Younger Bharatanatyam artiste Manasa Sriram impresses along with her honest method

Manasa Sriram.
| Photograph Credit score: S.R. Raghunathan

Manasa Sriram, a disciple of Mahalakshmi Ashwin,  started her recital on the Pongal Dance Pageant 2025 with the invocatory hymn from the Thirumanthiram, ‘Ainthu karathanai’, in reward of Ganesha. She then moved to  a Ganesha Alarippu set to Tisra Nadai Adi tala, showcasing the essence of Bharatanatyam’s rhythmic basis. Her actions have been crisp and sharp. Following this, she carried out a jathiswaram in raga Rasikapriya and Adi tala, a composition by Lalgudi Jayaraman.

For the varnam, Manasa selected ‘Swamiyai azhaithu vadi’  by the Thanjavur Quartet in raga Khamas. Within the pallavi, the nayika  takes alongside her good friend to witness the procession of Sundareswarar in the course of the Chithirai vizha. Manasa captured the anticipation of the nayika transferring via the procession, even because the sakhi questions her if the lord within the procession is the one from the pancha sabhas. The sanchari portrayed the heroine’s longing and devotion.  Manasa selected a novel keerthanai, a visible exposition of the Dasha Mahavidya of Durga. In ‘Sri Jagadeeswari’, composed by Lalgudi Jayaraman in raga Ahir Bhairav, the dancer showcased fierce feelings, and the transition from intense ardour to serenity was seamless. The red-and-orange-hued lighting enhanced the efficiency’s enchantment.

Manasa concluded her recital with ‘Gangai’, a mangalam. The orchestra featured Mahalakshmi Ashwin on nattuvangam, Nagai P Sriram (who additionally composed  the jathis) on the mridangam,  Srikanth Gopalakrishnan on vocals, Anantha Krishnan on the violin and Sruthi Sagar on the flute.