NatyaDwani - Thiruchengottu Ardhanareeswarar - Kuravanji

The Kuravanji is a popular dance drama placed among the minor literacy genres in Tamil (Sitrilakkiyam). It is a composite category, amalgamating elements like "Kura-p-pattu", "Ula", figuring in Sangam and later literature. The main theme in a Kuravanji is the love and affection of the female protagonist towards the deity of the temple or the local ruler. She pleads to the God of Love to fulfill her wish. During the performance, she praises the local deity and glorifies the land. She also requests her maids to bring her lover to her. The scenes are enacted in a dancing form. A common theme in most of the 'Kuravanji' dramas is a gypsy woman who appears on the scene and describes the properity of the land through songs. She reads the palm of the heroine and predicts the fulfillment of her desires. The form is also referred to as kuram and kuluva natakam.

Ardanareeswarar Kuravanji or Thiruchengottu Kuravanji

This Kuravanji became popular after the publication of the lyrics by the U.V.Swaminathan Iyer library in 2002. It has some interesting distinctions. According to the publishers note, the author was a lady poet named Poongkothai. The date assigned to the work is early 17th century, making it the earliest available in such literature

There are numerous variations in this art form comprising of compositions with high poetic quality.

Roja Kannan is a senior disciple of Sri Adyar K. Lakshman and Padmabhushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan. She has performed extensively in India and abroad and has won many awards and accolades for her crisp and lively performances in the Kalakshetra style of dance. She is the Director of her school of dance ‘Bharatha Natyalaya’, training hundreds of students.

Priya Murali – a senior disciple of Smt. Sudharani Raghupathy, is a recipient of several awards and has performed and conducted workshops extensively in India and abroad. She is a senior teacher at Sree Bharathalaya and is adept at choreography and nattuvangam.

N.Srikanth - Since the age of 6, Srikanth has been at home on the stage, first as an actor in the Bhagavata Mela dance drama of Mellattur, Tamilnadu, and as a dancer in the tradition of Bharathanatyam. Srikanth has trained under several illustrious Gurus, including Sri. Shanmugasundaram Pillai, Dr. Saraswati, and Dr.Padma Subrahmanyam, at whose institution he broadened his horizons in the art of Natya.

Aswathy Srikanth -Aswathy started her training under her mother, renowned dancer, Smt. Kalamandalam Saraswathy, at the tender age of four, giving her first stage performance at the age of seven. Aswathy is trained in three forms of dance, namely Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi. She began her training in Mohiniyattam under her mother and now continues under, Smt. Kalamandalam Leelamma, one of the most illustrious names in Mohiniyattam.

Vocal: Smt. Nandhini Sharma Anand , Nattuvangam:Smt. Sasirekha Balasubramanian

Mridangam & Special Effects: Kalaimamani Sri. K.S.R.Anirudha

Violin: R.Kalaiarasan, Veena : Sri. Bhavani Prasad