Programme Highlights

‘Rama Darshan’ – 2nd Naada Bindu Festival for the Arts

October 1 & 2, 2011 at Tapovan Hall, Chinmaya Heritage Centre, Chennai

Hosted and facilitated by Chinmaya Heritage Centre, the 2nd Naada Bindu Festival for the Arts, titled “Rama Darshan”, was conducted at the Chinmaya Heritage Centre on October 1 & 2, 2011 at the Tapovan Hall.

October 1st saw the Ramayana story unfold in a 3-part portrayal from 5.00 to 8.00 p.m.

Part1- From birth to banishment : was portrayed in Bharata Natyam performed by CNB’s Director for Dance, Ramaa Bharadvaj and friends. An invocation especially created for the festival, were followed by scenes of wedding and banishment. Ramaa’s beauty and grace elevated the audience, who felt they were witnessing the events personally.

Part2- The forest scenes: were depited through Balinese Dance, which began magnificently, with the fusion of Bharata Natyam and Balinese. Dancers from Bali, Indonesia were flown down especially for the festival. Their graceful movements were a sight to watch, and their heavenly costumes and choreography stole the hearts of the audience. There was thunderous applause as they ended their performance.

Part3- Meeting with Hanuman; to Lanka and beyond: was wonderfully presented by hand-carved and painted leather shadow puppets from Andhra Pradesh, performed by Kalaimamani Seetha Lakshmi and the Indian Puppeteers. Staying behind the screen, the artists brought alive the characters with dexterity and conviction.

October 2nd was a musical tribute to Sri Rama.

Part1 - Geet Katha: This was a bouquet of eight songs by Pramodini Rao, CNB’s Resident Director, describing the story of Sri Rama. Composed by some saint composers and others, the renderings in eight languages, covered the period from Rama’s birth to his meeting with Kevat, to his own sons singing the Ramayana to him. Being a non-Tamil speaking person, her rendering of a Tamil composition took the cake. She was beautifully joined by her group of chorus singers who did a fantastic job.

Part2 - Navarasa to Ramarasa: Himanshu Nanda (CNB’s Director for Music) traversed the landscape of the Ramayana through a melodic exploration of the various moods. Taking episodes from the Ramayana and comparing the situations with a devotee’s journey within himself, Himanshu dealt one by one with the Navarasas (within the scope of the mind), finally making the audience take a sip of Ramarasa (beyond the scope of the mind and intellect). Besides, the jugglery with the Flute notes along with the Tabla, was original and not heard of before by anyone.

Part3 - Sangeeta Maruti: Rama Darshan is not complete without the presence of his greatest devotee, Hanuman. This final part of Carnatic Devotionals by Krithika Arvind, and directed by the well-known singer-composer Rajkumar Bharathi, was a tribute to Lord Hanuman.

The best kept secret was the arrival of our Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda! Most of us were busy going about our work at the Chinmaya Heritage Centre on October 1. Suddenly, in walked Guruji at about 2.00p.m. This was the most pleasant surprise for all of us. His very presence took the programme to unimaginable heights. To top it all, he gave us a scintillating Bhajan when he took the stage.

- Pramodini Rao