PARINAAMAM, a new production in the Bharatanaatyam idiom
jointly produced and presented by KALAABHAASKARA (Reunion Island) and BHARATAKALANJALI

PARINAAMAM (on Human evolution & environmental protection)

KALAABHAASKARA (Reunion Island) and BHARATAKALANJALI (Chennai) jointly produced and presented a very unique NAATYA (Dance drama) PARINAAMAM (on Human evolution & environmental protection). Bharatakalanjali commissioned the very talented couple Sheejith Krishna (Bharatanaatyam dancer) and his wife Jyothishmathi (Carnatic vocalist), both Kalakshetra graduates and former senior faculty members, to undertake the choreography and music composition. The two days presentation in the Reunion National Theater Champ Fleuri on 29th & 30th October 2010 were housefull - tickets sold out shows.

Logambal Souprayen Cavery, Founder & Artistic Director of Kalaa Bhaaskara (Reunion) scripted the concept and story to give a message to the contemporary audience and Smt. Revathi Sankkaran wrote Tamizh songs for this unique production on the need of environmental protection. Sheejith Krishna has shown the creative evolution of life on earth and how movement, language, music, agriculture have evolved. Then the struggle for power over food and theory of survival of the fittest, Man’s greed leading to destruction of Nature, bringing unhappy situations to those who indulged in the destruction of Nature and Nature worshipepers. Finally establishing the fact that worship of Nature is a well-conceived human endeavour to nurture life on earth. Both Sheejit Krishna and Jyothishmathi deserve applause for their brilliant creation. They were supported by an orchestra of high-calibre accompanists.

The Dhananjayans were present there to supervise the presentation and introduce the Bharatakalanjali & Kalaabhaaskara Artistes trained by Logambal Cavery, a senior disciple and Bharatakalanjali alumni.

The Cultural Ministry of the Mauritius Government presented a show in St.Louis on 1st November 2010, on the group's way back home.

PARINAMAM
1st SCENE- ORIGINS
How did the world begin? Billions of years ago came what we know as the big bang. The universe was formed, along with the solar system and the planets. Bringing together science and spirituality, the dancers describe the big bang relating it to Siva and his cosmological significance.

2nd SCENE - LIFE
At the very beginning, the earth emits tremendous heat. Fumes emanate from its seething core. Then comes life-giving rain, and the lush natural world comes into being. Life evolves over millennia, and eventually, man and Woman meet and procreate. The human race is born.

3rd SCENE - NATURE AS TEACHER
Humans imitate natural sounds they hear all around them and early language is formed

4th SCENE - FIRE
When high winds rage, trees crash into each other and fire is born. Resourceful human then learn to create fire by rubbing flint stones against each other.

5th SCENE - NATURE WORSHIP
Early humans begin worshipping the elements: wind, fire, and rain.

6th SCENE - THE JOY OF RHYTHM
Inspired by elemental forces, thunder and rain, humans start making music. The sound of falling water droplets leads to the earliest concepts of rhythm. Dancing begins in its most primitive form, as an unrestrained form of nature worship and celebration.
Interval

7th SCENE- EARLY CIVILIZATION
Ancient civilizations are established alongside great rivers. Crops are cultivated, houses are built and trade begins with the barter system.

8th SCENE - DESTRUCTION OF NATURE
Civilized man starts competing with others for food, and so strife begins among the people. The man with the most powerful weapon becomes the leader. This selfish king orders his people to fell all the trees. He ruthlessly destroys the environment for his own material needs.

9th SCENE - AADI ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION
A young woman named "Aadi" is bathing and offering prayers in the river .... She hears the sound of trees falling, of the wanton destruction of nature by the King’s Men... She tries to stop them by speaking out, telling them how vital the natural world, but in vain. She finally collapses, unconscious.

Nature reveals her fury by unleashing floods and the men flee in terror. In the meantime, the unconscious Aadi has a dream in which angels appear and explain to her the value of loving and respecting Nature as God. When people come in search of Aadi, she attains consciousness and tells them about her dream.

10th SCENE - WORSHIP OF MARIAMMAN
Aadi ceremonially places a stone under a tree. The stone represents the local deity Mariamman. People decorate the stone and make ritual offering. They dance in honour of the deity.

11th SCENE - NATURE’S FURY
The scene shifts to the King’s palace. The king and his subjects suffer due to extreme scarcity of food and water. Anguished and starving, they hear from a distance the song of mariamman and proceed to Aadi’s village.

12th SCENE - RECONCILIATION WITH NATURE
The king see the happy faces of the villagers and their oneness with the natural environment. He repents his actions, realizing that humanity should respect and preserve Nature to live in harmony with the universe. This oneness with NATURE IS THE FIRST STEP TO A WORLD IN BALANCE, FILLED WITH PEACE AND HARMONY.