There Is No Feeling Of Being Let Down
The fabrics of the beautifully complementary coloured غير مجاز مي باشدtumes were sourced from North India as “Kanjeevaram drapes differently” (Chitra ji); the turban worn by the Rana was in the Rajasthani style, and a host of other details that imprinted so subtly in one’s unconscious mind.The music is superb; lyrical Ragas like Jaijaiwanti, Kedara, Gorakh Kalyan are used in evocative snatches. Speaking to Bombay Jayashri about composing the music for Meera, she said “composing the music for Meera was a unique experience. Matching her aurally, Bombay Jayashri used only appropriate North Indian Ragas, “ektaal” bols (Ek taal is a North Indian music taal) during a dance sequence, the sound of the shehnai to remind one of a wedding, and much more.
The unmatched grace and dignity of Chitra Visweswaran; literally the embodiment of “bhakti” is the best portion of the production. In an ecstasy of “anand” (bliss), she swirls around, as she awaits the ultimate union with her bridegroom, the merging with the Lord, to the haunting song of “mera olagiya” (my bridegroom is coming) in Raga Des, sung inimitably by Bombay Jayashri.Meera, the 14th century mystic Krishna “bhakt” conjures up an image of the desert of North India. The music is composed by Carnatic “Nightin-gale of the South” Vidushi Bombay Jayashri; the songs sung by herself and her Carnatic music trained disciples. It is an eye opener to see her name and work in a South Indian context. When Jayashri changes the Raga of even a familiar much loved and universally heard bhajan like “mharo pranam” (which has been rendered immortally by the late Gaansaraswati Kishori Amonkar in Raga Aiman Kalyan) to Mishra Pahari, there is no feeling of being let down.Meera, the 14th century mystic Krishna “bhakt” conjures up an image of the desert of North India. Meera Bai’s overwhelming love for her Lord comes through inescapably throughout the play, making it truly a spiritual experience.
Speaking about the music, Jayashri recalled “I remember “Jhoolat Radha sang Gir-idhar” was in Raga Vrind-avani Sarang; Vrindavani Sarang in my mind brings me the very essence of Vrindavan; the fragrance of that earth, the mood of togetherness, the “shringaar”. The limited narrative is in English (indeed, in an Indian context one does not really need this, as the visuals are so telling).The synergy between the aural and visual experience is another highlight of this production; the mutual respect between the dance legend and Vidushi Bombay Jayashri and their closeness creatively is visible water permeability of fabric in every scene. The adult Meera Bai is the extremely dexterous SNA Yuva awardee Uma Sathya Narayanan, whose graceful dancing to the familiar “pag ghunghroo baandh Meera nachi” is haunting.” After the performance, Chitra Visweswaran said that without Jayashri’s music the production would have been very different and incomplete, and that she wished Jayashri had been present, in Shimla, for this first performance of Meera- The Soul Divine, in North India. Speaking of the Carnatic element in the production, Jayashri said essentially it was only through the dance, (bhaاين نام مجاز نمي باشدnatyam); the North Indian music was interspersed with the “jatis” (the nritya bol, the language of the mridangam)
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