Bhubaneswar: The Rabindra Mandap auditorium here was reverberated with the rhythmic pulse of Odissi and Kuchipudi as the 19th edition of Guru Debaprasad Award Festival 2025, themed “The Festival of Indo-Japan-Malaysia Friendship,” was inaugurated on Friday.
Organised by Tridhara, one of India’s leading Odissi dance institutions, the festival celebrates the legacy of the late Guru Debaprasad Das.The evening witnessed scintillating Odissi and Kuchipudi performances, presentation of Guru Debaprasad Lifetime Achievement and release of a book, written by Guru Dr Gajendra Kumar Panda, director of Tridhara.
The evening opened with a captivating group Odissi dance recital by seven dancers of Tridhara’s Japan chapter. Led by Chisato Miura, the dancers (Michsko Natsume, Saki Aoyama, Yoko Kaida, Mami Hanaki, Yuri Iijima and Kaori Mori) presented Durga Tandava set to Raga-Tripata, Tall-Ektali, music composed by Pandit Laxmikanta Palit, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and dance choreographed by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda.It was a pleasant surprise to watch Japanese dancers perform the dance with grace and confidence.
Adding colour to the evening, eminent Kuchipudi dancer Riko Kojima from Japan came next. She presented ‘Krishna Shabdam’ based on Taal-Aditala and Rag-Mohana, choreographed by Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam.Riko Kojima was flawless throughout the presentation, showcasing her mastery over the idiom of the art form.
Before the presentation of Tridhara’s new production ‘Mahavir Hanuman’, the evening witnessed the presentation of Guru Debaprasad Lifetime Achievement Award 2025.
The guests including Minister of Law, Works, Excise Government of Odisha, Prithviraj Harichandan; president of Odisha Olympics Association and BJP’s former state president, Samir Mohanty; state president, BJP OBC Morcha Surath Biswal; Indian Police Service Officer and Director General of Civil Defense P. M. Nayar; former CEO, Prasar Bharati, Suresh Chandra Panda and secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Chandrasekhar Hota inaugurated the evening by lighting the auspicious lamp. Tridhara’s working president Simanchala Panda and director Guru Dr Gajendra Kumar Panda were also present on the dais.
The prestigious Guru Debaprasad Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 conferred upon Guru Laxmidhar Raula (Rama Leela), Pandit Laxmikant Palit (Odissi Music), Guru Dhaneswar Swain (Odissi Mardala) and Shri V. V. Ramani (Art Criticism) for their lifetime contribution in the field of dance and music.
Next, the dignitaries released a book titled ‘Sakhi Nata Ru Odissi’, authored by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda and published by Ketaki Books.
Then came the highlight of the evening-Tridhara’s new production ‘Mahavir Hanuman’ featuring 35 artistes, composed and directed by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda, music composed by Pandit Laxmikanta Palit, Rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Script prepared by Pandit Nityananda Mishra.
Starting from the birth of Lord Hanuman to his role in Lord Ram killing demon king Ravan and bringing back Sita to Ayodhya were beautifully portrayed, leaving the art lovers glued to their seats till the end of the one-hour-long production. Guru Gajendra Kumar Panda’s choreographic brilliance was evident all throughout the production with every aspect of the well-known episodes taken from the Ramayan taken care of.
The theme of the production being Lord Hanuman, the colour of the costume of all dancers was kept orange and the costumes of Lord Ram, Laxman and Sita were devoid of the traditional Odissi ornaments to suggest the aesthetics of the exile period. Those apart, the exit and entry of the dancers, their synchronization and portraying of the characters were excellent.
The light design by Bikash Pradhan needs special mention. To sum it up, the production won appreciation from the audience present in the auditorium and this reviewer believes it should visit other national-level festivals.
The objective of organising this award festival is to confer the awards to the legendary Gurus and artistes in the field of art, dance and music and promote Guru Debaprasad Das style of Odissi dance that also incorporates the essence of tribal and folk traditions.
The anchor of the evening was Punya Darshan Sahoo.
