Bharatham
Bharatanatyam, also spelt Bharathanatyam, is a
classical dance form of South India, said to be originated in
Thanjavoor of Tamil Nadu. It was known as "Daasiyattam" since performed
by Devadasies in temples of Tamil Nadu long ago. The name
'Bharatanatyam' is derived from three basic concepts of Bhava, Raga and
Thaala. The modern Bharatanatyam was systematically regularized by well
known 'Thanjavoor Brothers', Ponnayya, Chinnayya, Sivanandam and
Vativelu.
The dance is performed in the stage as
Nritham, Nrithyam and Natyam. Bharatanatyam is based on the theories of
the books 'Natyasaasthram' and 'Abhinaya Darpanam'. The dance form is
based on 'Adavu' (steps) and 'Hasthamudra' (hand gestures). There are 64
basic 'Adavu' and they are divided into 9 parts, on which 'Thattadavu',
'Naatadavu', 'Kuthithumettadavu', 'Mandiadavu', 'Sarikkal' and
'Thattumettu' are very important. Communication is done through
'bhavabhinaya' (facial expression) and 'hasthamudra' (hand gestures).
The performance starts with the prayers to God Ganapathi and worship of
Nataraja Moorthi.
The sequence of the dance performance is
'Alarippu', 'Jathiswaram', 'Sabdam', 'Varnam', 'Padam' and 'Thillana'.
After 'Thillana', with a 'Mangala Slokam' the dance program ends.
Normally the performance lasts for two to two and half hours. The
costume is paijama and jacket of Kanchipuram silk and Banaras silk. The
dancer wears a lot of ornaments of shining stones on neck, ears, hands,
and head, jasmin garland in the hair and foot trinklet with small bells.
The music of Bharatanatyam is based on
Carnatic classical music. The instruments used are Veena, Flute,
Mridangam and Violin. The dance direction is done by 'Nattuvanar' giving
the Thaalam using hand symbols and singing 'Vaaythari'. There will be
two singers also.
Some of the famous Bharatanatyam performers
are Bala Saraswathi, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Rugmini Arundel, Kamala Laxman,
Padma Subrahmaniam and Chithra Visweswaran. Panthanalloor Meenakshi
Sundaram Pillai, Panthanalloor Chokkalingam Pillai, Padmasree Vazhoor
Ramayyan Pillai and Adayar Laxman are some of the famous 'Nattuvar'.