Jaikishore Mosalikanti presents a lively tapestry of music and movement

Shivamohanam troupe led by Jaikishore Mosalikanti performing at The Music Academy
| Photo Credit: K. Pichumani

The time and effort rasikas devote to watch a performance become worth it when the performance lives up to their expectation. It was one such experience of aesthetic delight that one got, while watching the group presentation ‘ Triyambaam ‘ by Jai Kishore Mosalikanti and his Shivamohanam school of Kuchipudi at The Music Academy’s dance festival.

The show was conceptualised on the three aspects of dance — nritta, nritya and naatya — and revolved around the theme of three goddesses, namely Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga. As the narratives related to each devi unfolded, what was  constant was the rich tapestry of music and movement.

‘’Ya kundendu tusharahara davala’, a simple obeisance  to the goddess of knowledge was followed by the popular Muthuswami Dikshitar kriti ‘Sri Saraswati namostuthe’ in raga Arabhi. The simple choreography and synchronised dancing by four artistes highlighted the attributes of Saraswati.

The narrative moved on to ‘Sree udbhavam’, the story of Lakshmi and the emergence of the goddess from the ocean in the Ksheerasagara Manthana episode, culminating in the wedding of Lakshmi and Vishnu. 

Jaikishore entered the storyline as narrator, but soon became the mountain Mandara. When the snake was being pulled on either side to churn the ocean, Jaikishore’s corresponding circular movements enhanced the appeal of the episode. In the wedding sequence, singer Adithya Narayanan‘s singing and the graceful depiction of the ritual were appealing. Lyrics for this were  by Pappu Venugopala Rao and music was by Kuldeep Pai.

The presentation was based on three goddesses
| Photo Credit:
K. Pichumani

The understated manner in which the story of Durga and Mahishasura was depicted and the refrain of the lines ‘Jaya Jaya Durge’ (with multiple people singing it) was effective. 

The highlight of a Kuchipudi recital is always the Tharangam, or  dancing on a brass plate. Performed by a male and four female dancers, the Tharangam by Narayana Thirtha was choreographed with meaningful pauses and vigorous group and solo movements.  A thillana in raga Brindavani composed by Ramesh and Jaikishore, made for a pleasant finale.

The musical team’s contribution in this show was immense,  marked by Sweta Prasad’s singing, Adithya‘s utterances of the jathis, B.P. Haribabu’s strokes on the mridangam, Easwar Ramakrishnan and B. Muthukumar’s melodious violin and flute, respectively. Padmavani Mosalikanti, Ala Venugopal, Vedya Spurti Konda, Sathwika Reddy, Lekshmi Raghunath and Srisammohana Mosalikanti brought alive the choreography with their dancing.