Russian troupe dances to Ilaiyaraaja’s songs Oh Butterfly and Poove Sempoove

Ballerina Nastiya captivates with ballet to Ilaiyaraaja's music, impressing the composer and cultural society in Tamil Nadu.

Flitting around like a butterfly on stage is rather routine for this ballerina, Nastiya. What was different for this member of the well-known Russian youth dance studio Orchid from the City of Rostov-on-Don was that she was not going on tip-toe with white wings attached to her shoulder for a waltz from Tchaikovsky. She was instead doing ballet movements to sync with Ilaiyaraaja’s Oh Butterfly Butterfly from the film, Meera.

Ilaiyaraaja too was in raptures watching Nastiya and others from her troupe when they visited his studios on Saturday (February 1, 2025). The dancers from Orchid followed that up with another of Ilaiyaraaja’s masterpieces Poove Sempoove from the film Sollathudikkuthu Manasu.

P. Thangappan, secretary-general of the Indo-Russian Cultural and Friendship Society, encouraged the troupe to include two songs of Ilaiyaraaja as he felt it had all the elements to suit a western dance recital.

Agreed Galena, Galena and Orsana, the choreographers of the troupe which has been touring Tamil Nadu between January 17 and February 3. “We are drawn by the richness of melody of Ilayaraaja’s compositions. Spirituality flows from his music. The two songs are suffused with sheer bliss and fantasy. We are filled with joy. As a composer, he is able to convey what he feels,” said Galena.

They presented the two songs as a theme in a Tamil film in which lovers meet, surrounded by a group of dancers. The choreographers said they would record their troupes’ dance to the two songs and present it to Mr Ilaiyaraaja.

Alexander Dedonov, the Vice-Consul and head of the Russian House in Chennai, said Tamil language was very musical.

A musician, who is part of Mr Ilaiyaraaja’s troupe, said both songs were highly imaginative and powerfully captured the feelings of low.