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Pleasing and Sincere Dancer

Few dancers have the combined qualities of face, figure, and talent. Urmila Satyanarayanan is one of those few. She makes an arresting picture on stage. But she could well do without so many heavy ornaments. A simpler look will add more finesse to her presention.

Urmila SatyanarayananUrmila, dancing at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai, commenced with a pushpanjali in Gambiranattai Ragam. This is a composition of Lalgudi Jayaraman. The invocation was followed by a slokham in Bhairavi by Thanjavur Sankar Iyer 'Mahadeva Shiva Shambo'. The poses of Lord Shiva were very steady and impressive.

The varnam in Sankarabarnam by the Tanjore Quartet was next 'Manvi chikkuna rara' was a Shringara - bhakthi piece dedicated to  Lord Brihadeeswara of Thanjavur. Urmila's show of love and devotion was convincing. Her sancharis describing the beauty and culture of the town of Thanjavur, and her awe of the temple there, were well done. The nritta part of it was also well executed. The araimandi that Urmila was able to sustain was admirable. Her posture was good, so was her timing.

Urmila folowed up the varnam with a padam in Pantuvarali ragam 'Netre Varain indre'. The Virahotkhandita nayika is lamenting over the absence of her beloved. There's also a touch of the Kalahantarita nayika, when she regrets her indifferent way with him the last time they were together. Next was javali 'Muthe vadura' in Saveri ragam. An angry, khandita nayika asks her nayaka not to touch her with the same hands he used to disrobe another woman and make many promises to her.

Urmila linked the padam and the javali together. The nayika who was waiting for her nayaka becomes the one who is angry on his appearance after having been with another woman.

The final was a tillana in Hansanandi, composed by G.N. Balasubramaniam. Hariprasad as vocalist was an asset to the programme. Swamimalai S.K. Suresh was very competent. He could be a bit more confident and forceful. Nellai D.Kannan on the Mridangam and Sivaganesh on the violin performed very well.

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