The festival of Mahashivratri turned special for renowned Guru Geeta Chandran’s disciple Mehak Chawla as her arangetram turned into a scintillating performance.
The show held under the aegis of Natya Vriksha at New Delhi’s Triveni Kala Sangam Auditorium began with Chawla offering Pushpanjali in raga Gambhira Nattai in which she paid obeisance to the stage or arangam as she launched her maiden solo performance.
In her Alarippu which came next, she showcased Bharatanatyam postures like a lotus flower opening slowly in sunlight. This was followed by a traditional Ragamalika Jatiswaram which presented a more advanced enunciation of Bharatanatyam adavus.
Her show also included a Padam Indendu Vachitivira in Tamil which depicts an angry nayika who refuses to welcome her hero whom she suspects of having an affair. She did well to bring out the emotions of the angry lover, who while refusing to entertain her hero, tells him that she is not fooled by his sweet words and asks him to leave.
The evening concluded with a Thillana in Brindavani raga which was a fitting end to the arangetram.
Considered as an important milestone in a Bharatanatyam dancer’s career, Chawla in her arangetram was supported by her Guru Geeta Chandran (Nattuvangam) and others including K. Venkateswaran (vocals), Manohar Balatchandirane (mridangam), and G. Raghavendra Prasad (violin).
The event took place in the presence of Dr. Nitin Malik, Registrar, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Delhi and Dr. Baldevanand Sagar, noted writer and Visiting Faculty at the Capital’s National School of Drama.
