Tulsi Badrinath's blend of art and bhakti

There was a restrained simplicity that characterised Tulsi Badrinath’s Bharatanatyam recital at the Pillaiyar Koil, in Besant Nagar, on Sunday.

A student of Bharatakalaanjali, and a person with a literary bent, Tulsi was poised and sweet, though a little held-in. She started her performance with a Ganesha Vandanam paying obeisance to Mooshika Vahanam.

Pleasing jati

She followed it up with the classic varnam, ‘Sakhiye Indha Velaiyil.’ Perhaps an hour’s performance does not allow sufficient time for a dancer to explore the potential for sancharam in this varnam. The ‘thadiku didiku jati’ was pleasing and if, in the charanam, Tulsi appeared a little distracted, the typically dignified nattuvangam of Guru Shantha Dhananjayan firmly brought it back.

In the bhajan that followed, ‘Bhajoman Ram Charan Sukhadayi,’ Tulsi performed with complete involvement. The significance of surrendering at the sukhadayi feet of Lord Rama was convincingly brought out through the stories of Ahalya, Guhan and Ganga. The programme concluded with a tillana in Hindolam.

Malathi Raghuram’s vocal rendering was competent and enjoyable, as was Kalaiarasan’s violin.

Kartikeyan’s mridangam was unobtrusive and yet fully supportive. Sunil Kumar (flute) came to the fore in the lovely Tulsidas Bhajan. The performance was one of a series of dance performances being held in the temple premises.