Bhubaneswar: The second evening of the 23rd edition of the Ekamra Nrutya Mahotsav, a prestigious four-day classical dance festival organized by Suravi, unfolded in a vibrant celebration of Odissi and Kathak at the Utkal Rangamanch, Bhubaneswar. With the stage set and the ambience steeped in classical elegance, the audience was treated to four captivating solo performances that kept them glued to their seats.
The evening commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp by renowned Odissi dancer Suhag Nalini Das and Anuja Tarini Das, administrative officer of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Research Centre, marking an auspicious start to the proceedings.
Opening the stage was Smt. Arpita Pani, a distinguished Odissi dancer and disciple of Guru Dr. Pitambar Biswal, under whose aegis the Mahotsav is organized. A scholarship holder from the Ministry of Culture and CCRT and a graded artiste of Doordarshan, Arpita has won many accolades including Odissi Jyoti Award, National Nrutya Bhusan Award, Prativa Samman and Ekamra Samman, to name a few and performed at many prestigious festivals including Konark Festival (Odisha), Puri Beach Festival (Odisha), Rangoli Bihu Festival (Assam), Chakradhar Samaroh (Chhattisgarh), Taj Mahotsav (Uttar Pradesh).
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Arpita lived up to her reputation, setting the tone with her emotive abhinaya “Chhadi dia manu chinta”, set to Raga Desh and Tala Rupak. She followed it up with “Suryastakam”, a spiritually uplifting piece choreographed by Padma Shri Guru Durga Charan Ranbir. Arpita’s sculpted movements, expressive face, and rhythmic precision brought the compositions to life. She was ably supported by a talented orchestra comprising Satyabrata Katha (vocals), Guru Niranjan Patra (Mardala), Guru Dr. Pitambar Biswal (Manjira), Soumya Ranjan Joshi (Flute), and Prakash Chandra Mohapatra (Sitar).
Next in line was an electrifying Kathak recital by Dr. V Anuradha Singh, an internationally acclaimed dancer from Bhopal. A gold medalist and an empanelled artist in the ‘Outstanding Category’ of the Ministry of Culture, Anuradha stormed the stage with her powerful “Shiv Vandana”, set in Usuul Fakta Taal. She dazzled the crowd with a breathtaking 45-spin climax, a feat that drew gasps of awe.
Worth mentioning, she is famous for her unique high energetic devotional Kathak dance with magnetic expression, spins in 140 / minute Speed, excellent Ghunghroo foot work and energetic devotional compositions.
Her energetic footwork, precision spins, and expressive storytelling were on full display as she presented five rhythmic Jugalbandis and a Tarana in Raga Hamsadhwani, weaving in the love story of Radha-Krishna and Kalia Mardan. She signed off with “Mori Chunariya Rang De”, leaving the audience spellbound.
Worth mentioning, she made her debut at young age in distinguished stage during ‘Festival of India’ in USSR organized by Govt. of India in Moscow, Russia.
The third performer, Sripunya Mohanty, a disciple of Padma Shri Guru Aruna Mohanty, took the stage with “Biswa Prakasha”, a dance based on the mystic poetry of Bhima Bhoi. With choreography by her guru and a concept by Kedar Mishra, Sripunya captivated the audience with her graceful storytelling and emotive prowess. Her performance lit a spark of devotion in the hall, all while under the watchful eyes of her mentor seated in the crowd.
Musical support came from Guru Bijaya Kumar Barik (Mardala), Matruprasad Dash (Vocals), Agnimitra Behera (Violin), and Srinibash Satpathy (Flute).
Wrapping up the evening was the promising Odissi dancer Soumya Bose, a disciple of Guru Sujata Mohapatra. Armed with an M.Phil in dance and numerous accolades to his name, Soumya began with a Hamsadhwani Pallavi choreographed by Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and composed by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra.
He concluded with the devotional “Aahe Neela Saila”, bringing to life the spiritual fervor of Raga Aravi and Tala Jati. With clean lines and heartfelt expressions, Soumya’s performance bridged the gap between tradition and the contemporary stage, making complex narratives accessible and resonant.
The emcee of the second evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
As the curtains drew on the second day, the audience departed with hearts full of rhythm and souls soaked in the timeless grace of Indian classical dance.
