Bhavayami Raghu Ramam  – I meditate upon Rama of the Solar Dynasty – is the opening line of one of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal’s finest compositions  that brings to life through brilliant lyrics and musical passages the epic that has served as a guiding light for South Asians for centuries.

Jothi used Bhavayami Raghu Ramam as a title for the presentation that she and her senior students made on Sunday Aug. 2 at the Littleton High School auditorium.  The proceeds from the event will be used to support Learnquest Academy, a premiere Indian Classical music school in the New England area.  Durga Krishnan, who teaches Veena at Learnquest opened with a few remarks and applauded Jothi on the selflessness with she donated her time and her art to support Learnquest.

The presentation opened with a Pushpanjali - Ragamalika which was composed specially for the production by H.S. Venugopal (Flute) along with the inputs from N. Narayanaswamy (Mridangam) and G. Srikanth (Vocal) who were the musicians of the evening. The Pushpanjali was performed by Mamta Raj, Sowmya Varada, Pranathi Kaki, Bhavana Kaki and Nithyashree Shankar. This was followed by Purandara Dasa's Jaya Janaki Kantha in Nattai in Kanda Chapu thalam performed by Jothi Raghavan.

The evening then moved to the main piece of the evening which was Swathi Thirunal’s Ragamalika composition Bhavayami Raghu Ramam set to Rupaka talam.  The piece gave ample scope to the performers to enact the grad Ramayana epic. Dancers took turns presenting difference characters from the epic. It is indeed impressive to see children who have completed their arangetram to find time amidst their busy summer activities to take part in the production. While the presentation would have been enhanced by greater degree of dramatics, certain poignant moments in the piece were brilliantly rendered. Mamta Raj’s depiction of Sita as she sees Rama was certainly the finest among them.

In the second half Jothi presented three pieces. The first was an Abhang in Misra Khamaj where the presenting of the “Jai mala” or garland of victory to Rama by Sita was presented. Later she presented the Tulasidas Bhajan – Rama Charana Sukha Dayi in Sindu Bhairavi and ended with a Desh Tillana. The music for the evening was delightful.

The uniqueness of the Ramayana is that poets from different regions and at different times in history have taken and made Rama and the epic their own. Such liberty has not been taken with many other epics.  Each time I read a new version I am always amazed at the new ideas presented by poets. While I do agree with Jothi that the text of the “Ramayana” is only a click away, I think that even in this age of Google ‘Rama Rasam’ is hidden deep and requires a serious study  of the original (beyond reading the translations).

It is always wonderful to see such multi-lingual presentations. I hope the event perked the curiosity of the audience and of the young dancers to read and delve into the depths of the originals.

Shri Rama Rama Rameti Rame Rame Manorame
Sahasra Nama Sa Tulyam Rama Nama Varanane.

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