Rukmini Kalyanam - Kuchipudi Ballet
“Chicago Thyagaraja Utsavam” (#CTU2019) is an organization that coordinates, annual 3-day long, Thyagaraja Aradhana during memorial day long weekend at HTGC temple auditorium.
May 25th 2019 was the first day of the aradhana. The end-of-the-day, highlight event was a 2 hour long Kuchipudi dance ballet, “Rukmini Kalyanam” by Dr. Kamala Reddy and her students from Pittsburgh.
I have written earlier on the ghatta of Rukmini Kalyanam from Potana’s Bhagavatam. I was eager to see how it will be adapted and presented on stage. Ballet has been divided into 10 scenes with narration before each scene in English.
Scenes 1-5 were elaborate, each going for 10-15 minutes. Scenes 6-10 were around 5-10 minutes each. Several performers played multiple roles that demand quick dress changes. Rukmini herself had 3 different sarees during the course of whole ballet.
The narration was in Telugu which helped understand the lyrics. Most of the songs were written with a very light sprinkling influence of Potana. When Rukmi visits Sisupala in scene #4, the dialogue was purposefully modeled after “బావా ఎప్పుడు వచ్చితీవు” padyam of Pandavodyogam by Tirupati Venkata Kavulu.
The selection of Ragas for each scene accentuated the enjoyment of each scene. I could recognize the “sahana” in scene #5 when Rukmini is longing for Krishna. Also, “Anandabhairavi” in scene #7 for bridal preparations and followed by “Varali”(?) to show Rukmini’s worried mindset.
Telugu movie actors SVR, Mukkamala(?), Dhulipala(?) etc. portraits were used when Sakhi’s are showing them to Rukmini. It brought a chuckle. They did not use any actor for Krishna’s portrait.
Even if one does not understand the lyrics in Telugu and intricacies of music, performances were so enthralling that you will thoroughly enjoy the ballet. A couple of scenes drew spontaneous applause from the audience. One of the scenes was two dancers dressed as a cow goes around the Krishna and another where Krishna takes Rukmini away.
I highly recommend the ballet to everyone. During the vote of thanks it was mentioned that the Lady who portrayed Krishna was a new mother with 5-week old baby. What a blessing they are, Late Vempati Chinna Satyam and his students and their students, to Kuchipudi and culture at large.
May 25th 2019 was the first day of the aradhana. The end-of-the-day, highlight event was a 2 hour long Kuchipudi dance ballet, “Rukmini Kalyanam” by Dr. Kamala Reddy and her students from Pittsburgh.
I have written earlier on the ghatta of Rukmini Kalyanam from Potana’s Bhagavatam. I was eager to see how it will be adapted and presented on stage. Ballet has been divided into 10 scenes with narration before each scene in English.
- Intro of Rukmini
- Intro of Krishna
- Swayamvara - Rukmini choosing Krishna
- Intro of Sisupala
- Lekha - Writing a letter to Krishna
- Krishna receiving the message
- Making of Bride and worried Rukmini
- Krishna taking Rukmini away
- Rukmi and Sisupala’s defeat
- Wedding celebrations in Dwaraka
Scenes 1-5 were elaborate, each going for 10-15 minutes. Scenes 6-10 were around 5-10 minutes each. Several performers played multiple roles that demand quick dress changes. Rukmini herself had 3 different sarees during the course of whole ballet.
The narration was in Telugu which helped understand the lyrics. Most of the songs were written with a very light sprinkling influence of Potana. When Rukmi visits Sisupala in scene #4, the dialogue was purposefully modeled after “బావా ఎప్పుడు వచ్చితీవు” padyam of Pandavodyogam by Tirupati Venkata Kavulu.
The selection of Ragas for each scene accentuated the enjoyment of each scene. I could recognize the “sahana” in scene #5 when Rukmini is longing for Krishna. Also, “Anandabhairavi” in scene #7 for bridal preparations and followed by “Varali”(?) to show Rukmini’s worried mindset.
Telugu movie actors SVR, Mukkamala(?), Dhulipala(?) etc. portraits were used when Sakhi’s are showing them to Rukmini. It brought a chuckle. They did not use any actor for Krishna’s portrait.
Even if one does not understand the lyrics in Telugu and intricacies of music, performances were so enthralling that you will thoroughly enjoy the ballet. A couple of scenes drew spontaneous applause from the audience. One of the scenes was two dancers dressed as a cow goes around the Krishna and another where Krishna takes Rukmini away.
I highly recommend the ballet to everyone. During the vote of thanks it was mentioned that the Lady who portrayed Krishna was a new mother with 5-week old baby. What a blessing they are, Late Vempati Chinna Satyam and his students and their students, to Kuchipudi and culture at large.
Some pictures below.
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