Indian classical dance sees quite a lot of relationships between the nayika, the feminine lead and her sakhi, the customarily neglected good friend and confidante. Their friendship, characterised by tenderness, ache, battle and compromise, just isn’t simple to outline. Introduced by SIFF Younger Artiste, Kathak-based dance-drama Sakhi Ri explores this dynamic by means of a coming-of-age story of a Nayika and the Sakhi, her interval. SIFF Younger Artiste is an initiative of the Singhal Iyer Household Basis (SIFF)
“Life just isn’t at all times going to be easy, however what stands true is that they (the Sakhi) are going to be a continuing presence,” says Anushka Chandak, a Kathak dancer, choreographer and college at SIFF Younger Artiste. “That bought me enthusiastic about what else in my life I’m grateful for, but in addition have complaints about. That was the menstrual cycle for me.”
Anushka Chandak
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Draped in pink, personifying a lady’s interval or the Laal Sakhi, Anushka carried out just lately at Bangalore Worldwide Centre , alongside Radhika Karandikar, a Kathak artiste and the founding father of Radha Productions. Her evocative expressions coupled with Anushka’s fluid actions had the viewers spellbound.
All through her profession, Radhika has at all times aimed to create productions which might curiosity youthful generations. She argues that the claims of the artwork kind’s lower in recognition, which many mourn as its “loss of life,” are usually not totally true. There may be merely an absence of “relatable ideas.”
“Individuals are very hesitant to discover themes like these. The traditionalist circle had plenty of considerations about how this could match right into a classical dance kind,” admits Anushka. Nevertheless, the artistes consider Kathak can be utilized as a medium to inform any story.
Radhika Karandikar
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
“Dance isn’t just about motion; it’s a language. After getting learnt to make use of it nicely, you may say completely something you need with it,” provides Anushka.
Sakhi Ri is a rollercoaster of feelings that illustrates the phases of this “endless friendship,” together with happiness, fear, embarrassment, grief, curiosity and anger. The drama’s deal with womanhood didn’t limit its viewers and the artistes have been happy to see a number of males in attendance.
Journeying by means of adolescence, motherhood and menopause, Sakhi Ri mixed numerous rasas (moods in classical dance) together with hasya (pleasure), karun (sorrow), shringar (magnificence) and bhayanak (worry). The drama strikes a steadiness between private expertise and social outlooks by means of its swish supply of a standard Kathak repertoire — opening with a peshkar and progressing to extra fast-paced strategies reminiscent of tihais, jugalbandis and gat vikas.
“Even when somebody goes to look at it with out prior data of Kathak or music, they’re in for a deal with,” says Aman Warkhedkar, the composer for Sakhi Ri. By means of a vibrant mix of piano, violin, sarod and flute sounds, Aman captures the varied experiences of womanhood, starting with the panic and confusion of a primary interval. With percussion devices such because the ghatam and pakhawaj, the rating ventures into the spheres of sensuality and vulnerability, culminating with highly effective vocals to encapsulate the trials of menopause.
Aman Warkhedkar
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
The composition additionally contains moments of silence that enable the artistes’ footwork to shine. As Radhika frantically awaits her interval, the strike of her heels, slowly rising in tempo, mimic the ticking of a clock.
Such scenes of tension are enhanced by Yash Potnis’ skilful dealing with of stage lights, with flickering multi-coloured footlights changing the regular, fervent pink that characterises Radhika’s tumultuous relationship along with her Laal Sakhi.
This collaboration between SIFF Younger Artiste and Radha Productions doesn’t simply subvert the notion of durations as taboo, but in addition checks the boundaries of classical dance. “If we need to unfold the artwork kind, we have to suppose past mythology… I need to transcend traditionalist tales,” admits Shikha Mathur, a Kathak pupil who’s grateful for Sakhi Ri’s illustration of unexplored topics.
Scenes from Sakhi Ri
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
