Andaal Thillana | Bharatanatyam Dance | San Jose Labs

This Thillana is a fast-paced beautiful composition, and is a tribute to the 8th century poetess-saint, Andaal whose insightful compositions are known to have brought forth rain showers and blessings for people. While a thillana is usually focused on nrutta (pure dance), except a short sahityam (lyrics) piece, in this piece, some of the themes represented through Andaal's bhakti compositions of Thiruppavai, are represented in the poses in the interludes as well.
The beginning starts with a representation of the Paratvam (that which is beyond creation) and transitions into a representation of Pancha Bhootam - primary five elements that creation consists of - sky(akasa), earth(prithvi), water(apas), wind(vayu), fire(tejas).
The next interlude depicts the Pancha Tanmattra (primary 5 sensations) - shabda (sound), rasa (taste), roopa (form), sparsha (feel), gandha (smell).
The following nrutta section is choreographed using steps that are subtly indicative of the Pancha Karmendriyan - the five faculties of action - paada (movement/feet), upastha (procreation), paani (grasp/hands/intake), paayu (exudation/excretion), vaak (speech) - the faculties that allow a living being to interact with its surroundings.
The next interlude includes a combined representation of the Pancha Nyaanendriyan - the five faculties of perception - srotra (hearing/ears), rasaana (taste/tongue), ghranaa (smelling/nose), chakshu (sight/eyes), tvak (touching/skin).
The sahityam section is a tribute to Andaal's insight, through whose compositions wisdom pours forth like refreshing rains and brings blessing for all blossoming souls.
mAriyE nee vAri vazhangum vaLLal anRO un aruL inRi ivvulagil uyirgaL uyvathuNDO
O mother, may you bless all of us who are souls in this world so we can blossom to our fullest potential
vAzha ulaginil peythiDAi kOdhai solpaDi aLavAi pozhinthiDuvAi vaLamAi vAzhavaippAi
May the knowledge of Kodhai (Andaal) bring forth appropriate showers ( not hurricanes that can not handled) so we can all grow(evolve) and prosper
pORRi unai pADiDuvOm poitthiDAmal parinthu varuvAi
We sing your glory, without avoiding us, please do come
gumugumu venRu vAnam kumurudhe taDa taDa venRu mAri varugudhe
The clouds are starting to make sounds, and thundering to bring forth rains
manamum thuLLudhE mazgizhchikkoLLudhE vaazhi
the self is striving with a brimming heart, for your blessings to prosper
While in the sahityam section the condition of the soul (with all its trappings and subtle soul energies of buddhi (lower mind), manas (higher mind), ahankaara (ego/identity), avyaktaam (innate tendencies from karmic cycles) and Chit (consciousness) is symbolized, the soul surrenders to the Higher Self (Paramatma) to seek refuge.
The last section depicts a quick-changing flow of movements and represents the Pancharatra - the five states of the Paramatma (super-soul) -
Para - beyond creation, like water in the clouds ( intangible form of the super-soul, as it is tough to drink water from the clouds)
Vyuha - at the point of creation, visualized as Vyuha Vasudeva, humongous in form, lying across an ocean of galaxies, like water in the oceans
Vibhava - during creation, where we get to experience Avataras like Rama or Krishna, like water during the rain, experiential but transient
Antaryaami - residing always in every sou's innermost core, like ground-water, requiring the discipline of digging deep inside through meditation or other practices
Archa - presiding in every temple and place of worship, like lake water, potable and accessible to those who have surrendered to the Paramatma's feet and sought blessings of our Acharyas and Gurus.
Choreographed by Mohana Narayan, and performed by her and the students of SarvaGuna School of Bharatanatyam - Poornima, Sujana, Meenakshi, and Manogna.
While it was a challenge to choreograph and perform bharatanatyam to music that does not necessarily mirror the footwork with traditional mrudangam, but the beauty of this Andaal Thillana drew us to the potential of depicting some of Thiruppavai's concepts in a very brief capsule for today's world.
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[@saisunitavp9194]

Excellent....very fast paced and well choreographed

[@hbjnphy]

Poornima, simply wow 👏🏻 kudos

[@raoashwathi]

Wow 👏🏻👏🏼

[@srishtikuwait]

Beautiful concept.. Thank you for the write up.. lovely choreography

[@kamalct]

Very well choreographed. Good coverage of every dancer in steps and frames.

[@violane_bora]

Wonderful coordination and expressions..... so beautiful see and admire.... amazing choreography!! 👏👏👏👏👏 my claps to every dancer there...

[@harikrishnab1370]

Very nice... Congratulations and my sincere namaskaram to all ....

[@sheriffmohideen1]

Very beautiful

[@balakrishnashenoy8063]

Excellent

[@kamalkannan4211]

Very nice