Back in 2015, we had featured an extensive review of the album Swappnam, a masterpiece composed by the maestro Ilayaraja for a dance drama on Lord Shiva, conceived and choreographed by Krithika Subrahmanian. While the original project comprised of 39 songs, our review featured just 11 that were officially made available online at that time.
Cut to 2019 – this month, London shall witness the original dance drama in its full glory, as Dhruv Arts brings Swappnam to the Purcell Room in the South Bank Centre – a performance by Krithika Subrahmanian herself.
The content of our dreams connects us to our past, anchors our present and reveals our inner self; “Swappnam” translates dreams in many Indian Languages onto stage in a panoramic dance theatre production featuring classical dancers from all over India. The scale and grandeur of Swappnam will be a unique first time experience for the audiences. While the primary style of dance used in the performance is Thanjavur Bani of Bharatanatyam, it carries a pan Indian dance aesthetic and curated to communicate to audience of varied sensitisation to classicism, and also some Western elements given the heavy Western classical influence in the music.
Senior vocalists such as T V Gopalakrishnan, Sudha Raghunathan, Sharreth and young talents such as Abhishek Raghuram have given voice to Ilayaraja’s meticulously arranged notes in flourishing voice symphonies, ballads, soulful padhams and powerful operatic overtures. Instrumentalists of great virtuosity such as A K Palanivel, Rajhesh Vaidya and Kaarthik Raja have added layers of melody in outstanding orchestration to match Isaignani’s vision.
About Krithika: A renowned architect, dancer and designer, Krithika Subrahmanian is a classical dancer of impeccable lineage Trained in the pure lineage of the Tanjavur Pandanallur school of Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Padmashri Dr Sudharani Raghupathi since the age of seven, Krithika has performed extensively at prominent venues and festivals around the world. Krithika has 26 years experience as a dancer in the performing arts. She continues to produce and perform the widely acclaimed chorographical works like Maargam, Swappnam, Antaram, Sri, and Brihat. A restrained yet eclectic pattern of juxtaposed tradition and modernity has emerged as her unique trademark in concert space it has made her one of the most exciting architects and dancers to watch in India. NaMaargam Dance Company-An independent creative studio for dance has been established by Krithika Subrahmanian in Chennai, India.
Event details:
Date: 14th October 2019
Venue: Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London
Time: 7.45pm
Tickets: Click here
