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silappadhikaaram .....a story of women of substance
THE CREATORS
G. Narendra – Choreographer : Narendra is widely recognized as a talented dancer-choreographer. He is a graduate of Kalakshetra and is recognized as a strikingly elegant classical dancer who combines excellence in technique and subtlety in interpretation. He has had a longstanding association with the Cleveland Cultural Alliance as a dancer and as the choreographer-dancer in CCA’s Abhyaasa and The Living Tree, the highly imaginative choreography which was critically acclaimed. He, along with Mahalakshmi, has established Avigna – a company of professional dancers. Mahalakshmi – Dance Director: An exquisite dancer of international repute, skilled in interpretation and a gifted teacher, Mahalakshmi was trained by her parents and at Kalakshetra. She has performed lead roles in numerous productions both in and outside India. She has been the production director of and the lead dancer in CCA’s productions. Her unique lead role in the CCA production The Living Tree was deeply appreciated by critics in India and America. She is the Dance Director of the Santhome Communication Centre, Chennai and the Principal of Avigna. Bombay Jayashri Ramnath – Music Director: ‘Bombay Jayashri’ as she is popularly known, is widely recognized, not just as one of India’s leading vocalists, but as one of the nation’s most talented classical musicians. Jayashri’s genius brings alive the depth of devotion that inspired the composers of old, as she transports her listeners into the very heart and spirit of the music. Jayashri Ramnath’s formative training was under T R Balamani in Mumbai, with subsequent advanced training under the great violinist, Lalgudi G Jayaraman. A. V. Ilango – Set Designer: A.V. Ilango is a highly respected contemporary artist in India. He grew up in rural Tamil Nadu and absorbed the brilliant sights and sounds of rural India. He blends the colours and flavours of the countryside with cityscapes to evolve a style that is rich in the tradition and culture of South India, using a contemporary linear format. He is also a Mathematics professor. His work has been exhibited all over India, France, Malaysia, Singapore and Great Britain. He has illustrated several books. It was, in fact, his illustrations for a translation of ‘Silappadhikaaram’ that proved to be a motivating factor and inspiration for this production. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi – Lyricist: Kanimozhi is a dynamic young contemporary poet, and hails from a family with a great literary tradition. Her father, M. Karunanidhi, is a scholar of Tamil literature, as is her mother. Kanimozhi is an ardent lover of and a recognized expert in Sangam literature. She writes for the Tamil edition of ‘India Today’ and for women’s magazines. She sees this production as an opportunity to explore form and structure and, perhaps, rethink earlier impressions. Lakshmi Srinath – Costume Designer: Lakshmi’s specialisation in Fine Arts and continuing training under A. V. Ilango gives form to her desire for artistic expression through her paintings and garment creations. Earthy, culture-related creativity pervades the expanse of her work, in vivid colours and decorative elements. Lakshmi has participated in several group exhibits in India and France and was awarded the Prix de la Peinture Contemporaire of the Societe Lyonnaise des Beaux Arts, Lyons, 2002. Depikka Nagaraj – Set Producer: Trained in Fine Arts, Depikka, a student of the renowned dancer, Leela Samson, considers classical dance to be an inseparable a part of her being. She has created an additional dimension to her artistic expression in her boutique ‘Bimba – The Art Hut’. “Bimba” is a Sanskrit word denoting image or reflection. Depikka works with several media – cotton, stone, ceramics, pottery, hand made paper, jute, terracotta, glass and cane. Her forte lies in creating beautiful yet simple forms. The props for Silappadhikaaram were designed and produced by Bimba. K. Venkatesh – Lighting: This is the third CCA production for which “Venki” has designed the lighting and managed the stage. With strong backgrounds in lighting, sound and stage management, Venki works with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Avigna and other organisations. |
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