Bhubaneswar: Over the last 25 years, what started as a one‐day celebration of the classical Arts is nowconsidered one of the finest classical dance and music festivals in India’s cultural calendar.
The OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival has always been organised withone specific aim—to create and sustain awareness of our classical traditions in dance andmusic. Last year, Srjan celebrated 25 years of the festival, a milestone in their journey ofArt. Srjan, as a premier cultural institution of the nation, recognizes the need to sustaincreative energy and artistic endeavour while fulfilling its social responsibility to the publicand the members of the Art fraternity.
In line with this, Srjan is organizing the 26th OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival from September 5th to 9th, 2020 on adigital platform, premiered on Facebook Live and YouTube, owing to the exigencies of theongoing pandemic. The event will be Inaugurated by the eminent cine actress Smt. HemaMalini and attended virtually by several dignitaries, influential citizens, and luminariesfrom the world of Art. The Award Festival will be conducted with strict adherence to all thegovernment mandated COVID‐19 safety guidelines, while maintaining the required socialdistancing norms.
The aim of instituting and presenting the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award, whichcarries a respectable allocation of Rs. 1,00,000/‐ and a citation, is to confer recognitionupon individuals for their outstanding contribution to the fields of Dance, Music, Cinema,and Theatre. Over 25 years, Srjan has presented 60 such awards to luminaries from thesefields. Additionally, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman, with a cashprize of Rs. 25,000/‐ and a citation is presented to exceptionally talented performingartistes under the age of 40 years in the field of classical dance and Odissi music toacknowledge their outstanding performances.
The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2020 will be presented to Shri Raj Gopal Mishra,veteran cinematographer for his invaluable contribution and lifetime achievements to theworld of Odia Cinema. The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman will bepresented to Shri Pravat Kumar Swain for Odissi dance and to Shri Himansu Sekhar Swainfor Odissi music acknowledging their dedication to their art forms. The Awards will begiven by His Excellency Prof.Ganeshi Lal, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha.Srjan has dedicated this year’s festival in memory of the late Sangeet Martand PanditJasraj, whose shared a special and close association with Guruji for many decades.
Thefestival has been designed with an eye on the most suitable combination of artistes andgenre, with presentations by world renowned artistes. The dance presentations includeOdissi by Smt. Madhusmita Mohanty, Bharatanatyam by Shri Praveen Kumar, Kathak bySmt. Gauri Diwakar, and Vilasini Natyam by Smt. Purvadhanashree.
The inaugural eveningwill feature eminent Hindustani musician, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Guru DhaneswarSwain, distinguished Mardala guru and performer, and Shri Abhishek Raghuram, acclaimed Carnatic vocalist will perform on the second and third evenings respectively, while ShriTarun Bhattacharya, the renowned Santoor player, will perform on the fourth evening. The concluding evening will feature the prestigious Award ceremony, followed by themuch‐awaited finale by the Srjan ensemble.
This year, Srjan will present Anweshanaa—Abouquet of neo‐classical choreographs in Odissi dance, conceptualized and choreographedby Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. Beginning with an invocation to Lord Rama, Antara Rama,Anweshanaa the explores the intricacies of neo‐classical Odissi compositions with dancessuch as Tarana, and Rase Harim Eha. These presentations are followed by an obeisance toLord Rama, with Sant Tulsidas’ bhajan, Shri Ramachandra Krupalu Bhajamana andconclude with the premiere of Chandrachooda Shiva Shankara, in veneration to Lord Shiva.
The entire festival has been curated and designed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with theprogramme execution by Shri Debiprasad Mishra. The festival is supported by the titlesponsor Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC), gold sponsor, Odisha Tourism,Government of Odisha, and festival sponsors, Ministry of Culture, Government of India,Dept. of Odia Literature Language and Culture, Govt of Odisha, and the MGM Group,Bhubaneswar. The media partners are Dharitri and Orissa Post, and web partner is Narthaki.com.
By kalasanskruti
