Bharatanatyam
Notes
- Origin: Tamil Nadu, a temple dance of the Devadasis, formerly known as Sadir/Dasiattam.
- Name: Bha (bhava), Ra (raga), Ta (tala), plus natyam (dance).
- History:
- Natya Shastra and the temple sculptures of Chidambaram (the 108 karanas).
- The 19th-century Thanjavur Quartet (Chinnayya, Ponnayya, Sivanandam, Vadivelu) codified the margam under the Tanjore court.
- 20th-century revival by E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale (Kalakshetra, 1936), and Balasaraswati.
- The anti-nautch movement and the Madras Devadasis Act (1947) ended the devadasi system.
- Margam (repertoire): Alarippu → Jatiswaram → Shabdam → Varnam (the central piece) → Padam → Javali → Tillana → Mangalam/Shloka.
- Features:
- Aramandi (half-seated position).
- Geometric lines, crisp footwork and hand gestures (hastas).
- Music is Carnatic, with the nattuvanar leading the performance.
- Costume is a pleated fan sari.
Key Points
- Rukmini Devi Arundale was the first woman nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
- It is the oldest and the most widely practised classical dance.
- Themes are devotional (Shiva/Krishna), expressed through shringara and bhakti rasas.
MCQs
1. Bharatanatyam was earlier called:
(a) Sadir
(b) Chhau
(c) Ankiya Nat
(d) Mohini
Answers: 1-a
2. Who founded Kalakshetra?
(a) Balasaraswati
(b) Rukmini Devi Arundale
(c) Uday Shankar
(d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answers: 2-b
3. Which is the central item in the Bharatanatyam margam?
(a) Alarippu
(b) Varnam
(c) Tillana
(d) Padam
Answers: 3-b