Please support us on Patreon ► / sukanyakumar
The phrase Haasyam Shoorpanakhamukhe (Which means Rama laughed looking at the voilently dismembered face of Shorpanakha) from Navarasa Ramayana has always disturbed me. I am not trying to rewrite history, I am just trying to re-read it. I was looking for a composition from Shurpanakha's perspective, when I came across Karthik Hebbar's creation...it was surreal to see how much our approach matched. It was like we were trying to say the same thing...in two different languages of art. Presenting Navarasa Gadhyam on Shurpanakha. Happy Womans' Day! Let us celebrate Woman's History Month....or should we say Herstory Month!
Karthik's post:
"Every time I sang the Ramayana Navarasa shloka, I would cringe at the phrase HASYAM SHOORPANAKHAMUKHE. The very natural inclusion of violence as something funny, I fail to digest no matter what interpretation of Dharma one would impose on me. Also I have a strong dislike for the fact that we only have writings of male scholars with us, all mythology is written with a male gaze!
I love taking poetic freedom in interpreting mythology by humanising all elements. who were asuras? Rakshasas? where they just people from a different region/ tribe who lived differently? did their nomadic life and sense of freedom look immoral to the other class who claimed to be superior?
With these questions In mind, here is a Navarasa Gadya I have written and composed dedicated to Shoorpanakhi."
Concept, Choreography and Performance: Sukanya Kumar
Cinematography and Edit: Gunindu Abeysekara
Musical Concept, Lyrics and rendition: Shri @karthikhebbar
/ sukanyakumarkashyap
/ sukanya.kumar91
/ karthikhebbar_presents
/ karthik.hebbar.355
/ gunindu_abeysekera_pho...
/ gunindu
Meaning:
Adbhuta Rasa - Ragam Vasanta
She saw Lakshmana, the beautiful long armed, lotus eyed, son of Kausalya, strong bodied and heroic brother of Rama...and saw with wonderment (Adbhuta)!
Shringara Rasa - Reetigowlai Raga
That bow, that arrow, that glowing face of his, that curly hair, that soft smile of his, those eyes of his, she gazed into...Love and desire (Shringara) blossomed in Shurpanakha
Bhaya Raga - Saveri Raga
Shall I go to him and express my desires? But the people from the Northern lands call us women from Lanka as Rakshasis! Will they mock me and reject me? Waves of these questions engulfed her in fear (Bhaya)
Haasya Rasa - Nalinakanti Raga
She disguised herself to look like one of them and stared at her own face in a pond of clear water. "I am not Shurpanakha...I am Chandranakha," she said. She roared with laughter (Haasyam) looking at her own transformation.
Veera Rasa - Bhairavi Raga
Head held high (with Veeram) she walked and spoke to Rama about her desires towards Lakshmana, fearlessly, without any shame
Roudra Rasa - Varali Raga
She looked at the brothers who dismembered her nose and ear. The oozing blood evaporated into red hued clouds due to the boiling rage (Roudram) of Shurpanakha
Karuna Rasa - Sahana Raga
"Oh elder brother, look at me.." said lShurpanakha lamenting (with Karuna). Showing her disfigured face to Ravana, "I begged for love and this is what they did to me. Is it fair?!" she cried breathlessly
Bheebhatsya Rasa - Ahiri Raga
In the light of the night, she stood in front of the mirror. "What mistake did I do?" she contemplated. "Was it a mistake to fearlessly express my love to a man, being a woman? Alas! why did I desire an egoistic man" she looked at herself in disgust (Bheebatsa) for desiring an egoistic man
Shanta Rasa- Ahir Bhairavi Raga
At dawn, a parrot stood by her window and sang. "The shining sun, the winds of Lanka, the singing parrot, don't see my face as misfigured...I must stop worrying about it then," she thought. after reliving all her emotions, she peacefully (Shantam) fed millets to the parrot.
#sukanyakumar #karthikhebbar #sankhya
1 окт 2024
