Thillana - Hamir Kalyani raaga - Adi taala - Bharatanatyam (Kalakshetra baani)

This is a beautiful Thillana choreography in the Kalakshetra baani to a lilting and well-loved Hamir Kalyani composition by Harikeshanallur Mutthaiah Bhagavathar, who presented this piece in the Mysore court. The ability to go across languages and regions so easily using music and dance as the bridging medium has always fascinated me and presents lessons for our current divisive and exclusionary times. This piece, typically a concluding item in a recital, was recorded as part of the Doordarshan Chandana series in Bangalore in 2010. Thillana Composer: Harikeshanallur Mutthaiah Bhagavathar Language: Telugu Raaga: Hamir Kalyani Taala: Adi Choreographer: Guru Smt. Vasanta Vedam Nattuvangam: Guru Smt. Vasanta Vedam Vocal: Smt. Vasudha Balakrishna Mridangam: Sri R. Srihari Flute: Sri H. S. Venugopal Violin: Dr. S. Nataraj Murthy Dancer: Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan