ARANGETRAM - SINDHU ANANDARAJ

Dance is my meditation, my prayer, my life!

This is the sentiment that the debutante dancer Sindhu Anandaraj, a student of Guru Smt. Sridevi Tirumalai, showcased and anyone who witnessed her arangetram, on July 1^st 2022 will attest to the mesmerizing and flawless performance she delivered.

Guru Smt. Sridevi Ajai Tirumalai is a senior disciple of Smt. Padmini Ramachandran, one of the most revered Bharathanatyam gurus and a flag bearer of the Vazhuvoor tradition. Guru Sridevi is deeply rooted in the pure traditions of the art and her steadfast classicism and innovative choreography are testaments to her artistic sensibility and mastery over the art.

The evening commenced with an inaugural prayer and welcome note by her mother, Smt. Priya Anand. The event was masterfully presented by the dancer’s brother Tarun and cousin Rohita in English and Tamil respectively.

Sindhu opened her repertoire with a Pushpanjali in ragam Saraswathi, where she sought the blessings of Lord Nataraja - the patron deity of dance, her Guru, the musicians, and the audience. The fast-paced Pushpanjali gave way to an evocative rendering of an invocatory piece on Lord Ganesha in the ragam Shanmukhapriya. Sindhu was the picture of grace as she depicted the elephant-faced God who delights in blessing his devotees and set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Next, Sindhu presented the Rasikapriya Jathiswaram, showcasing her grasp of nritta and control over execution of her adavus. In the next piece, a soulful rendition of Thyagaraja’s Gaanamoorthe, Sindhu immersed herself in this abhinaya piece and clearly showed her mastery over facial expressions and storytelling, creating a personal connection with the audience.

A brief musical interlude by the artists gave the audience a chance to revel in the soulful and divine rendition of Oruthi Maganaai Pirandhu and the lilting English Note by Boston’s prized and deeply respected music Guru Smt. Tara Bangalore.

Sri Dandayudhapani Pillai’s  Navaraga varnam 'Swamiyai azhaithodi vaa...' is a challenging piece with immense demands on the dancer, both physically and in terms of abhinaya. Sindhu’s feet adorned with the ‘salangai’ were springing around the stage with absolute command over the rhythm and tempo of this piece, completing each jathi with a crisp finish. She presented the jathi portions in sync with her Guru’s Nattuvangam while the lovelorn heroine's pangs of separation from her lover were well depicted by her skillful sancharis. She not only did justice to this composition but presented it with confidence and flair, compelling the audience to applaud her versatility.

Following the varnam, Sindhu’s rendered an expressive krithi - Aadenamma set in Paras ragam, in which she showcased the ecstatic Parvathi who describes the mystifying looks of Shiva and his dance and savors the nine rasas that awaken in her, as she is enraptured by the smiles of her lord.

Purandaradasa’s Brindavanadolu in Kapi ragam is a lilting melody replete with emotions and descriptions of the beauty of Lord Krishna. Sindhu’s expressive face spoke volumes in interpreting the lyrics of this beautiful piece.  In the next piece, Sindhu danced her way into the hearts of the audience with her graceful movements and endearing abhinaya in this Kamas piece, Konji Konji Vaa Guhane.

It is not about the Salangai, it’s about what you do in them.

And what Sindhu did in them was sheer magic as she presented a Desh Thillana. Sindhu’s command over nritta with neat adavus, quick but controlled foot movements, sculptural poses and her synchronization with the brilliant notes of mridangam and nattuvangam were on full display during this grand finale item.

With the Mangalam following Ksheerabdhi Kanyakaku, as Sindhu offered her namaskarams to Lord Nataraja, the Guru, the musicians, and the audience, the hall resounded with applause in synchronized rhythm.

Sindhu’s performance as a debutante matched an exacting standard that is an attestation to the rigorous discipline and supreme quality of Guru Sridevi’s tutelage. Sindhu is a product of unwavering devotion to this art and her guru, combined with diligence and perseverance.

Like the Guru Smt. Sridevi Ajai Thirumalai mentioned in her congratulatory note, “Paarppavar manadhil kavalaigal irundaal, parandodum – and you did indeed do that, Sindhu. You transported the viewers to a higher level”. We were left yearning for more after what was truly a remarkable and unforgettable performance.

Dancing is an art. The floor is my canvas and I am the brush. Whatever I create comes from the heart.

And what Sindhu created on stage today truly came from her heart.

The event video was provided by Ajai Thirumalai and photography by Jeyakumar Satyamoorthy. Sindhu’s makeup was done by Amrita Ajai Thirumalai and lighting was provided by Mark Buchanan of New England Stageworks.

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