The Kalakshetra Repertory Company presenting six parts of the vintage Ramayana production, featuring some of its best artists from 15 - 20 November at Meghdoot I, at the capital's Sangeet Natak Akademi. The festival was inaugurated by Minister of Culture, Dr Mahesh Sharma on 15 November.
The representatives of Kalakshetra present at the press meet were - director, Priyadarsini Govind, Senior Guru, Prof A Janardhanan, Heads of Concert Section Jyolsna Menon and Nandini Nagaraj, and senior performing artists and Faculty members Sri Haripadman and Shaly Vijayan. Kalakshetra is renowned for its dance dramas, many of which were meticulously crafted by Rukmini Devi herself. An ardent lover of music, Rukmini Devi invited several great musicians to Kalakshetra, and together, they composed and produced over thirty dance dramas based on traditional forms. It is to her credit that, sixty years later, they have retained their freshness and beauty. The Kalakshetra productions are today recognized for their in-depth research, impeccable technique and refined aesthetics. The most significant of these is the famous 'Ramayana' series. In 1955, Rukmini produced the first of the Ramayana dance-dramas – Sita Swayamvaram, with the music composed by the legendary Sri Vasudevacharya of Mysore. Rukmini Devi based her production largely on Valmiki’s classical version, which runs into 24,000 stanzas. She completed the Ramayana series – six in all – in 1969, 14 years after she began the venture.
Besides this, the classic play ‘Waiting For Godot' featuring Naseeruddin Shah was also performed on 15 November.
When: On till 20 November
Where : Sangeet Natak Akademi