Natyam (నాట్యం)

How much is this?

4:30.

12:40... What about this?

6:35.

Its 7:30.

Mommy!

You're struggling to solve such simple problems!

The clock has just two hands,

The hour hand and the minute hand, How are you getting them mixed up?

Go on, write it again.

Lakshmi...

She's just a little girl! She'll learn eventually...

You stay quiet and let me teach her, or do you want to take up this responsibility?

Hey! Look, she ran away...

Sitara! Wait... Sitara!

You're my princess dear, wait up!

Wait!

I cant catch up to your speed... Wait!

Ill teach you a lesson once I catch you, just wait!

Sitara!...Sitara!

Sitara!

My greetings to the media and respected people who are here on this occasion.

I thank everyone for being a part of the Inaugration of this Dance academy.

Sir, why is this village called 'Naatyam'?

It means Dance, right?

Theres a huge story behind it.

In those days...

The Britishers took away our Historical texts, Books, Sculptures related to Dance.

In the course, they even destroyed all the scriptures, books, sculptures...

...and even temples.

They made sure the word 'Classical dance' was wiped out from entire India.

Classical dance which existed since thousands of years shouldn't be wiped out.

So the heads of the village orchestrated a huge Yajna (RITUAL) in the temple.

Vedic Scholars and priests were conducting the Homa (RITUAL)

While the Dance Scholars were inscribing the Science of Dance.

The britishers who got wind of this, came there, broke down the doors.

Shot everyone there and threw them into the fire.

Unable to bear the bloodshed,

The Goddess emerged as a form of destruction.

She incinerated the Britishers there whilst,

The rest cowered and closed the Temple gates to prevent her from getting out.

A British Commanding Officer Francis, permanently sealed the temple gates.

Even after India became independent from the British rule,

We still couldn't learn dance.

While all the artists were grieved about the loss of dance...

One day...

They opened the gates of that temple only to see that the goddess is still there.

Her eyes filled with rage and anger.

Upon performing the peace prayer,

She was calmed down and handed the Historical Dance scriptures...

To educate the upcoming generations in the Art of Dance...

...then transformed herself into a statue.

Many artists from around the country came to this village to learn the Art of Dance.

They then settled into this place, turned this village into a stage for dancing,

...and that's how the village got its name, 'Natyam'.

From then on, we started praying to the Goddess as 'The Goddess of Dance'.

Due to her immense glory, we named this Dance school after her.

Till now this campus was given to our Guru temporarily.

But him along with his wife,

Transformed this into a School of Dance and earned many laurels.

Which is why,

I have decided to give this campus permanently to him.

Hey! You ran off from the ritual again, haven't you?

Hey! Sitara...

My God! Its Mom!

From today onward, you will bear the responsibility of the keys to this place.

Guru! Have you come across our kid?

No, I haven't.

She is such a brat. Dont know where she runs off to...

This campus belongs to Mr. Francis. The one who shut the gates of the temple that day,

What's surprising is that, while leaving for England,

He wrote a will assigning this bungalow and the car...

...to be used only for the welfare of Dance.

"Even if this life ends as a sacrifice for my art."

"This love has shed blood as devotion towards my art."

- Its like this! - OK!

Shalini, We have to provide a new part. Prepare the stage right now.

Now dance with alapadmalu.

When will Shalini maam come?

When will she begin the dance?

Hey! Come here.

What are you up to?

Im writing a story.

Aren't we supposed to dance?

Both are one and the same!

How? Can you explain clearly?

Just like we listen to stories, when they come to life in front of our eyes,

...we call it as a Dance.

Dancing means, to present a story in the most beautiful form.

Oh... So they tell stories through dancing?

Yes, indeed.

We can also change someones thoughts and beliefs through dancing.

That's the power of Dance!

So, what story are you writing?

'Kaadambari Katha' (STORY)?

What story is that? Will you tell me?

Yes. I will.

Guru ji! The story is very nice.

I liked it! I will also do it.

What are you doing?

I am Kaadambari.

You keep narrating the story, I will dance to it.

Why are you laughing? Come, teach me how to dance!

It doesn't work like that. Kaadambari is an artist.

To tell her story, you need to learn the art of dancing.

Learn!

I will give you that story for your debut performance.

So you'd definitely give me that story for my debut performance?

- Promise? - Promise.

Guru ji! Shalini maam has been bitten by a snake near the well!

Huh?

This has happened because of that 'Kaadambari katha'.

Yes, true. 'Kadambari Katha' brings ill fate.

It is said that whoever performs it will get cursed!

DANCE

Can you call the next contestant please?

Rohith, from Barefoot Dance Company.

"Dreams glide in me"?

"Thoughts cloud my mind"?

"Crossing all hurdles"?

"Let me touch the stars"?

"Life is a one way journey"?

"Theres no rewind button to it"?

"Future is a huge mess"?

"Right now fly high with me"?

"My heart flies so high"?

"Sprinkles and leaps to the sky, as I fly"?

"It flies across the sky"?

"Doesnt wanna stay still on ground"?

"It sprinkles and leaps to the sky, as I fly"?

The energy in your dance is very good.

But, I couldn't see any concept behind it.

Aggressively jumping around doing gymnastics isnt dance.

Make sure you conceptualize well, the next time around.

Will you accept the request...

If given a chance, we will try something.

OK... you will go.

OK Ma'am...

Madam! Excuse me, please.

Madam, dance isnt just some time-pass or hobby for me...

Im very passionate about dancing,

I feel like Im connected to my soul.

See, I can understand.

But, If you want to represent India all the way across, in America,

Your performance needs to be much better.

Give me one chance madam!

Well somehow manage to get a great concept.

Then, is it possible to get a wild card entry?

Right now, we don't have any.

But our group will sit together and brainstorm...

If you want to do something new, you'll have to learn something new.

Do one thing.

Theres a village called "Natyam"?

The speciality of the village is that everyone there are classical dancers.

For them, dancing is a form of conveying a story.

Its an art of storytelling.

Why don't you go there?

You might find some inspiration there.

OK... OK...

Ill do it! I got it.

Ill come back to you with an amazing concept.

You go there and show me a concept.

Then Ill think about your wild card entry.

OK!

Thank you maam.

Sir. Can you tell us about the glory of this goddess?

Dance was thought to be extinct, during the britishers rule.

The Historical Texts given by the goddess, rejuvenated the art form.

Can you please show it to the media people, priest.

See this, here...

The goddess preserved these texts under her feet and transformed into a statue.

The eternal glory of this temple, the goddess and the entire village.

Deserves to get more fame and recognition and...

All of you must promote it world-wide, that is my wish.

Greetings to one and all!

Todays program is about to start in a few minutes...

Shall we go?

Nrutyaalaya Naatya Kalabrundham's.

'Ardhanaareeshwara' dance drama show.

"Champeya gowradha sareerakayai."?

"Karpoora gourardha sareerakaya."?

"Dhamilakayai cha jatadaraya,"?

"Namashivayai cha namashivaya."?

"Kasthurika kumkuma charchithayai."?

"ChithaRaja puncha vicharchithayai."?

"Kruthasmarayai vikrutha smaraya."?

"Nama shivayai cha namashivaya."?

"Jhanath kvanath kankana noopurayai."?

"Padabja Rajat phani noopuraya."?

"Hemangadhayai bhujangangadhaya."?

"Nama Shivayai cha Namashiva."?

"Visala nilothphala lochanayai."?

"Vikasi pangeruha lochanaya."?

"Samekshanayai vishamekhanaya."?

"Nama shivayai cha namashivaya."?

"Mandhara mala kalithalakayai."?

"Kapalamalankitha kandharaya."?

"Divyambarayai cha digambaraya."?

"Nama shivayai cha namashivaya."?

"Ambhodara syamala kunthalayai."?