on me, it takes me back to the times when you were so excited to make love to me. Your absence now makes me wonder, if you’re carried away with another woman. All of this makes me very heartbroken.” As we move on to the second half of the piece, the heroine gets restless and exasperated and goes on demanding answers from Vishnu… “My Lord, is this right to treat me this way?! “All those looks you gave me, the words you spoke in my ears and all that gentle touching have cast a spell on me. All these fraudulent actions, who can possibly commit?!” “My lord, is this even right to treat me this way?! “You have all this time to answer the prayers of these sages but why don’t you attend to my desires for once? As we drink each other’s nectar while we kiss and you play with my breasts. No more of this sweet talk please, just look at me and cleanse me of all my sins, as I worship your feet like all the great saints,” “My lord, is this truly right to treat me this way?” “It is high time, please protect me now as I am in a very wretched state, I have no one else but you in these circumstances, oh my special one; who has a lotus coming out of your navel.” “Alas, you created all this intense desire in me and left me. Why?!” |
Rageshri Tillana (Lalgudi Jayaraman)In Language, Telugu
Concept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri (My intention) As I explore my love for Kuchipudi Movement aesthetic and dancing silhouette, I also tastefully bring my balletic influences as I put together this piece. This piece is an abstract dance piece in dedication to the Lord of Dance and Destruction, Shiva. This work celebrates the versatile and dynamic Kuchipudi Movement Vocabulary which is paired with hypnotizing and repetitive musical arrangement. The contrast of the ever-changing dance and recurring music routine points to metaphysical metaphors I ponder upon in my choreographic process. |
Lehra - Raag DurgaConcept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri
Music Composition: Yamini and Kishan Patel (My Intention) This Lehra is an abstract choreography which was created in dedication to my Late Grandma, Kanaka Durga. The piece was constructed in Raag Durga, a Hindustani Raag as it shares the same name as my Grandma. I am playing with rhythm as well in the jawab and sawal and padhant format. The second half of the show is based in Hindustani music to point out the universality of art. One of the main Kritya Ensemble’s missions is to collaborate with many different music traditions across the world as we incorporate some stylistic elements from other dance styles I explore. My friend Ariaki Dandawate, a Kathak Dancer based in Boston inspired me to explore North Indian nuances in Kuchipudi. My grief of my grandma’s passing has led me to create this piece as therapy. |
Hori - Main tho KhelungiConcept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri
Musical arrangement: Yamini Kalluri & Pubali Mattoo This other piece in the repertoire is also dedicated to my Late Grandmother. Here the protagonist of the story is a South Indian Gollabhama who is deeply in love with Krishna. To spend more time with him, she goes to Vrindavan, North India. Just like my grandmother, she is not really fond of North Indian Culture. She experiences a culture shock and finds it difficult to adjust there. Amidst all this, she discovers the festival of Holi which terrifies her. She says… (My interpretation) “My dear friend, if at all I play Holi I will only play it with Krishna. I love him so much that I am ready to sacrifice my tastes and preferences for this divine love. Krishna approaches me and says, “There is something on my face…” and suddenly smears the gulaal on my face instead. I forgive him and put his arms around me in an embrace then he squeezes me tightly. I let go of his uncomfortable embrace and asked him why he’s being unreasonable. Then he comes again and gives me another tight hug and holds my feet while he begs me to play holi with him. Not only that but I also twist my arm forcefully. Eventually, my heart melts and I submit to him a bit but I am still not convinced to play Holi with him.” “As I slowly warm up to him with his kisses, he starts to smear red colour on me. I say I do not need the color of red on me because I already have my red Kumkuma Bindi on my forehead. Also, the sun is exactly as red as this Gulaal, and this Red sun is so strong that it turned my cheeks all red. Also, my lips have turned all red because of how much we kiss. Hey, these are not just excuses. I forgot to tell you, when you just look at me, all of my body becomes red with passion and excitement. Remember, when you held my wrist tightly, that left red marks on my arm. So why do I need Gulaal, Krishna?” Krishna says, “Well, then I am going to splash at you all the other colors with my Pichkaari.” The Gollabhama says, “Seeing all these colors from the Pichikaari made me realize that you are the one who creates all these rainbows everyday in the sky. How have I been blind up until now to know that these colors are here to wash away my ignorance and remove my sadness. I am ready to surrender to you Krishna and play Holi with you. Drenching myself in these colors with abandon made me realize I am Earth and you are The Sky and the colors you splashing at me are fire, water and air. Yes, I do see the confluence of the five elements. This is such a harmonious feeling that makes me want to hug you. Hugging you with my yellow skin complexion and your blue skin complexion (YELLOW + BLUE = GREEN) brought about the spring season which was all green and lush. And I have observed that all the foliage around us is coming more alive as we stay in a harmonious embrace. Krishna please don’t leave me, without you in my life I cannot find balance in this worl |
Abhang - Sharana Sharana (Saint Tukaram)Concept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri
Musical arrangement: Yamini Kalluri (My intention) In my journey of pairing Kuchipudi with Hindustani music which is an unusual pursuit for a South Indian Dancer, I come across this beautiful Abhang in Marathi. I explore the themes of complete surrender and devotion to a Guru. In Indian culture, Gurus are greater beings than teachers who have gone through some awakening and enlightenment. Gurus are on the path of removing darkness in their Students' life. This is an homage to all my teachers and experiences in my life which helped find the path filled with light and luminescence. |
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