Dear Sir,
Bakthi is the root for both carnatic music and bharathanAtyam. Even the NAyaka NAyaki bhAvam is based on some deity.
Since we are hearing and seeing these for many years, the change of tradition is not sought after. There was a cutcheri
based on Sanga kAla ilakkiyam too but somehow it did not impress the audience. If all the songs are new, then also the
rasikAs are disappointed. The grandeur of a many established kruthis sung for many years and polished like a diamond stones
draw loud rounds of applause form the audience. Some new songs are introduced by leading artists and reach the masses.
For example Rajaji's 'Kurai ondrum illai' which is not very ancient like the music trinities' songs is very popular now. Two more
such songs are 'mAdu mEykkum kannE' popularized by Smt. Aruna Sairam and 'vishamakkArak kaNNan' by Sudha
Raghunathan (followed by Smt. Aruna in a different folk tune!) Some tunes when changed from the original do not get any
appeal. Rajkumar Bharathi tried a new tune for his grand father's song 'chinnanj chiru kiLiyE' and it was a total flop!! There
are many new songs popularized by the leading artists and they are well received by the audience. To me, the chaste
rendition of well established kruthis like 'chakkani rAja mArgamu', 'Ksheera sAgara', 'AkhilAndEshwari' never become stale!
As far as bharathanAtyam is concerned, most of the artists follow the pattern established for many years now. A few try new
concepts. The one which was based on MK's story by Smt. Padma Subramanyam did not raise to her original standard!
If the tambram girls choose to wear chudidar for their wedding, it might be opposed first. But, may be if they rebel and
continue, people might accept after a few years, seeing the convenience! Will the same logic apply to classical music and
BharathanAtyam? I am not sure, Sir!!
