Excellent expozre of mainstream dance art form! Ms Bharvav did a great job. It should be part the narrative to democratize caste by eradicating the caste system as Dr. Ambedkar fought and died for! Thank Ms Arayani Bharvav!
The very definition of Bharatanatyam is wrongly understood as the modern day abbreviation format as Bhavam, Ragam and Thalam is a layman's interpretation of a very deeply intricate artform. Bharata muni who wrote the Natyasastra is the one who proposed the audio-visual entertainment in the form of drama(dance, dialogue, music). Owing to his name and his extensive work on dramaturgy, Bharatanatyam is called so. Bharata's Natyam is Bharata Natyam. Tell me, all you classical dancers, aren't you aware of the term Rasa? We do not use Bhava in place of rasa and the very aim of this art from is Rasa and not Bhava. Then why would the name of this classical form emerge from Bhava?
Whoever has edited the video hasn't done a great job, so many times they kept showing the dancers' feet, when her entire angika abhinaya should have been shown. Please do take care next time before editing thus fact. We missed seeing so many important and transiting mudras and abhinaya of the presentator, bcz the video showed only her legs at some point🤦🏽
When the roots of Sathir, runs strong and deep in the Tamil culture, how did its Tamil origin get overshadowed? First, a new name (Bharatha Natyam ) is given to this ancient dance form, followed by an elegant explanation for this new name (Bhava, Raga, Thala). Eventually, even the origin is attributed to someone (Bharatha Muni ), who happens to have a name very similar to this new name for the dance. Combining all these elements, a beautiful and elegant mythology is fabricated, which when repeated enough number of times, is accepted as fact, by the majority. Before mindlessly repeating this myth, the Tamils need to pause and ponder on the effect of this myth. For, the net effect of this myth, whether perpetuated intentionally or unintentionally, is to distort and deny the Tamil roots of Bharatha Natyam (Sathir).
Meyporul kural Not just Tamil roots but also the non-brahminical roots of it. How the Brahmins usurped the dance form while bootlicking the British. The Brahmins usurped the dance form because the British were intrigued by it. Due to their belief in their own “superiority” ascribed to them by their own religion, the Brahmins couldn’t accept the fact that the British, who they believed to be superior due to their skin color, found this art form, which they themselves looked down upon, as intriguing. As per their religion only things pertaining to the Brahmin could be worth intrigue. So they usurped the art form. They also spun mythologies around it to give their claim more legitimacy.
This is so sad...exchanging one narrative for another is a giant missed opportunity for understanding Devadasi Heritage but to appropriate Papavinasha Mudaliyar's Ninda Stuti (1650-1725CE) for the purpose of one's own contemporary idiosyncracies is pathetic... Ever seen the murti of Tyagarajasvami in his Tiruvarur temple... ?
One thing I would like to point out , if these women had freedom independence and artistry, who expressed themselves freely through their temple dance and slightly unconventional life, why are they being classified as “lower” caste? Either the classification is wrong and that there was nothing higher or lower about their typification, or this assignment of being “lower caste” is a british or foreign interpretation which we later stuck to sadly …
I mean, when the British themselves enforced the caste system onto us by selectively giving provileges to higher castes and sending lower castes as indentured laborers to plantations which were there equivalent of concentration camps and driving us against each other, I am not surprised that the temple dancers were classified as low caste by the British
There's no historical evidence that temple dancers were low caste before colonization as they were respected to the likeness of nobility and divinity. They managed everytime from temple rituals, processions, teaching fine arts and languages to children of higher background and so much more. They even served as advisors and lecturers in Royal courts. There's many evidences that point in history that caste system was nowhere nearly as enforced in pre-colonial eras vs when the British came
Alienation is sad reality... all tags come along "dark" or "insincere" students and other allegations .... they dont even need to be challeneged if so said by the "polished" so called. Very average dancers are praised coming from "elite" upper society. Rest of us are just riding on the pride they garner .... free loaders. There is no acknowledgement of such alienation. No other caste is decent? Sincere? Hardworking? Definitely very discouraging and demotivating stuff comes from the gatekeepers of classical
Everyone seeks refinement. But, "Education" will lift some and toss some. Guess who will be on stage (Bhargav) vs those who will be tossed off (A NON-Bhargav)? Surname/Caste is a reality. Why Education and training of any kind is considered a privilege? British have their own misinformed lens is flawed. But, the ill lens of an existing hierarchical society is so deliberate, but never is to be blamed? The best answer to that is NO ONE takes responsibility for botching and smothering others to make a refined and clean space for themselves. I am aware those tossed.... payers of education are called not good-looking enough, not polished enough and any degree is invisible (check the pay scale - returns on investment). One is singled out and demoralized after paying heavily for training. No scope vs false hope.
Since I do not know the subject but it is wonderful and confident expressions overall, be it of history of Bharat Natyam or castism, etc. It is the courageous unwinding of certain facts. For me, it was like unveiling the thick layer of cast consciousness and its side effects wrt the history of this noble dance form. This topic should be discussed in a more democratic way.
I’m sorry for this comment I wasn’t well informed I read so much later and I’ve corrected myself.. I did not want to delete the comment so I’m apologising for this stand I took. I agree
Excellent performance and an explanation to throw some light on the history - I leave the negative comments and appreciate the rendering flawlessly in a way even a layman could appreciate it.
Yes sad thing is that we inherited restrictions from conservative people who ruled us. Today western society has moved on and opened up. We on the other hand still hold on to inherited values.
This is a part if casteist mentality. Casteism is not a western concept, indian society has been casteist long before the brits arrived. Indians (mostly uppercaste) still believe this as it takes away the blame from them.
@@DevyaniMulik not really, Christians have the feudal system, while Muslims have the sectarian conflicts. Britishers aggravated the caste system, read real history not reel one, Ms.Mulik.
Can I say whatever Aranyani said also as her own way of interpreting devadasi system and Bharatanatyam. Saying as if Bhakti oriented dancing is not progressive or backward is so weird. No where it is said that non bhakti emotions are a sin. The ppl who are crying that Devdasis have lost their credentials are the same ppl who criticized this system too. They just shift the goal post according to the audience. We have so many narratives around Bharata natyam, now it is hard to belief who is right. Need to read somewhere between the lines to understand the real history.
this entire talk is in English, and the speaker is finding it wierd that sanskrit and natya shastra is linked with Bharatanatyam. Upper and lower again are English words. How do we so easily embrace a Victorian language but not our own? The so called ' upper' caste ( if at all they feel or made to feel upper) have always appreciated the heros of other castes worshipped as God's and accepting literary works of other castes as great works and sometimes as history of the country itself. Why is the speaker creating unnecessary divide herself? Talk not about caste but about the importance of uplifting our culture today again against foreign influences.
@@nithya170 @Nithya Aanand 1. Let's leave the subject of Ted Talk to speaker. N I think she did a really good job on shedding some light on the originality of the dance. She even gave materials to read further on this (avail in the description). She did a good job. 2.Perhaps, you can save your prattles about my "comprehension skills and funding status". You're welcomed to post your counter argument about the subject of my comment. I'm sorry that I have to tell u this but, commenting about my personal skills is not constructive at any point.
Excellent notes from Aranyani! Thanks for sharing some thoughts about the art form. Also exploring the history of art forms itself is exciting. Splendid, a journey from Sadir attam, Dasi attam and the ultimately Bharat natyam (Bhava, Raga, Taal) your explanation underlines these name transitions.
So many facts are incorrect and very misleading interpretations of Indian history from half baked evidences. This video actually needs to be taken down. A disclaimer is not enough
dont wanna be rude but ughh the editing was poor and dont get me started on camera work. its one of the worst if i get a chance, ill give my best to do as much as professional
is this TEDx or some kind of Atrocity literature, is this the correct platform for one sided criticism! Although constructive criticism is always welcome but History and narratives are something which are highly debatable on both sides!
Absolutely. FOr decades we have only heard the Bhraminical Discourse and their history. Now it is time to hear out the other side, the side of the oppressed.
Well the patrons could have supported these dancers without fucking them. Don't make everything a fault of the british. Strange way of defining freedom - when most of the devdasis used to be under were 5 or 6 years old before their fate was sealed. If it was so free and respectable why did not high-born donated their own daughters to the temples, there are only one or two such examples of high-born Devdasis, and obviously they were not abused the way lowborn Devdasis were treated. It was child prostitution plain and simple and thank god the british did something about it.
Devadasis were treated equal to the gods as they had all the rights of the god in the temple. You are comparing devadasi system of north to the devadasi system of south. Here the whole conversation of devadasi's related to bharathanatyam( originally sadir attam) Just go through the Tanjore big temple's inscriptions, which holds a thousand year old history that says devadasi's were treated as government employees with monthly salary, house and cattle for themselves to live a luxurious life even if there was a draught. That was a family tradition and thats how the art forms are surived even after a millennium... And FYI kids were not considered as devadasis, as to learn this art form itself takes 10- 12 years and those days they had to sing and dance and they had all the right to leave being a devadasi whenevr they wanted... This was how devadasis in Ancient tamilakam were treated and I have no idea about other places.
How sad to know of the true Bharatanatyam origins. Today Indians teaching this form of dance won't accept to teach easily any kids who want to learn as you can with ballet or any other dance form. There is always entry requirements by family which explains the complications of perception of this fine dance and the devastating influences of the British on a culture they understood nothing of! Basically it appears, the rascals forced this dance form away from the people who developed and perfected it and tried to legitimize the dance form with Brahminism!
Excellent expozre of mainstream dance art form! Ms Bharvav did a great job. It should be part the narrative to democratize caste by eradicating the caste system as Dr. Ambedkar fought and died for! Thank Ms Arayani Bharvav!
The very definition of Bharatanatyam is wrongly understood as the modern day abbreviation format as Bhavam, Ragam and Thalam is a layman's interpretation of a very deeply intricate artform. Bharata muni who wrote the Natyasastra is the one who proposed the audio-visual entertainment in the form of drama(dance, dialogue, music). Owing to his name and his extensive work on dramaturgy, Bharatanatyam is called so. Bharata's Natyam is Bharata Natyam. Tell me, all you classical dancers, aren't you aware of the term Rasa? We do not use Bhava in place of rasa and the very aim of this art from is Rasa and not Bhava. Then why would the name of this classical form emerge from Bhava?
Whoever has edited the video hasn't done a great job, so many times they kept showing the dancers' feet, when her entire angika abhinaya should have been shown. Please do take care next time before editing thus fact. We missed seeing so many important and transiting mudras and abhinaya of the presentator, bcz the video showed only her legs at some point🤦🏽
When the roots of Sathir, runs strong and deep in the Tamil culture, how did its Tamil origin get overshadowed? First, a new name (Bharatha Natyam ) is given to this ancient dance form, followed by an elegant explanation for this new name (Bhava, Raga, Thala). Eventually, even the origin is attributed to someone (Bharatha Muni ), who happens to have a name very similar to this new name for the dance. Combining all these elements, a beautiful and elegant mythology is fabricated, which when repeated enough number of times, is accepted as fact, by the majority. Before mindlessly repeating this myth, the Tamils need to pause and ponder on the effect of this myth. For, the net effect of this myth, whether perpetuated intentionally or unintentionally, is to distort and deny the Tamil roots of Bharatha Natyam (Sathir).
Meyporul kural Not just Tamil roots but also the non-brahminical roots of it. How the Brahmins usurped the dance form while bootlicking the British. The Brahmins usurped the dance form because the British were intrigued by it. Due to their belief in their own “superiority” ascribed to them by their own religion, the Brahmins couldn’t accept the fact that the British, who they believed to be superior due to their skin color, found this art form, which they themselves looked down upon, as intriguing. As per their religion only things pertaining to the Brahmin could be worth intrigue. So they usurped the art form. They also spun mythologies around it to give their claim more legitimacy.
@@manmeetmeshram8107 excellent
This is so sad...exchanging one narrative for another is a giant missed opportunity for understanding Devadasi Heritage but to appropriate Papavinasha Mudaliyar's Ninda Stuti (1650-1725CE) for the purpose of one's own contemporary idiosyncracies is pathetic... Ever seen the murti of Tyagarajasvami in his Tiruvarur temple... ?
One thing I would like to point out , if these women had freedom independence and artistry, who expressed themselves freely through their temple dance and slightly unconventional life, why are they being classified as “lower” caste?
Either the classification is wrong and that there was nothing higher or lower about their typification, or this assignment of being “lower caste” is a british or foreign interpretation which we later stuck to sadly …
I mean, when the British themselves enforced the caste system onto us by selectively giving provileges to higher castes and sending lower castes as indentured laborers to plantations which were there equivalent of concentration camps and driving us against each other, I am not surprised that the temple dancers were classified as low caste by the British
There's no historical evidence that temple dancers were low caste before colonization as they were respected to the likeness of nobility and divinity. They managed everytime from temple rituals, processions, teaching fine arts and languages to children of higher background and so much more. They even served as advisors and lecturers in Royal courts. There's many evidences that point in history that caste system was nowhere nearly as enforced in pre-colonial eras vs when the British came
Alienation is sad reality... all tags come along "dark" or "insincere" students and other allegations .... they dont even need to be challeneged if so said by the "polished" so called. Very average dancers are praised coming from "elite" upper society. Rest of us are just riding on the pride they garner .... free loaders. There is no acknowledgement of such alienation. No other caste is decent? Sincere? Hardworking? Definitely very discouraging and demotivating stuff comes from the gatekeepers of classical
@@vigneshnehru9822 Yeah, temple dance was ritual offering to god same like Japanese shrine maiden dance.
Everyone seeks refinement. But, "Education" will lift some and toss some. Guess who will be on stage (Bhargav) vs those who will be tossed off (A NON-Bhargav)? Surname/Caste is a reality. Why Education and training of any kind is considered a privilege? British have their own misinformed lens is flawed. But, the ill lens of an existing hierarchical society is so deliberate, but never is to be blamed? The best answer to that is NO ONE takes responsibility for botching and smothering others to make a refined and clean space for themselves. I am aware those tossed.... payers of education are called not good-looking enough, not polished enough and any degree is invisible (check the pay scale - returns on investment). One is singled out and demoralized after paying heavily for training. No scope vs false hope.
I trust you are a dancer too.
Since I do not know the subject but it is wonderful and confident expressions overall, be it of history of Bharat Natyam or castism, etc. It is the courageous unwinding of certain facts. For me, it was like unveiling the thick layer of cast consciousness and its side effects wrt the history of this noble dance form. This topic should be discussed in a more democratic way.
I agree
She's so accurate about things people are afraid to talk about. Let more subaltern discussions pave way for a democratic discourse.
It is intellectual dishonesty on her part to appropriate the history of the devadasis when they were so exploited.
I’m sorry for this comment I wasn’t well informed I read so much later and I’ve corrected myself.. I did not want to delete the comment so I’m apologising for this stand I took. I agree
What is there in this video?
muslims ofc ll take intrest in this lol
Oh my! This is pure gold. What a simple presentation and yet so impactful!
Fantastic! Superb explanation and with such poise and elegance, that of a classical dancer. Thankyou.
It is also sad that the dance is obstructed by the annoying big TED ad in the back. Just a reminder of how commercial profit motive spoils art.
Excellent performance and an explanation to throw some light on the history - I leave the negative comments and appreciate the rendering flawlessly in a way even a layman could appreciate it.
I needed to know this!!!
thank you........ I can't thank you enough
Audio seems low volume... In the beginning when you talk...
Yes sad thing is that we inherited restrictions from conservative people who ruled us. Today western society has moved on and opened up. We on the other hand still hold on to inherited values.
This is a part if casteist mentality. Casteism is not a western concept, indian society has been casteist long before the brits arrived. Indians (mostly uppercaste) still believe this as it takes away the blame from them.
@@DevyaniMulik not really, Christians have the feudal system, while Muslims have the sectarian conflicts. Britishers aggravated the caste system, read real history not reel one, Ms.Mulik.
@@infinite5795 What real history.What about theethu
Can I say whatever Aranyani said also as her own way of interpreting devadasi system and Bharatanatyam.
Saying as if Bhakti oriented dancing is not progressive or backward is so weird. No where it is said that non bhakti emotions are a sin. The ppl who are crying that Devdasis have lost their credentials are the same ppl who criticized this system too. They just shift the goal post according to the audience.
We have so many narratives around Bharata natyam, now it is hard to belief who is right. Need to read somewhere between the lines to understand the real history.
this entire talk is in English, and the speaker is finding it wierd that sanskrit and natya shastra is linked with Bharatanatyam. Upper and lower again are English words. How do we so easily embrace a Victorian language but not our own? The so called ' upper' caste ( if at all they feel or made to feel upper) have always appreciated the heros of other castes worshipped as God's and accepting literary works of other castes as great works and sometimes as history of the country itself. Why is the speaker creating unnecessary divide herself? Talk not about caste but about the importance of uplifting our culture today again against foreign influences.
"Accepting literary works of other castes"?
It's called stealing if credits are not given to the respective creators.
@@cjoseph1943 either your comprehension skills are weak or you are funded. Actually it may be both.
@@nithya170 @Nithya Aanand 1. Let's leave the subject of Ted Talk to speaker. N I think she did a really good job on shedding some light on the originality of the dance. She even gave materials to read further on this (avail in the description). She did a good job.
2.Perhaps, you can save your prattles about my "comprehension skills and funding status". You're welcomed to post your counter argument about the subject of my comment. I'm sorry that I have to tell u this but, commenting about my personal skills is not constructive at any point.
Sanskrit is not everybody's language in Indian subcontinent... Even before invasions..
@nithya why this personal attack on Joseph? Exactly the entitlement on your part by calling someone "weak" or "funded." Joseph had a point.
Initially thought this was boring and pointless but actually it was entertaining and interesting
Excellent notes from Aranyani! Thanks for sharing some thoughts about the art form. Also exploring the history of art forms itself is exciting. Splendid, a journey from Sadir attam, Dasi attam and the ultimately Bharat natyam (Bhava, Raga, Taal) your explanation underlines these name transitions.
Speechless... Good explanation. But video editor is avarage.
So many facts are incorrect and very misleading interpretations of Indian history from half baked evidences. This video actually needs to be taken down. A disclaimer is not enough
dont wanna be rude but ughh the editing was poor and dont get me started on camera work. its one of the worst
if i get a chance, ill give my best to do as much as professional
What an insincere lady who talks against caste but happily uses her caste name for all the benefits it bestows on her.
Some small aspects were wrong but agree on her main points
So, did classical Indian music suffered the same fate?
is this TEDx or some kind of Atrocity literature, is this the correct platform for one sided criticism! Although constructive criticism is always welcome but History and narratives are something which are highly debatable on both sides!
plz address ur grouse
Appropriation in the century looks bad yeh! Thief.
Absolutely. FOr decades we have only heard the Bhraminical Discourse and their history. Now it is time to hear out the other side, the side of the oppressed.
Well the patrons could have supported these dancers without fucking them. Don't make everything a fault of the british. Strange way of defining freedom - when most of the devdasis used to be under were 5 or 6 years old before their fate was sealed. If it was so free and respectable why did not high-born donated their own daughters to the temples, there are only one or two such examples of high-born Devdasis, and obviously they were not abused the way lowborn Devdasis were treated. It was child prostitution plain and simple and thank god the british did something about it.
Devadasis were treated equal to the gods as they had all the rights of the god in the temple. You are comparing devadasi system of north to the devadasi system of south. Here the whole conversation of devadasi's related to bharathanatyam( originally sadir attam) Just go through the Tanjore big temple's inscriptions, which holds a thousand year old history that says devadasi's were treated as government employees with monthly salary, house and cattle for themselves to live a luxurious life even if there was a draught. That was a family tradition and thats how the art forms are surived even after a millennium... And FYI kids were not considered as devadasis, as to learn this art form itself takes 10- 12 years and those days they had to sing and dance and they had all the right to leave being a devadasi whenevr they wanted... This was how devadasis in Ancient tamilakam were treated and I have no idea about other places.
trying do not use surname
How sad to know of the true Bharatanatyam origins. Today Indians teaching this form of dance won't accept to teach easily any kids who want to learn as you can with ballet or any other dance form. There is always entry requirements by family which explains the complications of perception of this fine dance and the devastating influences of the British on a culture they understood nothing of! Basically it appears, the rascals forced this dance form away from the people who developed and perfected it and tried to legitimize the dance form with Brahminism!
it is not...she's bullshitting.
Elegant 👍
What kind of make-belief stories this woman is telling?
Does she have any evidence to back it up?
Stop abusing Hindu culture, Tedx.
Devadasi system was barbaric.British or no British.
Indian accent noticed
Really?