RAAMA VARNAM (1983)

The Dhananjayans have choreographed a rare varnam on Raamaayanam, where they incorporated the whole Raamaayana in it, based on the work of a Thyagaraja contemporary called Thenmandalam Narasimhachar. Taught by Bhagavathars, and sung like a musical exercise, the Dhananjayans had learnt that style of singing at Kalakshetra. Later on, Thuraiyur Rajagopala Sarma changed the musical structure and the whole Raamaayana was enacted as a solo piece.
The first part is about the glory and virtues of Raama naama and the 2nd half is the story of Valmiki�s narration of the whole Raamaayanam in a nutshell. It was first presented at the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 1983 when Dhananjayan was conferred the Nritya Choodamani Award.

�I performed it as a solo for an hour and 15 minutes at the Krishna Gana Sabha. P C Shekar was in the audience and was known for his caustic opinions on male dancers, in fact he never used to attend performances by male dancers. After he saw me perform the whole varnam, he stood up and exclaimed, �This is what dance is. This is how Bharatanaatyam should be portrayed. This is how a male dancer should dance. Kudos to Dhananjayan,� and left. I was very happy that the varnam, though long, was interesting enough to sustain the attention of a conservative man like P C Sekhar.�

Raama Varnam (1983) - Reviews

VARNAMS - Details

Vinaayaka Varnam in Nattaikuranji (1982)
Details - Reviews