Amrita TV joins in the annual October Navarathri festivities with a number of programmes over an extended 3 day period, Saturday 12th October , Mahanavami on the 13th and Vijayadashmi on the 14th to celebrate its spirit.
Scintillating dances by Manju Warrier, riveting competitive performances by Stephen Devassy and Sivamani and special features on the Mookambika Temple and Paravoor Saraswathy Temple makes Amrita TV’s 2013 Navarathri celebrations distinctive.
An exclusive episode of Udayamritham at 6.30 am on October 12th explains the Durga Bhava of the Mother Goddess, presents a musical visualization of the Durga Stothram , considers the depiction of the Devi in our Puranas as a cosmic force that destroys demonic forces that threatens the world equilibrium and explores the Kasi Durga Kshetra, one of the 3 most famous temples dedicated to Goddesses in India.
Amritavarshom 60 Archana, a collection of captivating performances in song and dance by noteworthy artistes in the field of art and entertainment are braided together to provide an absorbing half-an-hour of entertainment at 9.00am. Hariharan’s heart rending masterpiece Nakhashatangal, a movie that will always bring a lump to the throat of every Malayalee and which saw the debut of Monisha in a National Award winning role along with Vineeth, will go on air at 2.00pm. Keyboard expert Stephen Devassy and drums maestro Sivamani demonstrate their versatility and finesse in the craft , by playing in tandem in Amritavarshom 60 Kala Archana at 7.pm.
Continuing the special Navarathri series, the Mahanavami edition of Udayamritham telecast at 6.30am on October 13th examines the Saraswathy Bhava of the great Divine Mother, reflects on the portrayal of the Goddess of speech and learning in our ancient texts, explaining its sasthra in the modern context and visits the Kanchi Kamakshi Temple.In Sruthilayam at 7.00 am which presents the penultimate day of the nine day Navarathri Sangeetholsavam , famous Carnatic musician and playback singer M.K Sankaran Namboothiri mesmerizes viewers with the versatility of his vocal recitals.
An assorted anthology of Saraswathy related Navarathri special songs compiled from evergreen Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films, some related to the traditional kolu that exhibits dolls and the figurines of Gods arranged on tiers, Swarnachamaran at 7.30 am presents the poignant Swararaga Roopini from Kavya Mela tuned to unforgettable perfection by Dakshina Moorthy and rendered in the dulcet tones of the young Yesudas; Malayali’s celebrated kolu duet Manasilunaroo from Marunattil Oru Malayali that has endured over decades; the memorable Brahmanandini Saraswathy of Jeevikkan Marunnupoya Shtree penned by Vayalar, put to music by MS and sung by Yesudas and Vasantha; the super hit, all time favourite Punnakai Mannan from the timeless classic Iru Kodukal etc.
Amritavarshom 60 Archana continues with its banquet of variegated splashes of colorful artistic performances at 9.00am; Amme Mookambike slotted for 11.30 am , is a compact feature on the famed Mookambika Temple, which provides a close-up view of its exquisite interiors while tracing the origins of a shrine back through the path of its puranic history. Sauhritham co-starring Suresh Gopi with Geeetha and Narendra Prasad comes on at 2.00pm.
With a virtuoso performance in classical Bharatanatyam that would have done seasoned danseuses proud, Manju Warrier once the primma donna of Mollywood ,underlines that she is par excellence in dance as well in Amritavarshom 60 Kala Archana at 7.00pm.
Vijayadashmi celebrations on the 14th begins with Vandanam at 6.00am which presents a string of deeply expressive, soul stirring Saraswathy bhajans melodiously rendered by Kavalam Sreekumar and Sreevalsan Menon . The final episode of the Pooja specific series of Udayamritham at 6.30 am depicts the Lekshmi bhava of the Great Adi Sakhti , visualizes Adi Sankaracharya’s keerthanas on the Devi and explores the ancient Mookambika Temple.
The Vijayadashmi episode of Sruthilayam at 7 am, in which the annual Sangeetholsavam reaches its climax, one of the greatest living exponents of Carnatic music, Smt Parassala B Ponnamal makes the show something to be cherished for long, with a demonstration of her mastery and expertise over classical ragas. A rainbow of sparkling star performances light up the morning in Amritavarshom 60 Archana at 9.00 am.
Saraswathy Namasthubhyam at 12 noon is an enlightening programme on the Vadakkan Paravoor Dakshina Mookambika Saraswathy temple where Navarathri is celebrated with great excitement and fervor; the show does a circumambulation of its hallowed premises to examine its rituals and rites and delve into its rich stock of legends and lores. Vennisile Vyapari with Mammootty and Kavya Madhavan makes for compelling viewing from 2.00pm. A fascinating jugalbandhi by Karaikudi Mani and Shankar Tucker in Amritavarshom 60 Archana at 7.00 pm that hold the viewers spellbound with its perfect fusion rounds off this year’s Navarathri celebrations on a high note.
