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Kuruvanji
forms a part of characteristic Tamil literature in poetry and
song. The earliest Kuruvanji composed by Thirukutarajappa Kaviyar
about 300 years ago was the Kutrala
Kuruvanji. Nearly thirty other Kuruvanjis were written after
this, and are still current. In most of these Kuruvanjis, the
basic theme revolves around a heroine who is a Goddess, a
princess, or a woman of a good family who is in love with a God, a
good king, or a virtuous nobleman respectively. The Kuruvanji or
the gipsy is the other important character who is introduced as
the fortune-teller and foretells whether or not the heroine will
win the love of her beloved. The various Kuruvanji subjects
include the Kutrala, the Viraimalai, the Alagar, the Chitrambala
and the Sarabhoji Kuruvanjis.
The
Kuruvanji is performed in dance ballet form with Bharatanatyam
techniques. A number of very fine select pure dance sequences (Nritta)
and Abhinayam are utilized with excellent Adavu-jati modes by the
gipsy dancer. These have a lilting rhythm and are of a lighter
classical vein appropriate to her character and personality, which
are gay and charming.
Gifted
and dedicated Nattuvanars and dancers have been presented this
style of dance drama. The Kuruvanji dance ballets were most
successfully performed by Pandanallur Meenakshisundaram Pillai's
troupe, Nattuvanar Sri Dhandayudhapani Pilai, Rukmani Devi
Arundale, Balasaraswati, Mrinalini Sarabhai, the Nrityodaya troupe
of Madras and the Tamil Isai Sangam under the direction of the
renowned musicologist Prof. P. Sambamoorthy.
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