Today MusicNamaste introduces a talented Kuchipudi artist Sree Veena Mani.
Kuchipudi to Narthaki SreeVeena Mani is a more a passion than a matter of mere performance. Empaneled with the ministry of culture for its Festivals of India Abroad and a winner of the Young Artists’ Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, this dance form from Andhra Pradesh whose roots go deep down to the village of Kuchipudi is what satisfies SreeVeena’s soul. What proves cherry on the cake is the fact that she has learnt the art form in its purest evolution – the Vempati Chinna Satyam style.
She began her lessons in Kuchipudi at the age of six in Chennai, subsequently joining gurus NatyaVishardha Smt Seetha Nagajothy and Shri P. Nagajothy . Guru Seetha has been senior teacher at the Kuchipudi Art Academy and has moulded Narthaki SreeVeena Mani in the same manner her guru moulded her years ago strictly in the guru – shishya parampara. Now, Narthaki has also begun nurturing the next-generation in the same style. She believes that the best way to spread classical dance is by decoding it and bringing it down to the lowest common denominator while presenting it to young ones. She has taken her teaching all the way to the Caribbean Islands by teaching online.
She is also a research scholar , and has contributed to Nartanam– A quarterly journal on Dance. Nartanam is partially funded by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. One of her research papers for Nartanam is the origin and relevance of Bhamakalapam– magnum opus of the Kuchipudi repertoire, in the modern context. She also writes extensively on art and culture in the New Indian Express.
Since her introduction to the dance form she has been performing as a solo artiste at a number of prestigious events. As a solo artiste, she has performed at the Mamallapuram Indian Dance Festival in as also Taj Mahotsav organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism; Baithak at the Pracheen Kala Kendra in Chandigarh; the 50th Jagannath Rath Yatra celebratons at Shri Jagannath Mandir, Cuttack Mahotsav, and Divine Inspirations- an evening of dance organized by Ministry of Culture at the Lok Kala Manch, New Delhi . She has also performed during the famous kutchery season in Chennai at Narada Gana Sabha at the Vishesh Kala Poshakam Utsavam (a programme organised by Sri Mylapore Trio). She has further performed as a solo artiste during the prestigious Sasthapreethi festival at Noorani Village, Palakkad, Kerala. Her other solo performances by her have been at the Panguni Uthiram celebrations organized by Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple, Delhi; the Epicentre, Apparel House, Gurgaon as also during the Vaikuntha Ekadasi celebrations at Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple, Delhi . She has also given solo performances during various functions organized by Miranda house, University of Delhi as also at the inaugural ceremony of Antardhvani– the multidimensional cultural festival organized by University of Delhi.
Some of her other performances along with her Dance school include the Rukmini Devi Arundale festival organized by Bharatanatyam Guru SmtJayalakshmiEshwar in New Delhi and the dance festival organized by International Federation of Kuchipudi Artists ( IFKA) in October 2011 at Chennai in honour of Padma Bhushan Guru Dr.VempatiChinna Satyam’s 80th Birthday. S he has performed at the Festival on Arts of Andhra Pradesh organized by Andhra Pradesh Tourism at Delhi. Further, she has performed at the Republic Day celebrations organized by ONGC at Dehradun. She has further performed at a number of occasions at Delhi University. She has performed at the 35th annual cultural festival 2011 on the occasion of the 89th birth anniversary of Padmashri Ghantasala at the Andhra Bhavan as also the Ugadi festival celebrations at Tamil Sangam and Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.
Dance Drama
She had played the lead part of Srinivasa in a dance drama titled ‘Srinivasa Kalyanam’ choreographed by her gurus and staged at Sri Venkateshwara College , University of Delhi as part of the BalajiUtsavam in 2011. Her other major role has been of Durga in the dance drama MahishaSuraMardini, choreographed by guru Smt Seetha Nagajothy and Shri Nagajothy. Impressed by her portrayal of Durga in the dance drama, her gurus’ conceptualized and choreographed a solo piece ‘MahishasuraMardini’ specially for her Rangapravesam.
The Tarangam
The tarangam , the ultimate feat where the “narthaki” balances herself on the edges of the brass plate with a brass pot filled with water over the head simultaneously is unique to the Kuchipudi repertoire. Narthaki SreeVeena Mani has also excelled in this part of the dance form. Yet again, impressed by her technique on the plate and her ability to balance the pot with great proficiency, her gurus’ choreographed a special tarangam titled “ GovardhanaGiriDhara” for her Rangapravesam.
Other Achievements
- Narthaki Sree Veena has choreographed excerpts of RabindranthTagore’s Chandalika for the annual history department festival of Miranda House- Tarikh. She portrayed Chandalika with as much realism as possible, using her knowledge of history and dance.
- She has also endeavored to document the condition of Kuchipudi in Kuchipudi village, Andhra Pradesh in the form of a documentary.
- She has learnt to play the piano and has given the trinity board exams for the same. She has been a basketball and a netball player too.
- She is an alumni of Miranda house. She graduated with a B.A. (Hons) degree in history. She is also an alumni of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan , Delhi Kendra
- She has worked with the New Indian Express as an art and culture writer. She has been a journalist with leading business daily- Business Standard, and has won a special mention at the Seema Nazareth award for excellence in print journalism. She covers sectors like insolvency and bankruptcy, civil aviation, railways, pharmaceuticals and corporate affairs. She also writes special features on art and culture. She used to work with an American news agency called Zenger News and covered the entire southern part of India for them. Now she is with the Deccan Herald, a prominent daily in the south of India.
MusicNamaste Shivaratri Expressions:
MusicNamaste Spotlight Performance :Kucipudi concert
MusicNamaste wishes Sree Veena Mani all the very best!!