Parshwanath Upadhye on bharatanatiyam, tradition and artistic collaboration
What happens when a classical solo dance becomes a shared performance? Sammilana – Different Artistic Visions Meet as One explores this idea. Organised by Thapasya Dance & Arts with Alekhya Studio, the event includes mohiniyattam by Dr Rekha Raju, alongside bharatanatiyam duets by Sandhya Muralidharan with Pritika Krishnakumar; and Parshwanath Upadhye with Adithya PV. Speaking ahead of the showcase, Parshwanath shares how he and Adithya turn traditional solo pieces into duets, why they focus on pure art over storylines and what it takes to keep tradition alive today.
What does the idea of Sammilana or different artistic visions coming together as one, mean to you personally?
Bharatanatiyam is known as a solo art form and all the compositions we are performing are also traditionally solo-centric. Converting them into a duet is both challenging and very enjoyable. For example, the varnam is about the nayaka’s love for Lord Shiva, Kapaleeshwara. Here, we are both performing and expressing the same emotion. The lyrics do not change, but on stage, we are together in that space, collectively expressing our love for Kapaleeshwara while also responding to and complementing each other’s presence. For me, that is what Sammilana represents: two individual artistic voices coming together to create one shared expression.
What can the audience expect from your bharatanatiyam presentation with Adithya PV?
Bharatanatiyam has been used as a language now by the majority of artistes where they present either a story or a particular theme and it becomes about that and not about the art. But here, rather than using bharatanatiyam simply as a medium to tell a story or present a theme, this production puts the art form itself at the centre. The focus is on its nuances, particularly the abhinaya of the varnam, where the dancer explores the character’s avastha or present state of mind and expands it through 40 minutes of performance.
Adithya and you have worked together on several projects. What makes your artistic partnership work?
We have had the opportunity to learn under the same gurus for over a decade now. That has pushed us to have differences which is good for the growth of our art form or our artistic journey. There will always be a give and take. I am more critical than him about how things should be presented and what should not be done. Our sessions under Sudharani Raghupathy have deepened our knowledge of the art form. Her approach has always been audience-centric. You have to make sure that whatever you are doing reaches the audience and they should be able to enjoy and understand it. Understanding is, of course, the basic. It has to go beyond that. They have to be surprised.
Where do you draw the line between preserving tradition and allowing bharatanatiyam to evolve?
That is really a big subject to be discussed. It starts with what is tradition and what do we actually call tradition. So, I really don’t think just because we are doing something theme-based, it needs to be called non-traditional just because you have not learnt it or you don’t have the understanding of the art form. What you call bharatanatiyam in its purest form is just the representation of a narrow mind and unfortunately, the lack of experience of knowing the history of the art form.
What changes have you noticed in the way younger dancers approach the form today?
We live in a generation where the whole set-up is very quick now. If they are from Bengaluru, they can attend only one class in a day apart from their school. But when we grew up in small towns, we had a minimum of four or five different classes and we still had time to play cricket. They are putting in an effort. That effort has always been the same, I feel. But they are very competitive in nature because everything that they do, or anybody does, is out there. Even if you perform in a remote area, you are seen through social media everywhere. So, that has increased what I wouldn’t call a shallow approach to the art form, but it is kind of dangerous. Everybody starts comparing themselves: that person has so many likes, or this person is performing because he is famous on Instagram. These are very new things that have been affecting the art form. But there are artistes who are dedicated and do not think about all these things.
INR 600. August 21, 5.30 pm. At Ravindra Kalakshetra, JC Road.
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