A Jaati is a pattern that  gives us the basic feel of a Thalam. Read the article Tala System to get a hang of how it works. What you need to understand as a beginner of Bharatanatyam is that there are five Jaatis. Every jaati is denoted by a set of syllables. They are: The [...]

The following is the sollukettu for sutral adavu. The Bols are Tat Tai Tam Dhit Tai Tam. If you would like to download this audio, right click here and save to computer

This step incorporates a number of leg position and movements in it. For example we begin with the Araimandi, move on to the full sitting posture (muzumandi or purna mandala) and finally end in the Stanaka position. Other position used are the prerita and Alidha. The Bols are Tat Tai Tam Dhit Tai Tam which [...]

The Third variation is an extension of the second variation. I have seen this step being done in different ways. So I have also tried to explain the varieties seen in this step. The Bols are Tat Tai Tam, Dhit Tai Tam, which is sung twice on each side. The first part of the video [...]

The following is the video of first variation in sutral adavu. The Bols are Tat Tai Tam, Dhit Tai Tam. Since this step has two parts, two sets of Tat Tai Tam Dhit Tai Tam would complete one side.

Recently one of my readers had asked about the following concepts. 1. Pada-artha 2. Vakya-artha 3. Sanchari Thought I shall do a posting on this. They form an important part of Nritya and Natya. Often considered when Abhinaya dance pieces like Padam or a varnam is being choreographed. Every padam or varnam has the above concepts [...]

The following video demonstrates the fifth and the sixth variation of KudittaMetta. The Bols are Tai Gha, Tai Ghi.

The following video demonstrates the third and the fourth variation of Kudittametta Adavu. The Bols are Tai Gha, Tai Ghi.

Sarikal Adavu sollukettu is very similar to the Tatta adavu. So for the 1st, 3rd and 5th variations you can use the Tatta Adavu first variation sollukettu. The Bols are Tai Ya Tai Hi. In case of the 2nd, 4th and 6th variations the bols are Tai Ya, Tai Ya, Tai Hi, Tai Hi. If [...]

Following is the Sollukettu for the twelfth variation. The Bols are Tai Tai dhit Dhit Tai Tam. If you would like to download this audio, right click here and save to computer