THANKS TO a new kind of presentation in the visual media, the liking for classical art forms is gradually on the rise.
Incidentally, the trend now coincides with the statewide launch of `School Reach Out Programme' by the Chennai-based Skanda Publications.
It has made an earnest attempt to reach out to the student community by taking to their doorstep, 10 volumes of `Demystifying Fine Arts' series, titled `What is Carnatic Music', authored by Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, free of cost, to aspiring schools.
Besides the shelves in the bookstores, Ms. Vidya, feels that the books would be of immense help if they were placed in school libraries.
The programme is aimed at sending a set, costing Rs 350, to each school for its library, with the objective of making it accessible to all students from standard VIII. And they do it so by reaching out to the sponsors.
The books, being inter-disciplinary in nature, links carnatic music to mathematics, science, geometry and logic, says Ms. Vidya. All the schools have to do to obtain the free copies is to write to Skanda Publications, 9/1, 1st Floor, Palathope, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004, or email vidyabhavanisuresh @hotmail.com.
By Krishnamoorthy R.
CHENNAI: Danseuse Vidya Bhavani Suresh is back with yet another title - `Popular Classical Dances of India', in the Demystifying Fine Arts series.
Priced at Rs. 495, the Skanda Publication has details about Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak and Odissi.
In the book, she gets into the details of the art forms beneath the rustling silks and the glamorous temple jewellery, the stage-managed perfection in an air-condition auditorium and the tradition and mystique of various forms.
Technical terms?
She defines technical terms typical of various dance forms like jathis, araimandis and adavus. The user-friendly book is interspersed with explanatory black and white and colour photos.
Vidya Bhavani Suresh is a Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist who runs the Skanda School of Performing Arts. She had authored 28 books and has released 10 audiocassettes on dance and music.
For information contact Skanda Publications at 24957560/7237.
B.A. Suresh and Vidya Bhavani Suresh presenting the book to the Delhi Chief Minister (left), Sheila Dikshit.
THE HUSBAND-WIFE team of Skanda Publications, B.A. Suresh and Vidya Bhavani Suresh, released a dictionary of bharatanatyam, at New Delhi recently.
The first copy was handed over to the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit.
This compilation promises to serve as a ready reference for bharatnatyam students and enthusiasts.
The book, authored by bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, and edited and published by Mr. Suresh, features more than 100 photographs of dancers including their young daughter, a student of dance, Mahitha Suresh.
The book, part of the publication's `Demystifying Fine Arts' series, attempts to explains 115 key terms in bharatanatyam like `nattuvangam' and `alarippu', including those common to all Indian classical styles, such as `abhinaya' and `rasa'.
These terms include the ones common to all Indian classical styles, like `abhinaya' and `rasa,' as well as those terms specific to bharatanatyam like `nattuvangam' and `alarippu.'
The book is priced at Rs 195. For details contact: 24957560.
FOR THOSE who are practising their dance seriously, musicologist and Bharatanatyam dancer, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, has yet another demystifying book. This time, Skanda Publications has launched its second book `Adavus and Sancharis in Bharatanatyam'. Taking off on a different path from the earlier volume, `What is Bharatanatyam', the present title targets the learner and parents of learners.
Some tips from the book: Look out for stage pricks, scattered salangai or rusted nails that may fall off from the dancer's feet. For those who get excited to see foreigners among the audience, the suggestion is to relax. While they may enjoy the performance, it will be too much to expect them to shiver along with the dancer when Muruga quells Surapadma or get engrossed with Krishna's narration of the Gita. Paper substitutes for flowers available for Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 can be used eight to 10 times if handled carefully.
The slim book priced at Rs. 40, also contains colour photographs of dancers depicting lotus, Nataraja and Parvathi, Mandi, Theermana and Nattadavus. The importance of Sancari or narration of themes is likened to a good story in a successful film. A glossary of dance terms has also been appended. Phone: 4957560/4971661/4957237. E-mail: vidyabhavanisuresh@hotmail.com.
IF YOU were ever `mystified by the fine arts', look no further for enlightenment.
The third slim volume on the series ``Demystifying Fine Arts'' from Skanda Trust and its prolific author, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, takes you through such broad and expansive concepts as the ``learning process, sruthi, and the concert''. This volume, titled ``Getting Closer to Carnatic Music'' is also in the budget range, at Rs. 35.
Vidya, who gave a dramatic interpretation to Yesudas' Ahimsa rhythms also proposed a mathematical interpretation to ragas (she was working as a company secretary). The approximately 30 page books that form the ``demystifying'' series are therefore meant for just about everyone, starting with students of carnatic music who can ``assimilate the content'' in a couple of readings, Vidya says.
The first two titles on Maths in Music and Dance and Raga - Its Science and Maths did well, according to her, and this volume, which has lot less maths to contend with, is likely to fare better. So why should a company secretary write about the fine arts?
Vidya Bhavani Suresh for those who did not know, is a Bharatanatyam exponent, musicologist and folklorist.
Book released by Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam
PUDUCHERRY: “We want to showcase Indian art and culture, explaining it in such a way that anyone can understand – simplified, but not diluted,” says Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist Vidya Bhavani Suresh. That is what her latest offering ‘Kinetics of Kathakali and Kuchipudi,’ a book released by the Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam recently, has set out to do.
Brought out by Skanda Publications, a company run by her husband B.A. Suresh, this book is the latest among over 29 books Vidya has written on dance and music. Her first book was a beginner’s guide to a traditional art form, called ‘Appreciating Bharatanatyam.’
Apart from books, (including those on the art of veena making and even jewellery making!), Skanda Publications also create thematic calendars, and ‘art’ greeting cards.
“We have recently documented five art forms, including the now-rarely-practised Koodiyattam, Ottanthullal and Chakyar Koothu. Books on these will hit the market over the next few years. They will surely be an eye opener,” says Suresh. Vidya’s books will soon be available in bookstores in Puducherry.
Move over, you Karate experts. Here comes six-year-old Mahita Suresh from Chennai who can floor you with her Karate dance, if not her power packed punches.
It may be difficult for us ordinary folks to find any connection between Bharatanatyam and Karate, but her mother, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, herself a Bharatanatyam exponent and author vouches that the `Karate Natanam' that she has evolved is a 'rare and novel' style of dance.
"Karate Natanam is different in every sense of the term. Though born out of the Karate kathas (imaginary fighting movements), Karate Natanam with its soft and subtle costumes, pleasing music and calm style of presentation, is truly Karate's antithesis,'' she explains.
Bhavani and her family were in Kochi as part of a tour to promote the books she had written. In fact, all the 50 single and double hand dance mudras depicted in her recently released book `Abhinaya in Bharatanatyam' were demonstrated by Mahita, says her proud mother.
Her series of books, mostly priced in the Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 range, aim at demystifying classical music and dance.
PEACE BROOKS no barriers. Likewise, language is no limitation for good music. Or dance. Things work out on their own when the intentions are clear.
Coming together of all these elements is Music Today's latest music album, `Ahimsa', dedicated to the concept propagated by the messiah of peace and non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi. Produced by Ricardo Barrantes of Solarwind Music of the US, the nine numbers in English have been rendered by K. J. Yesudas. Mirroring diverse cultural fabric, the instrumentalists for the songs have been drawn from different parts of the world.
No wonder, connoisseurs of music assembled in large numbers when Music Today and ACCEL ICIM recently organised a live performance of Yesudas in Chennai. The dances for the show were choreographed by Ms. Vidya Bhavani Suresh, who runs a dance school. In many ways, the music and the choreographed sequences were a celebration of peace, and carried the message of goodwill and harmony.
The tone for the evening was set by the `Misere Karuna' (mercy and compassion) number, which combined the ancient languages of Latin and Sanskrit. `...Karuna,' composed by the singer and the producer, is a call to live in harmony on our planet against the backdrop of Lakshmi, Tara and Mary offering their gaze filled with love to Mother Earth. Set to the deep yet mellow voice of Yesudas, Ms. Vidya Bhavani Suresh and her team stole the show with their depiction of victory of white (peace) over red (violence).
When Ahimsa is the underlying message, can Gitanjali stay behind? The lyrics of the third song for the evening, christened after Rabindranth Tagore's famous work, were inspired from an imaginary dialogue between Tagore and the 14th century German mystic Thomas Kempis. According to Yesudas, ``Ricardo Barrantes did something mischievous and based the song on ten beats''.
The variety for which the singer is known was visible when he sang `Atta Apu' that epitomises the elements of earth while speaking of the Apus spirits that dwell high in the Andean mountains. Legend has it that the Atta the Apus sings for us to hear; and the subject could be anything - rivers, oceans, forests, sky, deserts, stars and forces unseen.
Rhythmic path to peace.
By N. Ravi Kumar
The 'Natya Shastra' says that from every dance and theatre performance the audience should be able to take home something good.
To enrich the experience of watching Kerala's traditional forms such as Koodiyattam, Nangiyar Koothu and Chakyar Koothu, dancer Vidya Bhavani Suresh is bringing out a book ‘Understanding Koodiyattam' this season.
“Koodiyattam is more like drama… it has Sanskrit dialogue, there is a bit of dance and the mizhavu is the instrument used. It is a temple art form and the performance begins with rituals.
A typical Koodiyattam performance goes on for 10 days and stories from the Bhagavatham and Ramayanam are taken and depicted with utmost detail,” explains Ms. Suresh, who has interacted with over 15 traditional artists for the production of the 320-page colour volume.
Books
B.A. Suresh, her husband, and she have, over the last decade, brought out several books on Ottam Thullal, Carnatic Music, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam under the banner of Skanda Publications.
"We first started off with a book on Bharatanatyam as we wanted a larger audience to read and understand the art form better.
When you watch a performance after reading this book, you can definitely relate better to what is happening on the stage.
We include plenty of colour photographs. In the latest book we have presented the complete sequence of ‘Seetha Swayamvaram' for the Nangiyaar Koothu to show the complete repertoire,” she points out.
CLASSIC NOTES: Suresh and Vidya Bhavani explaining about their work. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
What is Abhinaya? What does Nattuvangam mean? Or for that matter, what does Kangula and Anjali denote?
You will be left groping in the dark if you try to find answers. These are terms related to Indian classical styles and different performing forms of Bharatanatyam.
No need to go looking for an exponent of this classical art form to satiate your hunger. Just look up the Comprehensive Dictionary of Bharatanatyam and you have all the info.
Descriptive account
Thanks to Vidya Bhavani and Suresh, Indian fine arts are no longer the exclusive preserve of its practitioners. Anyone can now delve into its mystique and enrich oneself. The lexicon is the latest of books brought out by the couple. The 115 entries in the volume give a descriptive account of Bharatanatyam and its various forms, besides tracing the history of each technical term.
This is the 23rd publication of the couple in the last three years. They have already brought out titles covering Carnatic music, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak, Odissi and popular `ragas' in the by now familiar "what is" series.
Price in the range of Rs. 30 to Rs. 90, the books explain in lucid style various classical dances. Multicoloured centrespreads add to the reading pleasure. "The idea is to demystify fine arts and take them to the common man," says Bhavani, musicologist and Bharatanatyam exponent.
She has also brought out audiocassettes, greeting cards and a calendar depicting 72 `Melakarta ragas'.
A performing artist herself, Bhavani's brush with writing started in 1999 with a book on appreciating Bharatanatyam. It was an instant hit. Since then there had been no looking back for her.
Future plans
She gave up her lucrative job as a Company Secretary and so did her husband. Between them they run Skanda School of Performing Arts in Chennai, besides bringing out books on various dance forms. "We plan to publish at least 100 books, which will be the last word on performing arts," says Suresh.
What next? The duo plans to write books on little known classical arts such as Manipuri dance and Assamese Sattraga and follow up with folk arts.
By J.S. Ifthekhar
After the series on music for the lay man, the musicologist and Bharatanatyam exponent, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, has come out with a lay man's book on dance.
The title, `What is Bharatanatyam', deals with some of the key usages which Ms. Bhavani feels are much misunderstood. The book gives an introduction to the basic structure of the dance form.
Like the titles for music, Ms. Bhavani will be coming out with more volumes on the dance describing each footwork or adavu, expression of content -- abhinaya, emotions -- bhava and narratives -- sanchari.
She tries to explain the difference between abhinaya and bhava and rasa in the present volume. This `Demistifying Fine Arts' series on music and dance brought out by the Skanda Publications, Chennai, costs Rs. 35 each for music and Rs. 40 for dance.
``These books will give an insight into what music and dance are to people who had always wanted to know more about it but did not know where and whom to ask,'' says Ms. Suresh, who was in the city recently.
By Shyama Rajagopal
Perfect companion to Carnatic music buffs, written in a simple language
MADURAI: The Chennai-based Skanda Publication has come out with a rare dictionary. The latest in its series on Indian music and dance, 'A Comprehensive Dictionary of Carnatic Music,' is indeed a commendable attempt at 'demystifying Indian fine arts.'
The dictionary, authored by Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist Vidya Bhavani Suresh and edited by B.A. Suresh, is a perfect companion to any learner or practitioner of Indian classical music.
Written in a language that could be easily understood by all readers, the dictionary has definitions, photographs and illustrations for 160 topics, encompassing various aspects of music.
A raga a page
An attractive addition is the 'A Raga A Page' section, which describes 100 select ragas. Also found in this 400-page work are photographs and description of musical pillars found in Nellaiyappar Temple, Tirunelveli, Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai, and Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram.
Another colourful issue, offered as a collector's piece, is Skanda Publication's silver jubilee volume, 'Popular Classical Dances of India.'
It is a brief treatise on Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak and Odissi. The illustrative photographs, accompanying the write-ups, make reading and understanding different dance forms easy.
True to the claim of the publishers that their works are 'eye-friendly' and 'brain-friendly,' the layout of the two books matches with the language.
VIDYA BHAVANI Suresh prefers to be known as a Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist, though she has many feathers in her cap.
Giving her immense support and equally passionate about her choosen vocation is her husband, B.A. Suresh. Together, they aim to reach the common man who aspires to know about the fine arts, but does not know whom to ask.
Throwing away their jobs in the corporate sector _ Mr. Suresh, a marketing man having varied experience in visual and print media, and Ms. Suresh, an assistant company secretary with the SPB group of companies in Chennai _ the husband-wife team is full time into promoting music and dance.
In a series of small books, titled Demystifying Fine Arts, Ms. Suresh intends to help readers get acquainted with classical music. Starting with the first volume in December 2000 which was titled Maths in Music and Dance and published by their own publishing house called Skanda Publications, the couple have come out with Raga - Its Science and Maths, Getting Closer to Carnatic Music, Kalyani - the effervescent Raga, Some Popular Ragas, Accompanist of a Music Concert and Vakra and Bashanga Ragas. They plan to come out with 33 more volumes of these 30-page books in which they will deal with more music and dances of India like Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, etc.
What sets them apart is their confidence in doing something they believe in. Ms. Suresh has set to tune a whole new set of compositions different from the traditional songs, which she believes are "anti-feminist''.
Her Skanda School of Performing Arts helps teach traditional Bharatanatyam steps but it does not promote what everybody else has been doing, Ms. Suresh says.
They are now in the city as part of a Southern tour, which has been a success, they say.
By Shyama Rajagopal
SABHA SEASON does not go without new books and CDs on music or dance. And this year's season is no exception. Vidya Bhavani Suresh, a Bharatnatyam exponent and musicologist, who authored a number of titles on fine arts, has now come out with a work on Kathakali.
The most important aspect of this form of dance is its make-up and costumes. Each face colour depicts a character type. It takes close to four and a half hours to complete the dressing for one artiste. This aspect has been highlighted, says Vidya, in the book. The process of costuming has been captured through 45 pictures taken during a special session exclusively for this purpose with the help from renowned Kathakali exponent Sadanam Narayanan Namboodiri and make-up specialist Neelakandan of Kerala.
"Many get fascinated by Kathakali's characteristics. But, they do not go beyond that. I have attempted to enable them know the basics of this dance," the author says.
She along with her artiste-husband B.A. Suresh has also launched a series of greeting cards, titled "Enchanting Performing Arts". Kathakali is the focus of the inaugural greeting card. There is a short note on the specific performing art. For further details, contact: 24957560 and 24957237.
CHENNAI-BASED Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist, Vidya Bhavani Suresh, who is in the city these days has come out with the latest in her series `Demystifying Fine Arts' titled `Navarasas in Bharatanatyam'.
The series as the title suggests, is an attempt on the part of the noted dance exponent to take the fine arts closer to the masses. Backed up by fine pictures in art paper, the Vidya's latest enterprise takes the readers on a journey through the heart of the nine rasas that are so integral to the narration of a story in dance performances.
Vidya, with one foot firm on traditions, is also exploring vistas of `Karate Natanam', an art performance where the `katas' of Karate, sans the violence, almost become the mudras of the dancer. Vidya's daughter all of six years is into Karate, Bharatanatyam and Karate Natanam.
BHARATYANATYAM EXPONENT Vidya Bhavani Suresh has dealt with Kathakali in her latest book of the series `Demystifying Fine Arts'.
The book, which has been divided into five chapters, begins with the chapter, "What is Kathakali". Here, the author has given an introduction, to the uninitiated person, about the Kathakali make-up, the costumes used, the texts used for Kathakali narration and how the Kathakali artists act out the narration.
The second chapter deals with the training that a student of Kathakali has to undergo. This chapter quickly takes the reader through the exercises, oil massage and about how after a year of training, the emphasis slowly shifts to the mastery of techniques. The book however, does not deal in detail with the mode of communication— the mudras. The writer has stated that she would deal with the same in another volume on Kathakali.
The next chapter is all about Kathakali make-up. In about 40 colour pictures, the book has captured the cumbersome process of make-up that a Kathakali artist has to undergo before he gets on stage.
The pictures show the make-up for the character ` Bheema' being applied.
The entire process - right from the lighting of the traditional brass lamp to the placing of the crown on the head of the artist - has also been vividly described.
Chapter four lists out all the different types of costumes that Kathakali uses— the Paccha Vesham, the Pazhuppu, the Kathi Vesham, the Chuvanna Thaadi, the Vella Thaadi and so on.
The book ends with some personal observations and reflections of the author about Kathakali.
By Mahadevan G
THE CLASSICAL dance form of Kerala has been taken up by Bharatanatyam exponent and musicologist Vidya Bhavani Suresh in the 18th volume of Skanda Publications seeking to demystify fine arts. `Understanding Kathakali' is the second and concluding volume on the dance form that deals with the communication modes of Kathakali, the speciality of its accompanying musical team, the salient features of the dance form such as the use of flaming torches and curtain. The concluding chapter speaks of the use and abuse of Kathakali in advertisements, films and movies.
The centre spread of the book shows the make-up being done for the Kattalan Vesham with the Karutta Thaadi.
The laminated book costs Rs. 40. Details: Skanda Publications - 24957560, 24957237. The book is a part of a compilation of a series of 10 titles on Carnatic music ragas, four on Bharatanatyam, one each on Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi and two on Kathakali. The author says that the other series in future will take up the north Indian forms of dance.
By Swahilya
K. J. Yesudas' new World Music album has just gone through its colourful promo tour of India. And with a bit of luck, may do the round of even the Gulf countries.
The album is produced by Ricardo Barrantes' Solarwind Music of the US and marketed in India, the middle East and Singapore by Music Today, the music album of the India Today group of publications. It is unique in that it has Yesudas singing in Sanksrit, Latin and in English (for the first time!) and in a mix of styles including New-Age and Carnatic. The message is of course and peace.
Music Today roped in Chennai based dancer Vidya Bhavani Suresh and her Skanda School of Performing Arts, to add dance and colour to the album promos in New Delhi, Bombay and Madras.
In Madras, Music Academy was packed; it is, when the stars go on stage at Madras' premier hall.On April 13, it was an evening of K.J.Yesudas. And his fans rarely miss his concert.
But this was going to be different. And not everyone present probably knew what was coming. Because the Madras concert, part of a three Indian cities-tour was to promote ' Ahimsa'. The US Consul General in Madras, Bernard J. Alter, inaugurated the show and released the CD.
The event was organised by Music Today and Accel-ICIM.
This was indeed a lively event; Dancer Vidya Bhavani Suresh with her troupe of four dancers, added colour to the event by choreographing dances for four of the songs on the album.
In between, the maestro sung three numbers. The song 'Hari Hari' was catchy and some people in the audience even joined in by humming. Another song that got the audience into the mood with some vigorous foot- tapping was 'Sari Sari', which revolves around the theme of joy. 'Gitanjali' was a scintillating number which depicts the imaginary dialogue between Rabindranath Tagore and the German poet Thomas Kempis.
Yesudass got a huge round of applause at the end of this song.
Kamakshi Jaishankar, winner of the KutcheriBuzz.Com quiz contest which was based on the album, received a CD from Yesudas.Music Today's Venkat Rolla felicitated the guests on stage.Similar promo-shows were held in Bombay and Delhi.
Bharathanatyam dancer Vidya Bhavani Suresh is a recipient of the Fellowship from the Department of Culture, Government of India, and she will be working on Folk Arts, she told KutcheriBuzz. Vidya, who did her MA in Folk Arts is all set to further research that area with her two year fellowship. The fellowship is part of the Department of Culture's (Ministry of Human Resources) efforts to foster performing arts in the country.
