‘Vivarta: Transformations’ : Telling the Earth’s story

Sujatha and Shriya Srinivasan’s ‘Vivarta: Transformations’ used the language of Bharatanatyam to bring home the universal concern of climate change. Backed by excellent music composed by violinists Lalgudi GJR Krishnan and Lalgudi VVijayalakshmi and voiceovers, ‘Vivarta’ was about how greed and over-exploitation ruin the Earth.

The storyline was a bit simplistic. From the brink of devastation, the painless recovery felt a bit naïve, but it may be passed off in the interest of artistic liberty. But, the students of Sujatha’s Shri Kalaa Mandir made up with their timing and coordination.

Perfect timing and coordination enhanced the appeal of Sujatha Srinivasan’s thematic production.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The production began with mention of the Big Bang, and moved on to depicting the five primordial elements. The latter was portrayed through a beautiful medley of ragas and swaras (M.S.Sukhi), while creation was showcased through another ragamalika composed by the Lalgudi siblings.

The choice of ragas aided in the progress of the story – Vakulabaranam was used to show the Earth’s decline as every natural resource is polluted. The Earth retaliates with forest fires and destruction. The song ‘Mannil…’, speaking about what comes from the Earth has to go back to it (written by Vijayalakshmi and composed in raga Bhavapriya), followed. Eventually, people realise their mistake, ask the Earth’s forgiveness and take collective responsibility to care for her. Nature heals.

Sujatha Srinivasan along with her students performing ‘Vivarta: Transformation’.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The dancers were Sujatha Srinivasan, Shriya Srinivasan, Nithya Kasibhatla, Sita Vakkalanka, Sweta Balaji, Samyutha Polaconda, Nandita Srikumar and Sneha Upadhyayula.

There was a thillana (Basant Bahar, tisra nadai Adi) and a ‘Bhoomi Mangalam’ (from Chants of India by Pt Ravi Shankar). There were a couple of instances where one felt the music and dance could have been more detailed. But for that, ‘Vivarta’ was a well-intended and well-executed effort.