Video DVD

The DVD starts with the history of dance in Tamil Nadu, with an emphasis on the late Nayaka and Maratha periods.It examines the ritual functions of the devadasi or temple dancer, the public group performance of the kuravanci, and the fundamental execution of both nritta and abhinaya techniques. It continues with a discussion and demonstration of the marga or the seven-fold repertoire crystallized by the Tanjavur brothers in the nineteenth century. The alarippu, jatisvaram, sabdam, varnam, javali and tillana are described and accompanied by excerpts from performances.

Understanding Kuchipudi explores the solo dance tradition of Andhra Pradesh known as Kuchipudi or Bhagvata Mela Natakam devised by Vedantam Lakshminarayana Shastri in the last century. It examines the three sources from which Shastri culled his solo repertoire - the Aaya Sampradaya (temple traditions), the Kaceriatta ('concert' tradition) and the Bhavavatam (Vaishnava narrative tradition). The former two were practiced by the sanivaru or temple dancers of Andhra, while the latter was to be found in the repertoires of both temple dancers and Brahmin male performers in villages such as Kuchipudi.

It also looks at history, technique of nrtta, and includes excerpts from the repertorie. Compositions such as Jatisvaram, Mandodari Sabdam, Ksetraya Padam, Bhamakalapam, Krsna Sabdam and Simhanandini are demonstrated.