INTACH Chapter Srikakulam: Bhamakalapam comparative performance Back
A Report on a research project in Intangible cultural heritage.
The INTACH Chapter Srikakulam Concieved and presented on experimental grounds one innovative program on the evening Dt 21.10.2016. The Details are as follows.
There is one ancient folk art form called Thoorpu bhagavatam (Bhamakalapam ) in North Andhra Distruicts of Srikakulam Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.It is becoming extinct .In fact only two artists who became aged are performing them on the verge of its extinction. The INTACH Chapter documented this art form also along with other 11 forms in 2010 . The Central INTACH written to the dance department of central university Hyderabad to include these art forms in the curriculam of their dance courses.The Convener handed over the DVDS to central university authorities and pursued constantly for some time but in vain.Later Sent proposals to Central sangeeth Naatak academy for grant of funds to run academy under Guru sishya parampara under copy to INTACH but in vain.
Another important point of research is that there is another dance form Kuchipudi which was similar to Thoorpu bhagavatham during 17 the century which was also a folk art form as that of Thoorpu bhagavatham. The situation was similar until 1959.
The story is the same. Sathyabhama talks down to Sreekrishna that she was more beautiful among those two when questioned by Sreekrishna. Krishna leaves the house in anger and did not turn up for so many days. There starts the angush,anger , Viraham and a great prabandham through out night in ancient days. A great feast of music ,dance ,singing. Characters are the same. Daruvus the lyrics are the same . The technique of singing and dancing almost folk with some dialectical coloquial diferences. The only difference is that the kuchipudi was in the hands of scholars. They brought the art form to the notice of the sangeeth naatak academy then started. They conducted seminars and reformed ,the scolars made extensive researh in adding classical touch to reforms basing on the the doctrine of Bharata founder of the classical dance in south . Experts in the field like Padmabhushan Vempati china sathyam Vedantham sathyanarayana developed various aspects in performance and now it hs become the signature art od Andhrapradesh getting international acclaim. Though similar in all aspects including the tradition of male dancing in the character Sathyabhama Thoorubhagotam stood where it was because lack of research as it still continues in the hands of illeterate performing artists.
Now the Convener Mr Dharmarao with the help of one Institution of Music and Dance “Sampradayam “prepared one experiment to study the similarities and difference in both the forms. Eminent kuchipudi artist of internatioonal acclaim Dr Swathi Somanath played the role of Sthyabhama in kuchipudi tradition. Mrs Anjali as thoorpu sathyabhama. The Collector Dr P. Laksminarasimham showed interest in the experiment and sanctions were given sufficienly.
As a result both the art forms were presented on the same stage .The Convener who is a cultural expert explained daruvu (Song ) after Daruvu the differnces and similarities in both the forms and how Kuchipudi has been developed in various aspects 1.costumes.2 instruments 3. tunes of the lyrics 4.musical aspects 5 reformative language with Sanskrit touch and how the thoorpu bhagotham is lagging centuries behind.
At the end the convener appealed to the audience and the Collector to revive the old glory by providing some help to the art form . The Collector concluded that The proposals for research and restoration of the art form under Gurusishya parampara by giving training to 10 Sathyabhamas ,Mridangam players and other characters and requested The Convener to prepare proposals for submission.
