National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) presented the Mohiniattam recital by talented danseuse Sujata Nair Sanjay at the Little Theatre. Besides the elegant and precise execution of movements, Sujata's performance was also noteworthy for its expressional.
Sujata is the daughter and disciple of accomplished exponent of Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam, Guru Jayashree Nair of Upasana Dance Academy. Sujata commenced her performance with the invocatory numbers, followed by Navarasa of Shiva, wherein the dancer interprets varied episodes with the relation to the particular rasa (emotion) like Sringara pertaining to ardhangi Parvati, Veera when Shiva consumes the poison, Hasya when Shiva is amused by the game played by Ganesha and Kartikeya, Roudra at the Daksha Yagna, Bhaya when Shiva is chased by Bhasmasura, Adbhuta while seeing the beauty of Mohini and Karuna while seeing the penance taken by Bhagiratna to get Ganga to the earth etc. Sujata has a natural flair for expressions, as she was commendable in all the nine emotions.
The Varnam placed the ‘abhinaya’ aspect to a higher level, as the dancer portrayed selected episodes from the Ramayana like the breaking of the Shiva bana and the wedding of Seeta, Ahalya Moksham and the ardent devotee of Rama - Sabari who waits anxiously to meet her Lord. Besides the Telugu Kshtregya padam, the number that attracted the audience was the popular lullaby, Omana Thganl Kidavo, a composition by Irayimman Thampi, wherein the mother compares her child to the lotus, the peacock and feels that he is an unique gift from the divine being. The programme concluded with the Ashtapadi Yahi Madhava when the heroine is shocked to see the tell-tale marks on her beloved and asks him to go away.
Sujata recieved fine orchestral support from Guru Jayashree Nair for nattuvangam, Shivaprasad for vocal, Narayanan for mridangam, Ravi on the violin and Nambisan for Edakka. On the whole it was a programme of both substance and structure.