Mumbai based Bharatanatyam danseuse Shruti Varier rendered a brief but brilliant performance on Sunday 30th March at the beautiful Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Natyagriha, Mira Road for the two days Nritya Tarangini International Festival of Music and Dance, organised by Guru Subitha Murali’s Saraswathi Kala Kendra and Research Centre, with the support from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Nritya Tarangini Festival is one of its kind organised on a annual basis mainly with the intention to encourage young talent and also to promote and propagate Indian classical arts for a wider audience.
Presently Shruti Varier is in her Masters in Bharatanatyam from the famous Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya and is working as a part time teacher for the evening bath of students in Nalanda. Shruti has already performed in some of the most prestigious festivals and is on the threshold of becoming a professional dancer with complete support from her family and well wishers,
Shruti created a lasting impression when she performed a beautiful number in praise of the Goddess with complete control over varied bodily movements, inclusive of the “akash charis”, commendable ‘abhinaya’ portraying the benevolent aspect of the goddess and as the destroyer of the evil demon Mahisasur. Infact this is the first time I am witnessing Shruti perform, slim and trim, she is like a little bomb that could explode any moment and could create a great impact in the global cultural scenario.
Another dancer who was particularly noteworthy for her vivacious quality and control over the technique was Dr Vinila Rao Vuddusetty, Kuchipudi dancer from Hyderabad. Solo performances were rendered by Sakshi Damani in Kathak style, Guru Lekshmi Sashidharan In Bharatanatyam from Amsterdam, Bharatanatyam by Taneesha Nair, Kathak by Sufiya Shaikhy, solo Bharatanatyam by Dr Sharda Kulkarni,Yukta Mayekar,Samhita,Nandani Nair and Aashi Joshi. Spectacular Mayur Nritya by Soniya Saini and group from Vrindavan, Guru Manjula Manoj group and Guru Garima Sharma group.
Distinguished guests of the festival includes Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Dilip Shinde(IAS), MLA Sanjay Upadhya, Eminent dance critic Guru Vijay Shanker, Social worker and BJP Mumbai secretary Simi Nair, Commissioner of Police Meghana Burande, Veteran announcer Anand Singh and Fastest Keyboard musician Stephen Devassy.
