Kuthoohalam/Kuthuhalam - Curiosity as a means to achieve freedom.

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Today we will explore another Important Item of Bharatanatyam - Tillana.
Tillana means FREEDOM – It represents the flight of the Hamsa-Swan.

Tillana is about the journey of the spirit and the spiritual evolution.
Tillana mostly uses a Ragam  called as Kuthoohalam/Kuthuhalam.
Curiosity (Kuthuhalam) is a means to achieve Freedom.
The  flight of Hamsa is developed as a metaphor for liberation of the soul.
Just as birds defy gravity and fly off to freedom, we too need to defy our egos to achieve liberation.
Tillana is about Joy of flight and freedom.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull explains the concept of freedom to achieve liberation much better than Indian Hamsa.
Based on the story written by Richard Bach.


There was a seagull by name Jonathan who unlike the rest of the flock was not interested in the day-to-day squabbles over food and sex, instead he spent his time experimenting with FLIGHT.
The higher he flies, the rest of the flock disapprove his behavior. According to the rest of the flock – one should be content with food and sex.

Bored by the day-to-day squabbles over food and sex - frustrated with the meaningless materialism and limitations, Jonathan believed that there was a higher purpose to life than eating, sex and fighting. Seized with a passion for flight he soars into the skies, experimenting with all kinds of flight.

Eventually Jonathan's failure to adhere to the monotonous and limited tradition of a materialistic life leads to conflict with his flock and he is cast out of the gull society, just like how I was cast out of the materialistic group.

Jonathan was depressed not because he was cast out of the group, but because nobody believed him when he said that with different kinds of innovative flights and dive into the water they could catch more fish without  fighting with each other.




Jonathan also learnt that the spirit cannot be truly free without the ability to forgive.
He came back to teach how to fly fast and dive into the water with high speed to the rest of the flock so that they can catch more fish in less time and not fight with each other for titles and positions.

I also understand that the supreme virtues of life is love and forgiveness.

When you go to the seaside you see gulls always squabbling over a single French fry or a bread crust, JUST THINK, 'How they squabble over nothing!'
Have you seen people fighting like the gulls in Jonathan's flock : if they only got out of their narrow mindsets they would realize what riches awaited them.

CURIOSITY is the only attribute which helped Jonathan to fly high.

CURIOSITY is the only thing that will help lead you to FREEDOM.
Curiosity to explore a life and its purpose is what will help you become SPIRITUAL.







Kuthoohalam/Kuthuhalam is a Sanskrit word meaning excitement; curiosity.

Kuthoohalam can lead you to FREEDOM.

The truth that the soul is an unlimited idea of freedom not bound by anything.
Above all freedom to be what you want breaking free from the limitations of the body and mind.
Tillana is performed using a Ragam called Kadanakuthoohalam/Kadanakuthuhalam and is an important item of Bharatanatyam University Syllabus.
Kadanakuthoohalam/Kadanakuthuhalam means CURIOSITY.

It is curiosity to explore different kinds of Flights which can help  you move from Mundane Materialistic Life and SOAR HIGH.

Song : Na Dhir Dhir.

Language : Telugu.

Ragam : Kadanakuthoohalam//Kadanakuthuhalam.

Composed by : Dr. Balamuralikrishna.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Balamuralikrishna

This song is about CURIOSITY in LOVE.
Tillana usually uses Talam and Ragam towards the starting of the song (Pallavi and Anupallavai),
So you will hear the lyrics of the song only in the end – Charanam.
 
This item requires a lot of SPACE.
SPACE = FREEDOM.
I have managed to perform in small space.





Original song as composed by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.
Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna popularised Tillana.
Dance and Music is spirituality.





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