An excerpt from Neelambari Varnam by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal – ‘Sarasa shara sundara…’ for Edapally Nruthaswada Sadas, Changampuzha park, Kerala – November 2024.

‘Oh Padmanabha, you are even more beautiful than a thousand cupids… send that Manmatha away won’t you… who needs him when there is you. Your eyebrows, ever so beautifully arched like a bow and your darting black eyes, like the bees used to string the bow.. Your soft peach lips like the choota (mango) flower and your teeth a string of jasmine (navamalika) flowers smiling at me.. The conch you hold in your hand, looks more like the bud of a white lotus (aravinda) does it not, and the sparkling discuss, or is it a bunch of ashoka flowers? And finally, your entire body lying on the ocean like a bed of blue lotuses (neelotpala). Let me lay on your bed of flowers and shower me with your love and protection, won’t you..’

Choreography: Pallavi Anand | Vocal: Bhagyalakshmi Guruvayoor | Nattuvangam: Udayasankar Lal | Mridangam: Chandrakumar Aymanam | Violin: Suresh Nambuthiri | Videography: Raghunath NB | Cover photo: VJ lenses

Excerpts of the Ananda Bhairavi varnam from Natyarangam monthly concert series, Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai – May 2025

‘Sakhiye intha velayil jaalam seyyade…’ ‘Oh friend, this is no time for your playful games… I lie upon my flower-strewn bed, yearning for a night in his arms beneath the moon’s soft glow… Won’t you go and bring him to me, dear friend?’

Choreography: Mavin Khoo | Vocal: Janani Hamsini | Mridangam: PK Sivaprasad | Nattuvangam: Vijay Kumar.S | Violin: Rijesh Gopalakrishnan | Videography: a4 Medias

Clip from Era Napai – Tana varnam in Ragam Mukhari from Aalaap’s Diaspora Dance Festival – January 2024, Chennai.

Choreography: Mavin Khoo | Vocal: Deepu Karunakaran | Mridangam: PK Sivaprasad | Nattuvangam: Sahana Sridhar | Violin: TV Sukanya | Cover Photo & Videography: Sant’s Fotos

Clip of Lalita Lavanga ashtapadi followed by a short section of Shankarabharanam thillana from Krishnanjali Festival – December 2022, Chennai.

Choreography of the Ashtapadi: Mavin Khoo | Choreography of the Nrittangahaaram: Adyar K Lakshman
Vocal: Binu Venugopal | Nattuvagam: Mavin Khoo | Mridangam: PK Sivaprasad | Flute: Sujith S Naik

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