Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 26, 2006


Trip down memory lane


Vyjayantimala's performance was nostalgic for many. Advancing age has not diminished her enthusiasm



NEAT Vyjayantimala's performance was a meticulous one

Vyjayantimala Bali's performance at the Alwar Kala Bhavana Mysore, was nostalgic. It reminded one of her earlier performances. Her film career has not tarnished her Bharatanatya performances. Depiction of nritta-nritya and natya in coherence with laya-tala-bhava (expressions) and the intricate sequence of adavus were remarkable. Gathi-bedhas of complicated khanda triputa-tala gave splendour to the performance. Episodes of Yashoda's affection for Krishna and the episodes of lifting the Govardhana Hill, the effects of rain and lightning while Vasudeva carried baby Krishna across the Yamuna river had eloquent abhinaya in tanam of the pallavi "Godhuli Gosaritha Komala Kuntalangam." The meticulous "mandalas", "rechakas", "bramari" and gaits while performing different nuances in the adavus in the svarakalpana revealed the command of the artiste over her form. The jeevatma and paramatma relationship portrayed at the beginning of the salutation sloka "atah-sarva-gunopetam" and the concluding "nishite-sarva bhuthe Janardahane" was the pinnacle of the exquisite performance.

Pranathi rendered the Sanskrit script taken from Bhagavatam with utmost care, while SSR Krishnan on mridanga gave inspiring rhythmical support. Violin by Vijayaraghavan and nattuvangam by Jayasri Ramanathan was good. Dr. Vyjayantimala's commendable dedication to art from childhood has kept her enthusiasm intact, even at this age.

Dr.V.S. Sampathkumaracharya, a noted scholar in Sanskrit and musicologist spelt out the salient features of tradition and greatness of Carnatic music that prevailed in yesteryears in a seminar on the music in the past.

He was appreciative of the musicians and vaggeyakaras who became synonymous with ragas they sang such as Thodi Seetharamaiah, Bhairavi Venkatasubbaiah, and Kempegowda Pallavi Seshaiyer, Shankarabharanam Narasaiah, Begade Patnam Subramanya Iyer. Dr. Acharya was critical of the present-days capsule music, where some of the artistes are unable to sustain sruthi and laya, let alone, such excellent achievements.

The atmosphere at home and outside are surcharged with cheap entertainment and such a situation should be resisted by those who desire to preserve the heritage of our music. The responsibility of organisers, media and the government should be streamlined in this direction, he added. Dr. Padma described the effects of music on human body while Dr. S. Vijaya Raghavan spoke on the differentiation between the Hindustani and Carnatic music.

There was good interaction between the audience and speakers about encouragement to younger generation in music and also on the influence of Western culture and the electronic media.


B. S. S. RAO

reference Source

DG..she is one of my all time fave stargal!
Hema, Vijayanthi, Madhubala, Asha Parekh and of course my gurl MUMTAZ!

Lynn:

My top three are all number one for me

Hema Malini, Waheeda Rehman and Vyjayantimala.

Of course I also like Mumtaz, Asha Parekh, and a few others.

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:
Lynn:

My top three are all number one for me

Hema Malini, Waheeda Rehman and Vyjayantimala.

Of course I also like Mumtaz, Asha Parekh, and a few others.

i like waheeda as well..but not more that those i named..she along with Sadhana and Meena Kumarie are also my faves..

although Mumu wasnt that great an actress..i LOOOVVVE her!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by lynn:

although Mumu wasnt that great an actress..i LOOOVVVE her!!!!