Abstract
PadavarNa is considered to be the highlight of the repertoire of the South Indian Classical dance form BharatanaaTyam. In the contemporary period, the presentation technique seems to be inadequate, monotonous and somewhere deficient of the necessary aesthetic equipment. The present research paper aims to probe into the essential characteristics in pada varNa which have been transmitted through oral tradition through Guru-Shishya parampara from the Sadir technique of the Maratta period to todays BharatanaaTyam. The researcher through this paper aspires to probe into the history, structure and its aesthetics especially as presented in the contemporary period in the solo form. This research work is sprung out as a result of the researchers introspective process. This research would specially benefit the dancers and the dance teachers to take up choreographing padavarNa from an aesthetic angle as it mirrors the guNaas (qualities) and the doshaas (blemishes). The present research paper, puts the structure to the test on the basis of these aesthetic scientific principles and approaches the subject in a pure analytical method. It also applies the practical method to the structure to measure for its aesthetics as the researcher has also experimented with change in formatting the presentation based on the theme. This research has also observed and recorded the changes attempted by other artistes.
