Pingala
Written by Namangalam Madhavan Namboodiri, this choreography depicts the transformative journey of Pingala, a courtesan from Mithila, as she transcends her worldly consciousness and enters a spiritual realm. The performance begins with a confident Pingala, adorning herself and awaiting her wealthy clients, relying on her enchanting beauty to attract men. However, on that particular night, no one arrives. Her arrogance gives way to anxiety and despair as she questions her fading allure. Yet, she reassures herself, believing that her beauty still captivates the onlookers as she passes by in her palanquin and that her dance brings her wealth through every drop of sweat. She remains confident that someone will come, no matter how late. But as the nights pass, no one appears.
During a period of introspection, Pingala realizes that she has shown no gratitude to the men who have come to her, ignoring them after extracting their wealth. This realization awakens her to the ephemeral nature of external beauty. In her darkest moment of grief, she hears an inner voice chanting the divine epithet of Lord Sri Rama. She pleads to Rama to save her from her suffering, just as he liberated Ahalya and Sabari from their curses. Pingala becomes an ardent devotee of Rama and embarks on a spiritual journey. Finally, she experiences the divine aura of Rama and surrenders herself at his feet, finding solace and liberation in his presence. Through this narrative, the choreography portrays Pingala’s transformation from a worldly existence to a spiritual path, emphasizing the power of devotion and the search for inner truth.
