Srekala Bharath and Thejas School of Performing Arts presented ‘Uthama Deivangal’, a thoughtfully-curated thematic production focussed on Santoshi Mata, Shirdi Sai Baba and Swami Ayyappa, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore. The presentation employed music, movement and visual imagery to evoke a spiritual ethos. Srekala anchored the production as the narrator, providing clarity and continuity.
The presentation opened with an invocatory piece on Ganesha and moved on to depict Santoshi Mata as a little girl and as a goddess clad in a golden saree, sporting long hair and a decorative headpiece who grants her devotees’ wishes.
The Shirdi Sai Baba segment began with an introduction by a group of dancers showing him as someone who dispels darkness. The segment included some jathis too. This section concluded with a joyful dance.
Srekala Bharath’s thematic production ‘Uthama Deivangal’ performed at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
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Special Arrangement
The final segment ‘Swamiye saranam Ayyappa’ saw Srekala Bharath narrate the legend of Ayyappa. Harihara Sudhan appeared as a young child in black attire with striped detailing, performing a jathi. Soon, he becomes Manikandan, growing up under the care of King Rajasekhara of Pandalam. It concluded with Ayyappa emerging victorious over Mahishi and commanding the royals to build a temple where his arrow fell. The segment concluded with a depiction of the 18 sacred steps, the song ‘Kallum mullum kaalukku methai,” and the devotion of Ayyappa’s followers who go on a pilgrimage. The evening came to a close with a tillana.
L. Narendra Kumar provided inputs for the stories and Rukmani Ramani contributed to the music. The orchestra for the evening featured Padma Raghavan on the nattuvangam, Chitrambari Krishnakumar on vocals, Sakthi Vel Murugan on the mridangam, N. Shigamani on the violin and rhythm pad by K. R. Venkata Subramani. Concept, choreography, and costume design were by Srekala Bharath.
