Namah Shivaya from danseuse Sandhya Raju's Telugu debut Natyam is an empowering ode to the Lord of dance

Telugu cinema has a history that spans nearly nine decades but we still can't look past filmmakers like K Viswanath, Jandhyala or Singeetham Srinivasa Rao if we were to discuss films based entirely on classical dance forms. Popular Kuchipudi danseuse, a disciple of the legendary Vempati China Satyam, plans to set that record straight with her Telugu debut (and home production) Natyam. Natyam, featuring Sandhya Raju in the lead, charts the journey of a classical dancer in the modern age and is written, edited, cinematographed and edited by Revanth Korukunda. 

The first single from Natyam, Namah Shivaya, was launched by actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna today. Shot at the Lepakshi temple (in Anantapur district) in Andhra Pradesh, the song Namah Shivaya is a verse borrowed from sage Adi Shankaracharya's Ardhanareeswara stotram, written in praise of Lord Shiva. The exquisitely choreographed dance piece in Natyam, set to tune by Malli Raava composer Shravan Bharadwaj, has Sandhya Raju and Kamal Kamaraju coming together to offer their tribute to the Lord of dance at the ancient temple. 

The orchestration in the number deserves special praise, particularly with the use of percussion instruments to uplift the intensity and the emotions inherent in the lyrics. Sandhya Raju and her co-star are a picture of confidence and composure with their dance moves. The aesthetically picturised number was nothing short of a challenge for team Natyam, which they claim was the 'hardest part' of the film shoot. Shot over six days under the scorching sun with over 100 artists, Namah Shivaya was a test of energy, patience and grit for the lead actors and the other dancers. 

Rohit Behal is seen briefly through the number too, as a spectator enchanted by Sandhya Raja's dancing prowess. Though Namah Shivaya predominantly features the female voice Lalitha Kaavya, it's her male counterpart Kaala Bhairava who steals the show, handling the various crests and troughs through the composition effortlessly. The film also stars Rohit Behal, Aditya Menon, Subhaleka Sudhakar, Bhanupriya and Baby Deevana and will hit theatres across the Telugu states shortly.