Pushpanjali
Ragam : Gambheera Nattai
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
This is an invocatory dance of a Bharatanatyam recital. The word “Pushpam” means flowers and “Anjali” means an offering. It is a dance in which the performer offers flowers to the Gods. It is the salutation to the God of dance Nataraja, the Guru, the musicians and the audience. In this Pushpanjali there is a slokam in which the dancer gives salutations to Lord Shiva.
Krithi: :Vighna Rajam Bhaje
Ragam : Gambheera Nattai
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri Oothukkadu Venkata Kavil
The composer of this piece glorifies the greatness of Lord Ganesha, who is the remover of obstacles. Within this piece the dancer describes his various forms and honors his beauty. He is the remover of evil and dispels fear by utilizing his powerful courage to remove lust and arrogance. He is portrayed as the embodiment of ultimate truth and the bestower of moksha (salvation).
Jathiswaram
Ragam : Rasikapriya
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
This is a pure dance (Nritha) presentation without any abhinaya (Nrithya-emotions), in which, the dancer performs the intricate sequences through beautiful hand and feet patterns attuned to the notes of a pure Carnatic composition.
Varnam: VadaneNavaneetha (Krishna Karnamrutham)
Ragam : Hindolam
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Leela Suka and music tuned by Jahnavi Jayaprakash
This is the most elaborate item in a Bharatanatyam recital. As a central piece in the program, it touches upon all aspects of the dance form, with Nritta, Nrithya and Natya. In this item, the dancer depicts a story or elaborates an event with rhythmic footworks and expressions. This varnam portrays bhakthi and wholehearted love towards Lord Krishna and trying to get the attention of God. Different stories of Lord Krishna, both in his childhood and in his growing years are depicted. The verses are from Sri Krishna Karnamrutham by Leela Suka and music composed for dance by Jahnavi Jayaprakash.
Keerthanam:Shankari Samkuru
Ragam : Saveri
Thalam : Adi (Thisra Gathi)
Composer : Shri Shyama Sasthri
This item is in praise of Mother Akhilandeswari and it depicts the story of how the Mother Goddess appeared as Krishna’s sister. The poet says she is the reliever of anxiety and destroyer of inner enemies like hatred, greed, anger and seeks her blessings to protect us.
Keerthanam:Kaliyuga Varadan
Ragam : Brindavani Saranga
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri Periyasami Thooran
This keerthanam is in praise of Lord Muruga (Subramanya) who is born to the daughter of mountains (Mother Parvathi) and to Lord Shiva. The poet describes Lord Karthikeya as the God of Kaliyuga as can be seen manifest in the temple hills of Pazhani. He removes the suffering of the Devas and grants boons to his devotees even before being asked.
Keerthanam:Shankara Srigiri
Ragam : Hamsanandi
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri Swathi Thirunal
Lord Shankara- the god of Kailasa dances majestically in the chithra sabha accompanied by the celestial beings with the holy ash smeared on his body and wearing the garland of Rudraksha. The dancer depicts the entire Universe rejoicing at the sight of this celestial dance, symbolizing the five divine acts of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment and bestowment of grace.
Thillana
Ragam : Madhuvanthi
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
Thillana is a fast paced and lively dance that gives prominence to pure dance movements and performed towards the end of a concert / recital to a repetitive line of the song (chollukettu). It is predominantly a rhythmic composition. Thillana usually has jathis as a part of the composition and few lines of Sahityam in the charanam followed by Muktams (Patterns of swarams). This thillana has a lyrical portion in praise of Lord Krishna.
Mangalam:Harivarasanam
Ragam : Madhyamavathi
Thalam : Adi
Composer : Shri G. Devarajan
Mangalam is the ending piece in a recital. The dancer concludes the performance by offering prayer to the Gods, expressing gratitude to the Guru, the orchestra and the audience for making the entire performance successful and seeks their blessings for the future learning. Harivarasanam is a lullaby for Lord Ayyappan at Sabarimala Sree Dharmasastha Temple, situated in the state of Kerala, India and is sung during the daily temple closing ceremony.
