What is sabdham?

Sabdham (शब्दम्)

Sabdham, in the context of Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, refers to a dance composition that is usually performed after the Alarippu and Jatiswaram. It's characterized by the inclusion of lyrics, typically devotional in nature, praising a deity.

Key features of a Sabdham include:

• Lyrics: The most defining characteristic. These are often in praise of a particular god or goddess, narrating stories about them.
• Music: The musical setting is usually in a raga and tala suitable for expressing devotion and storytelling. Common ragas used include Kambhoji, Kalyani and Mohanam.
• Storytelling: Sabdhams utilize abhinaya (expressional dance) to convey the meaning of the lyrics, narrating events and depicting the qualities of the deity. Hand gestures (mudras) and facial expressions are key components.
• Rhythm: It contains rhythmic syllables (sollukattus) similar to Jatiswaram but less complex and punctuates the lyrical segments. The tala used could be Mishra Chapu, Khanda Chapu or Tishra Eka.
• Structure: A Sabdham generally features a Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam.

The purpose of a Sabdham is to allow the dancer to showcase their expressive abilities and connect with the audience through storytelling and devotion. It serves as a bridge between the pure dance of the earlier items and the more complex, narrative-driven pieces that follow in a Bharatanatyam recital. The complexity of movements in Sabdham is comparatively less than the movements in Varanam or Padam.