Radha in love and pain. The Tree as witness
A Dance Production by Nirmala Seshadri
“RADHA NOW” is an exploration through dance and music. While the core dance form is Bharatanatyam, other forms of movement also enter the space in the search for contemporary expression. Music will be Carnatic (South Indian classical) and Hindustani (North Indian classical), and the space where both the forms of music meet. The production involves 11 dancers- one woman with ten men. Theatrical techniques such as the use of masks will be adopted. The music will be a soundtrack specially composed, arranged and recorded for this production. This was originally a site-specific work, which had its conceptual origins under an actual tree. The entire work unfolded through a process of communion with this tree. Therefore the main prop in this production is a tree, real or impressionistic. The tree here symbolises the silent witness, the solidarity of women, and the highest state of love- of nurturing and giving, wisdom, compassion.
Radha of the famous myth is constantly besieged with the pangs of separation. She waits in pain and agony in the hope of her lover coming back and pleasuring her once again. Radha’s story continues for every woman. They love, are separated from their lovers; they wait, to begin with in pain and agony, later through memory and dream. One day they become conscious of the fact that the cherished lover may not return. Radha the myth may be just a memory, nostalgia; but Radha the idea becomes - every woman. “Radha Now” is an exploration; it ends with questions and possibilities rather than solutions.
