Planets explained through Bharatanatyam ballet

Want to witness mythology blending with astronomy on stage? The nine planets, with which astrologers predict people’s future, will be presented with their stories by 80 dancers of all ages, while NASA’s videos of the celestial beings will be played in the background at Meendum Navagraha Ula, a Bharatanatyam ballet, at Narada Gana Sabha. “It’s a detailed production covering all the aspects of each planet discussed in our mythology including the Sun and the Moon with a dedicated episode. It won’t be a regular Bharatanatyam performance, but it’s purely classical and will run nonstop for about two and a half hours,” says Krishnakumari Narendran, a Bharatanatyam exponent and founder of Abinaya Natyalaya, who came up with the idea of this show almost 30 years ago. First staged in 1989 with over 40 dancers, the ballet has evolved both in size and style until it was staged for the 29th time in 2009. 

Interestingly, the upcoming show, the 30th, will feature the fourth generation of dancers, while the choreography remains intact. “The choreography is such that even a minor alteration will affect the whole flow. But the dancers have changed over the years. In fact, some of the performers from previous editions have sent their daughters for the upcoming show. This includes actor Sivakumar’s daughter Brinda, whose daughter will also perform on May 7. The videos have been updated, but the music composed by Subramanian and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan who specifically worked on the NASA videos, have been retained,” says Krishnakumari, a Kalaimamani awardee. 

A constant urge to come up with a performance with a difference made Krishnakumari envision Navagraha Ula. “The book titled Navagraha Deivangal by famous author Ki Va Jagannadhan inspired me. Once, Bharatanyam exponents and seasoned artistes Padma Subrahmanyam, Vyjayanthimala, Padmini and Manorama watched the show and called my attempt bold,” she says. 

Krishnakumari admits that managing 80 artistes, most of them being kids, for a show is no mean task. “Parents need to be equally credited, for the show would not have been possible without their cooperation. The show is almost sold out as parents themselves have bought most of the tickets. So, I have plans to stage the show again very soon,” she concludes.