Pulikeshi Kasturi
BHEEMA RASAAYANA
(Bheema in 9 sentiments)
Kannada ancient poet KUMARA VYASA in his beautiful work BHARATHA KATHA MANJARI has explained the nine sentiments in BHEEMA who was always described as an energetic, rough, and ferocious person.
The poet describes the SHRINGARA rasa when Draupadi comes in search of Bheema after she is being insulted by Kichaka the evil brother-in-law of King Virata. After hearing her plight, Bheema cajoles her and spends some jovial and happy timing with her in a romantic mood.
When Bheema carries a cart full of food and other eatables to evil Bakasura, Bheema himself starts eating the food and begins to tease Bakasura and laughs at him, and make him angry. His shows the HASYA rasa of Bheema
After the Pandavas escapes the fire tragedy, Bheema leads all of them to the forest carrying his mother and two younger brothers. They settle near a big tree during the night. Bheema stays guard when all fall asleep. Seeing their plight at that time Bheema feels very pathetic and grief about his mother, brothers hereby shows his KARUNA rasa.
The mighty elephant Supritaka is defeated by the mighty Bheema where he shows his VEERA rasa.
When Bheema meets Hanuman, seeing his Vishwaroopa initially Bheema is frightened which shows the BHAYANAKA rasa but later is very surprised and astonished to see his full form thereby expresses his ADBHUTHA rasa.
Later on, in the fight between Bheema and Dushasana, Bheema shows his ferocious form (ROUDRA RASA) which results in the killing of Dushasana. When he starts tearing apart Dushasana, seeing this Draupadi feels disgusted thus resulting in BHEBHATSA RASA.
When Krishna asks Pandava's opinion about waging war against Kauravas, Bheema peacefully tells to agree and not war thus shows his SHANTA Rasa.
Hence this way Poet Kumaravyasa has shown the nine sentiments even in BHEEMA too.
Artist Introduction
Pulikeshi Kasturi has a M.A. Bharathanatyam from Bangalore University and B.A. (CHOREOGRAPHY) Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography under the guidance of Guru Dr.Maya Rao Natarajan. He competed his Bharathanatyam Vidwat in 1996, Rangapravesha in 1996. He was awarded the senior scholarship from dept of culture Govt. of India during 1996-98.
He learnt under Dr.Lalitha Srinivasan, Late Smt.Narmada, Late Dr.Maya Rao, Vidwan Prasanna Kasturi Dr. C. Radhakrishna, Smt. Ranjani Ganesan Ramesh. He learnt Nattuvangam from B.R.Seshadri (Kanna Mridangist), Smt.Kamala Rani of Kalakshetra Chennai
Pulikeshi Kasturi has performed in Hampi Utsava, Soorya Festival – Trivandrum, National Jamboree, Banga Mela 2001- U.S., Babylon International Festival at Iraq, Asian Festival 2006 in Columbus-Ohio, AKKA 2008 – CHICAGO, AKKA 2010- NEW JERSEY, AKKA 2012 – ATLANTA, Sanskriti Mahotsav – Mumbai, Nritya Saptaha – Mysore, 10th American Natya Festival - June 2018 and many more.
Pulikeshi’s thematic presentations include BHEEMA RASAAYANA, SHAKAARA, Also as Yadava Prakasha and Yaamunacharya in Sangeetha Sambhrama’s mega production RAMANUJA VAIBHAVA produced by Smt.P.Ramaa and directed by Smt.Veena Murthy Vijay. As Diwan Seshadri Iyer in the drama Bengaluru Nagarathnamma directed by Dr.T.S.Nagabharana and produced by Sangeetha Sambhrama of Dr.Smt.P.Ramaa.
He as choreographed numerable pushpanjali, Jathiswaras and tillanna, dance ballets like dasaru kanda Krishna, Hari Hara Namana, Veera Raghava Vyayoga, Mattavilasa prahasana, bhagavadaajukiyam, Alwar Darshana, Purandara namana, Samudra mathana, kannada Ramayana, Mohini Bhasmasura and many more
As a leading nattuvangist he has been accompanying leading and accompanied Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers like Prasanna Kasthuri, Smt.Prathibha Prahlad, Vani Ganapathi, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Sridhar & Anuradha, Vyjayanthi Kashi(Kuchipudi), Dharani Kashyap(Kuchipudi), Indira Kadambi, Poornima Ashok, Dr. Shubharani Bolar, Deepak Kumar (puttur), Dr. A. N. Sudhir Kumar,Dr. Sanjay Shantaram, Aishwarya Nityananda, Venkatesha Natya Mandira of Guru Smt.Radha Sridhar, Sanchari School of Smt.Vani Ganapathi and many young and upcoming artists. Travelled all over India, Europe, Africa, Middle East, U.S. and have conducted nattuvangam workshops at Bangalore, Mysore, Dharwad, Europe and US too. Conducting nattuvangam classes at Shantala Arts Academy wherein students across the city, state and other state students are being trained regularly in the weekend classes.
Pulikeshi has Curated Shantala Festival of Dance along with his elder brother K. R. S. Prasanna as joint secretary at places like Bangalore, Kanakapura, Vijayapura, Nandi, Magadi and other places, Curated Shantala Nritya Vaibhava – a platform for young artists to present their talent, organised Dasara Cultural Mela – a nine days dasara program and many more
He served as executive committee member of Karnataka Nrityakala Parishath and also as secretary for two terms. He has served as an examiner for Secondary board exams for Junior, Senior, Pre Vidwat and Final Vidwat examiner all over Karnataka. His students have been awarded the state Sangeetha Nritya academy scholarship and also central govt. Dept. of culture CCRT scholarships.
Awards & Felicitations:
KINKINI organisation FELICITATION
SARASWATI SANGEETA VIDYALAYA FELICITATION by Smt .Shyamala G.Bhave
ARYABHATTA AWARD
SUMADHURA SAMAJARATNA AWARD
OMKARA AWARD
KALPASRI AWARD
RAVI DATAR AWARD
BHARATA AWARD
KALAYOGI AWARD
DR.C.N. ASHWATHNARAYANA FOUNDATION FELICITATION
KUCHIPUDI PARAMPARA FOUNDATION FELICITATION
NRITYA NIPUNA by KARNATAKA NRITYAKALA PARISHAT
NRITYA CHATURMUKHA
NRUTYA BHARGAVA AWARD by SOORYA PERFORMING ARTS at St, Louis, U.S.A.
KALA SANJEEVINI AWARD
SRI VAISHNAVA SEVA SAMITI FELICITATION
KANNADA KALAA RUSHI AWARD
AJANTHA VISHWA NATYA RATHNA AWARD
SRUSTHI SAMMAN AWARD
NATUVANGA NIPUNA AWARD
SRINIVASA KULAKARNI AWARD 2020
KALA SHRESHTA AWARD 2020