The cultural component of the function presented Urmila Satyanarayanan and the students of her dance school Natya Sankalpaa in a short programme, the highlight of which was a group number by 18 vibrant young dancers including Urmila. ‘Raara Venu’ a swarajathi in ragam Bilahari, talam Adi was choreographed around the joyous dance of Radha and Krishna. Imaginative nritta sequences marked the charanams, with each group of dancers with it's own Krishna and gopis performing the fast-paced nritta with élan, notwithstanding the frequent entries and exits. The colourful young ones in bright shades of orange, pink and white stole the show with their confidence and co-ordination. The lilting music was apt for the nritta-dominated piece- an exciting amalgam of colour, rhythm, and tempo. The mellifluous singing was an additional advantage. S.K.Suresh is blossoming into a serious musician who allows the music to speak for itself. The mridangist Krishnan was moderately involved; however the violinist Sigamani, was melody personified.

Urmila performed with her customary sincerity and remarkable geometry, but her items were not properly presented for an uninitiated audience such as this. There were in addition, too many solo items before the grand finale was presented and this somewhat fatigued the mind. Urmila also overshot the time frame, which in itself contributed to the ennui.

Not to say that her items lacked quality. Her pushpanjali in Hamsadhwani ragam, Adi talam, was followed by ‘Adenamma’ in Paras ragam, Adi talam. The latter was notable for the well-balanced friezes of the dancing God Nataraja and was marked by firm nritta despite the uneven stage provided. A thalattu in Kapi ragam by Annamacharya, ‘Jo Achuthananda’ spoke of Krishna and his magnificence to the wakeful child. Vatsalya bhava was well defined if theatrical at times. In the javali ‘Neematale mayanura’ in Poorvikalyani ragam, Urmila was at her caustic best. ‘What happened to all the promises you made? You took favours from me promising so much…. Have you forgotten already? Go away, I want no more of you…’ It was crisply handled and provided some levity in the long programme.

Urmila had choreographed an item especially for CANSTOP. Written by Vavesu and set in ragamalika by Suresh, it dealt with the prevention of cancer by staying away from bad habits, and the hope that CANSTOP can provide when the disease does strike. But it was the exhilarating finale that sent everyone back home with hope for the future.