AHIMSA (non-violence)

REVIEWS

SISHYAS GRADS ADULTS KUTTIES  – click this link to go to the section below.

BROCHURE PAGES – NOTES ON GANDHIJI – LATHA AND RANI – click this link to go to the section below.

First of its kind in the History of Dance..Indian Classical Dance Production on Mahatma Gandhi.  Praises Teachings and Life.  19 items 37 dancers 7 actors. Budget like an Arangetram – $15K! Reviews and comments are uploaded on The Review section on the dashboard.  (please view this in full screen.)

ITEMS

all these are action pictures!

1.  Opening Malharjam

 Shobana’s workshop – May 2018

Music: Krishna Janakiraman

Vocal: Harish Sivaramakrishnan

2.  Opening Yathumagi (Music Dhina ‘Seedan’)

3. Gandhi Gouvtvm – a poetic song on Mahatma Gandhi. Original:  Guru Madurai Muralidharan.  Lyrics re-written by Latha Kannan.  Recording: Chennai.  Deesha Deepa Victoria.

4. Visionary.  A concept that emerged from Dasavataram.  Narating each character in a classical jathi form is a significant trademark of KNS choreography.

Padhavarnam (Varnam) is a masterpiece in a Bharatanatyam repertoire.  First of its kind on the glories and teachings of Ganhi.  Ragam Abhogi. Lyrics and Vocal by Latha Kannan.  Mridangam Vijay Ganesh, Flute Raman Kalyan, Violin Natarajan Swaminathan.  Graduating Group: Maya Britto, Kaitlyn Mathew, Renita Santhoshkumar, Diya Britto, Anushka Poddar, Tharindhi Jayatilake.

6. Gandhiji kanda thanga kannuvugal – the golden dreams of Gandhi.

Presented by KNS2 under the leadership of Rachel (Aarthi) Prem.

Mesmerizing voice:

Maestro Dr. Ghazal Srinivas

Praises by various composers  

7. Bharathiyaar’s “Unmai Ulirg” on Gandhi’s Teachings on Truth. Music: Srikanth Dancers: Jemima, Savita, Chamini, Hemalatha, Radha, Bindhu

8. Mahaan Gandhi Mahaan from “Naam Iruvar” 1947 by Graduates and Dhanya.  9.. Karunamurthy Gandhi Mahatma by Deepa Prem. 10. Ulagam Pugazhum Gandhi Mahaan. The world praises Gandhi. Original Dhandayudapani. Lyrics re-written by Latha Kannan and the same recording team given above.

Yes.. Six Feet Gandhi Statue from India.

11. Special Item:  Namratta ke Saagar written by Gandhi himself.  The only song penned by him when he visited The Birla’s house (1930) engraved at the Akshardham Temple, Ahmedabad.  

2014 Maestro Ilayaraja started an album (unreleased yet).  Kathak fusion (with 21 spins) by Priya, Victoria, Deesha, Sindhu

The Gandhi Statue

Rani has a zeal, a profound interest, for making statues.  Outside her house is a Paavai (light Lady) 1999.  In her yard is Jesus with children, Meera, splash lady, etc. 2011 she had the KNS logo (replica of Rachel Prem) sculpted into 24 stands.  When Sam & Raj shut down she bought a manikin.  At Kalaaksharam she even has a ‘Thai-Sei’ of herself and her two boys.  Beginning of the year, Gandhi statue was going to cost 2 lakhs ($3700+) so she gave up.  Continuing her research she found out that in USA East coast there were only 4 life-size statues – Embassy, Gandhi Memorial Center, Harrisonberg, Long Island.  This perked up her spirit and her  determination got stronger. In July she used a middleman and got it made.  It would have cost her $600 to bring it along with her as unaccompanied luggage, but because the sculptors delayed it had to be sent by courier for $1100 making the value close to $5K.

12. Gandhi Sonna Vazhigal (the pathway of Gandhi’s teachings).  RachelP added classical music to make this Nursery song appropriate for stage.  13.  Ellorum Gandhi Sonnathai Yenni Paarungal.  This was a MLV song of the 40s rerecorded by Latha and her team.  We were breaking our heads to get to its source.  Even Sarojini Sandhosharaj an expert on old songs connected with India groups.  No movie attached to it, so we think it must have been an exclusive album – rarely done in that era.

14. LIFE OF GANDHIJI – A BLEND OF DANCE AND DRAMA – applauded by many!

As mentioned above, having jathis choreographed to tell a story has always been an integral trademark of KNS choreography.  It makes it very challenging for the creativity and thalami-skills of the Sishyas, who put most of the jathis in this item. Using a theatrical venue to accomplish this was not only twice the cost but the most tiring, challenging rehearsal!  (Coming soon:  Audio of the Narration and Speech.)

Gandhi’s life was divided into six parts:

His childhood and marriage (drama: Ryan Mathew, Sonal Ajmera, Dhanya Jose)

Being thrown from the train (dance) – all the sishyas

Chakkra and burning of the clothes (drama: Roy Mathew, Pushpa Williams)

The massacre at Jalianwalabagh (dance)

Gandhi’s speech

of 1925

in his own voice

(drama Roy Mathew)

Protests – Struggles – Independence – Partition – Assassination (dance)

15 Gandhi Desame – O land of Gandhi what is your condition now?  Thought-provoking lyrics penned in “Naan Sivappu Manithan” Grads took individual verses and choreographed as part of their Graduation requirement.

16. Ooru Sollum Peril Illada Gandhi – not just his name on streets or on currency notes, is it etched in our beings? Sentimental questioning lyrics from “Mahatma”.  While Rupa Cecilia and Jeffy took the lead the rest of the Sishyas took background poses.

17.  Gandhi Returns – the Highlight of the Show.

Mr. Kannan assisted by

Pushpa and Geetanjeli

– sat on the floor

and gave a discourse.

(Coming Soon:  the Audio)

18/19 Ending-Curtain Call. Bandhe Mein (‘Lago Raho Munnabhai’) and O Bapu Nuvve .. Omkaram in Telugu ‘Shankar Dada Zindabad’  Help with translation- Naresh Machavarappu

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