Hand shakes

Noted danseuse, Shallu Jindal’s an hour long performance at Kamani Auditorium on 1 November took the Capital to a scintillating journey into the world of Kuchipudi. Her daughter, Yashasvini, an upcoming Kuchipudi dancer, was also part of the performance.

The classical repertoire portrayed different elements of Krishna-leela through Kuchipudi. The performance started with an invocation of Lord Venkateswara. 

This was followed by a rendition on Mere Saason ki Maala (a Meera Bai bhajan popularised by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) fused with sufi and Hindustani music.  It was followed by Thillana – a traditional Kuchipudi Nritya item. 

The third part of the performance was Madhushala -  a unique performance on the poem by the famed Late Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

The evening ended with Tarangam in which Jindal performed on the edges of a brass plate in devotion to Lord Krishna. This item displayed an exquisite virtuosity as the dancer executes intricate footwork patterns by dancing on the rim of a brass plate and coordinates them with complicated rhythmic patterns. It is said to be the union of the Atma (soul) with the Parmatma (Almighty).