Photographer:Adishakti's | Artisans prepate to work Photographer:Adishakti's | Ganapati as inspiration Photographer:Adishakti's | The Ardha Kuncha Narishwara Photographer:Adishakti's | Happy baby elephant in the forest Photographer:Adishakti's | Ganapati

Ganapati by Adishakti's

The performance is an interpretation of the birth stories related to the myth of Ganapathi/Martanda (the elephant headed god from the Puranic cycle) from the Vedic cycle.

The performance suggests its concerns largely through different pattern and textures of rhythms. The verbal text is minimal. And both the verbal text and the aural images are supported by visual cues and images. The rhythms used in this piece have been evolved from the rhythms of Koodiyattam music and folk rhythms from various parts of South Asia.

As rituals commemorate myth the performance opens with the ritual creation of an image of Ganapati for the annual festival, by a group of artisans. It is a structured play in a recurring cycle of creation, celebration, destruction and return of the myth of Ganapati. These are narrated by an actor from different points of view.

A great number of residents, visitors, guests and volunteers of Auroville have applauded the performance at Bharati Nivas and interestingly many foreigners have relished the essence of this dance by deeply involving in the sentiments created in the play at various points.

Vinay Kumar, a senior artist of the group Adishakti says, “We are glad to be part of the Auroville culture and we do these plays to make the contemporary world understand the vitality of rhythm and that was performed here through drums”. He later added, “We dedicate this play to Veenapani Chawla, the director and the chief mentor of the group who passed away last year”.

This play was performed by Vinay Kumar, Arvind Rane, Pascal Sieger, Nimmy Raphel, Anoop Davis, Apoorva Arthur and the Lighting assistance was given by Ashiqa Salvan.

This production emerged from a grant made by the India Foundation for the Arts to Adishakti on the topic Rhythm as a Text in Koodiyattam and Contemporary Theatre.

0 Shares

One comment

  • HARI CHANDANA BOTTA

    Innovative and interesting article