Session 45- Chatushran, Tisram and Misram

 It was said in Session 42 that “Thaati-means to tap, metti- means to hit the floor with the heel while being rooted on the toes “. While the right feet  does the tattu and meetu, the left feet just does the mettu.(No Tapping involved here)

Common Features of the Thattumettu Adavu:-

While the Sollukattu for each of the Pancahanadai varies, the following are common to all of them

Sthanam: Araimandi. A few styles do with both feet in  Parshvagam(feet turned sideways and toes facing the sides, other styles have the right feet in samam,facing straight and the left in parshvagam)

Hastas: Right hand in Tamarachuda  held near the chin, left hand placed on the waist or hung out in a dola. Some styles also hold the hands above the head (suchi in one hand grasped with all the fingers in the other)

Foot Work:  involves the tapping (Thattu), Mettu (which is referred to as Udhgatitham in Natya Sahtra) and agratala sancharam(to strike the floor with the toes while the heels remain lifted)

Now lets us look at the first 3 Panchandais

Step 1

Chatushram: Ta- Ka- Dhi-Mi (4 beats).. Play audio

Beat/Foot work	Ta	ka	dhi	mi
Right Feet	Tap	Mettu (lift heel and then strike floor by bringing it down)	-	-
Left Feet	-	-	Mettu(strike the floor with toes while keeping the heels lifted)	Mettu (Bring the heel down and strike the floor)

Step2

Tisram : Ta- Ki- ta (3 beats)  Play audio

Beat/Foot work	Ta	Ki	Ta
Right Feet	Tap	-	-
Left Feet	-	Mettu(strike the floor with toes while keeping the heels lifted)	Mettu (Bring the heel down and strike the floor)

Step3

Misram: Ta- Ka- Dhi-Mi- Ta- Ki- ta (7beats) Play Audio

Successively perform the step 1 and 2 repeatedly