Parama Padam: Life’s Game of Snakes and Ladders
Apsaras Arts and India Habitat Centre present a dance theatre production, ‘Parama Padam ~ Life’s game of Snakes and Ladders’, on Monday, 9th October 2023, at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre. Mohanapriyan Thayarajah's solo act of Bharatanatyam dance piece is based on the board game snakes and ladders.
Also read: She The Divine 2023
Parama Padam Highlights
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Particulars |
Details |
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Name of the Event |
Parama Padam: Life’s Game of Snakes and Ladders |
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Parama Padam Date |
Monday, October 9, 2023 |
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Parama Padam Timings |
7 PM |
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Parama Padam Venue |
Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre |
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Parama Padam Performance |
60 mins non-stop performance by Mohanapriyan Thavarajah |
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About Parama Padam
Parama Padam has been created by the followers of the Vaishnavite faith, with the duo purpose of entertainment and teaching moral values of human life. On the game board, there are a hundred squares which are illustrated with Snakes and Ladders. The ladders in the game represent good virtues, and the snakes indicate vices. Ladders take you up as the good deeds take us to heaven, while the snakes bring you down as a cycle of re-births. The final goal is to reach Vaikuntha, or heaven. This game, which originated in India in the 10th century CE, was popular worldwide as “Snakes and Ladders” by the British during the 18th century CE.
Parama Padam Performance
In a 60-minute performance by Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, the show has three parts, and they use lyrics only briefly. In between the acts, there are short explanations in English.
The first act is called "The Soul Yearns." It explains that there are six zones that you have to go through to reach the seventh, which is called 'Vaikuntha.'
The second act is named "The Game Life." It shows how the soul's journey is like a game with ladders that take you up and snakes that bring you down.
The third act, "Making the Right Choices in Life," has two parts. In this act, Chitragupta, who is like an accountant, tells stories about people who reached Parama Padam by being good and following the path of devotion, love, and knowledge.
Chitragupta talks about Ravana, who was defeated in the game because he was too proud, and also about the Poet Meera, who overcame her flaws by being very devoted.
In the end, the lesson is that Parama Padam isn't just a place; it's a way of life guided by good values.
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Mohanapriyan Thavarajah's Vision for Parama Padam
Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer of Apsaras Arts Dance Company says, “As a Bharatanatyam practitioner and choreographer, Parama Padam is my humble attempt to create an awareness and appreciation of Indian heritage and culture, which I proudly value. As our world moves towards globalisation and modernity, we need to create opportunities to look back at our roots, which are rich in culture and history, and have unique ways to promote good morals and ethical ways of living.”
Creative Team
- Concept, Choreography and performance: Mohanapriyan Thavarajah (Singapore)
- Artistic Direction: Aravinth Kumarasamy (Singapore)
- Artistic Mentor: Priyadarsini Govind (India)
- Dramaturg: Lim How Ngean (Australia)
- Music Composition: Dr Rajkumar Bharathi (India)
- Sound Design: Sai Sharavanam (India)
- Light Design: Gyan Dev Singh (India)
- Narrator Script: Audrey Perera (Singapore)
Orchestra (India)
- Vocals: G Srikanth
- Mridangam: V Vedakrishnan
- Percussions: Ganapathy Venkatasubramaniam
- Violin: Embar Kannan
- Veena: Bhavani Prasad
- Flute: Sruthi Sagar
- Sollukattu: Shreejith Krishna
- Narration Voice-Over: Ramesh Paniker (Singapore)
Apsaras Arts: A Storied Journey of Indian Dance Excellence
Apsaras Arts, founded in Singapore in 1977 by Shri S Sathyalingam and Smt Neila Sathyalingam, both alumni and former faculty members of India's renowned Kalakshetra institution, has a remarkable history spanning over four decades. This organization has evolved into a prominent Indian dance company in the region, gaining recognition for its Indian dance-theatre productions that resonate globally.
Under the leadership of the award-winning Artistic Director, Aravinth Kumarasamy, since 2005, Apsaras Arts has transformed into a premier professional performing company. Their focus shifted towards creating new works that are showcased at international festivals. Apsaras Arts' talented dancers and musicians have graced stages in more than forty countries, collaborating with esteemed dance companies, legendary dancers, choreographers, composers, and presenters from the international Indian dance community.
Mohanapriyan Thavarajah: A Renaissance in Bharatanatyam
Mohanapriyan Thavarajah is a multi-talented artist, with a diverse range of roles including Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, researcher, designer, curator, and published author. His journey in the world of Bharatanatyam is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, making him one of the distinguished young male Bharatanatyam artistes of our time. He has cultivated a unique style that reflects his individuality and has garnered widespread acclaim for his imaginative and innovative choreography, whether for ensemble performances or solo acts. His choreography preserves the traditional essence of Bharatanatyam while infusing it with contemporary relevance, making it accessible to modern audiences.
