Rarely will you go ‘ah’ in a themed Bharatanatyam production, but Anitha Guha’s ‘Praise of the Seven Hills’ on Lord Venkateshwara made you appreciate her skill and knowledge. As the performance was based on devotional shlokas and songs written by Sri Muralidhara Swamigal, she built on the descriptive lyrics and the beautiful melody to create a lively Bharatanatyam-theatre show.

In Praise of the Seven Hills, Anitha Guha masterfully blends lyrical devotion and artistry, captivating the audience as her dancers embody Lord Venkateshwara. The performance reflects the fleeting nature of desire and the responsibilities that come with it, showcasing the balance between joy and duty.

Anitha layered the songs with musical inputs and jathis with the help of P.R. Venkatasubramanian. One could sense Anitha’s dexterity, as she combined compositions, brought in groups of dancers and additional entries and exits, while keeping the pace intact. All this she achieved through a flawless performance by 32 of her students at Bharathanjali.