Anjana Anand’s performance fused aural and visual harmony

A slow, in-rhythm recitation of ‘Ha ra vi ha ra…pu ra vi ha ra.. Ranga pura vihara…’ punched the silence in Narada Gana Sabha as Bharatanatyam dancer Anjana Anand entered with the procession of Ranganatha of Srirangam. High-pitched singing in Brindavana Saranga with ‘Sri rangapura vihara’ (Muthuswami Dikshitar, Rupakam) created an exciting musical base. As the devotional song unfurled with Mithun Madhusoodanan (vocal), Sasidhar (flute) and Easwar Ramakrishnan (violin), the aural and visual harmony was unmissable.

Mridangist Rakesh Pazhedam enhanced the mood while keeping the beat.

Anjana Anand performing at Narada Gana Sabha’s 2025 annual festival in December.
| Photo Credit:
Akhila Easwaran

Anjana has matured as an artiste; there is a confident flow in her visualisation. The nritta was, however, disappointing. She is rhythmic, no doubt, but her jathis need sharper execution.

In T.R. Subramaniam’s Hamir Kalyani, Adi tala varnam, ‘Senthil vaazh murugayya’, vibrant jathis with catchy sollus performed back-to-back in the Kalakshetra style enhanced the melody. Anjana only indicated Subramanya’s leelas without going into the details.

Anjana’s only mimetic piece was the Kathakali padam, ‘Paripahimam’ (Kurinji) which features the Draupadi-Krishna conversation before Krishna’s efforts at peace. Draupadi walks into Krishna’s chamber, her creased face breaking into a smile of friendship and devotion. Anjana portrayed the piece well, which was the highlight of the programme, with maturity and sensitivity.

The dancer and the orchestra finished with the ‘Kaalabhairava Ashtakam’.