Born on December 16, 1933, guru Adyar K Lakshman is a prominent name in the world of Indian Classical dance. Over the years of his illustrious career, Adyar Lakshman has been honoured with many prestigious awards and titles for his prowess as a natyacharya. He has received the Kalaimamani from the state of Tamil Nadu in 1981, Padma Shri in 1989, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991 and Sangeetha Kala Acharya from Music Academy in 2004.
To honour his memory, his Nagpur based students, Bharatanatyam gurus Kishor and Dr Kishoree Hampiholi organised a Bharatanatyam programme on the dance items, that showcase his choreography along with their senior students and artistes from Kishor Nritya Niketan, Nagpur. The gurus and the senior students of Kishor Nritya Niketan performed a complete Bharatanatyam Margam on Monday 18th December, 2023 at Scientific Hall.
The chief guest of the event was Dr Vinod Indurkar, CCRT Chairman from ministry of culture, govt of India. He expressed that such events are the need of the hour and that it is through art forms that the stage comes alive. He also stressed that how all three art forms namely, music, dance and drama are alike. He also stressed the importance of a guru in the life of a disciple.
The event was presided over by the resident editor of Loksatta, Devendra Gawande, he spoke about how traditional dance programmes like these have diminished and is not being acknowledged by those in power.
Bharatanatyam guru Shrimathy Madkholkar and Kathak guru Lalita Hardas were present and guest of honour. They too voiced their concern over students not taking up the traditional art forms.
Kishor Hampiholi, Dr Kishoree Hampiholi, Kamakshi Hampiholi, Pooja Mude, Aishwarya Peshwe, Sana Wankhede, Shreya Joshi, Komal Mhaisbadwe, Aabha Mohurle and Ankita Deshkar took part in this Bharatanatyam recital along with their gurus Kishor and Dr Kishoree Hampiholi.
The dancers showcased a complete Bharatanatyam Margam during their performance. The programme began with an invocatory dance piece Nandi chol, which is a fast paced dance in the praise of the god of dance, Shiva, Nataraja. This was followed by Allaripu, a dance that features a dancers complete warm up before starting the dances that showcase abhinaya or expressions.
This was be followed by Saraswati Jatiswaram and Tillai Ambalam Shabdam which introduced the abhinaya in the dance, the Shabdam depicts the love of nayika for Shiva and pictures herself getting married to Shiva.
The gurus took to stage with, Keertanam Ananda Natu Maduvar Thillai, a keertanam dedicated to Shiva.
This was then be followed by a long, rigorous dance, Varnam. This 45 min presentation had all the elements of dance, Nritta, Nritya and Natya. This was be followed by Padam, Kannan Madhur Geetam which is in praise of Krishna.
The gurus again took to stage with a Thillana, which depicts the end of Bharatanatyam Margam.