Renowned dance guru Mrudula Rai’s theme-based recital Hari Hara on Saturday (June 13) brought out the best in classical Bharatanatyam: an aesthetically pleasing performance infused with bhakti all the way.

Supported by an energetic orchestra led by vocalist Sudha Raghuraman and Sharath Suryanarayana (nattuvangam), the senior dancer’s scintillating performance that underlined the essential unity of Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shiva) had the audience totally enchanted at the Maruthi Theatre in Coimbatore. The recital began with a meditative Pushpanjali in Valaji ragam by Mrudula that set its tone.

In the centrepiece varnam, the dancer first effectively delineated the key attributes of Vishnu and Shiva through popular episodes of each deity—ranging from the Vamana to Narasimha avataras and Bhasmasura Vadhanam by Vishnu’s Mohini avataram to rescuing of the elephant from the grip of the crocodile. The first half of the varnam set in Dharmavathi ragam and Adi Tala was executed with scintillating jattis. 

It is in the second half of the varnam set to Hamsanandi ragam that Mrudula conveyed convincingly how Hari and Hara were in the ultimate analysis one and the same. Each of the jattis executed by her with vigour and precision deservedly drew loud applause from the audience. Mrudula’s abhinaya scaled new heights when she portrayed Nandanar receiving Shiva’s darshanam after persistent prayers. The manner in which she shivered from head to toe to depict this was highly evocative indeed.

She then presented a short item—bandish in yaman raga—beautifully depicting the viraha of a heroine following her separation from her beloved. The rousing finale of Hari Hara Thillana in two ragams Jog and Basant (composed by Sudha Raghuraman) presented by a group of 13 senior dancers of Mrudula’s dance academy clearly demonstrated how well they have been honed in the art form.

Flautist G Raghuraman and Kovai Sabarish on mridangam provided excellent support to make the recital a memorable one.

Krishnan Sriram is a former senior journalist and media consultant