Bhubaneswar: The five-day-long 28th OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival organised by Srjan, a premier cultural institution of the nation, was inaugurated at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
After the customary lighting the lamp ceremony, Director of Srjan Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra delivered the welcome address. It was followed by speeches by eminent dignitaries Shri Prabodh Rath, Eminent Theatre Personality and Secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi; Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Director, MGM Minerals; Prof (Dr.) BR Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sri Sri University, Cuttack; Shri Ashwini Kumar Patra, Minister of State, Tourism, Odia Literature Language and Culture, Excise; and Shri Madhu Sudan Padhi, Addl. Chief Secretary, Odia Literature Language and Culture.
This year, the usual format of the festival has slightly been changed keeping the suitable combination of artistes and genre in view.
The inaugural, third, and concluding evening of the festival feature only one mega performance, while the remaining two days maintain the traditional format of a classical music recital followed by a classical dance presentation.
The auditorium was packed with art connoisseurs, waiting for the famed flutist Pandit Ronu Majumder to enthrall them.
As the screen was lifted, Pandit Majumdar, rising Tabla artiste Ishaan Ghosh and renowned percussionist Ustad Taufiq Qureshi transported the audience to a different world.
Firmly rooted in the Maihar gharana, Pandit Majumdar is known for constantly expanding the horizons of his music oeuvre. He had recently conducted “Venu Naad,” a concert of 5,378 flautists on one stage for the Guinness World Records.
Similarly, ace percussionist Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, the son and disciple of Tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha, is famous for his distinct technique of playing the African instrument Djembe.
The young but exceptionally talented Ishaan Ghosh’s performance on the Tabla was mesmerizing. He is out to materialize the vision of his father Pandit Nayan Ghosh.
The cadence and harmony of their notes mesmerized the audience, as they presented “Synthesis: A Classical Medley,” beginning with Raga Jai Jaiwanti. This track was followed by a confluence of Ragas and Talas. The evening concluded on a high, with the evocative notes of the Flute, and the rhythmic intricacies of the Djembe and Tabla, as the artistes delved into their musical repertoires, delighting the viewers.
The second evening of the festival on September 6th will witnessan Odissi Vocal recital by Sushree Sristi Swarupa Mishra, accompanied by Guru Dhaneswar Swain on the Mardala and Guru Ramesh Chandra Das on the Violin.
The concluding item of the evening will be a Bharatanatyam group performance by renowned exponent Vidushi Geeta Chandran and her ensemble, the Natya Vriksha Dance Collective.
The artistes were aided by the skilful and distinctive light designing of Shri Debiprasad Mishra and the seamless sound engineering of Shri C. Anand Krishna.
Online viewers can find the live stream on Srjan’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The event is being attended both physically and virtually by several dignitaries, influential citizens, luminaries from the world of Art, and audiences from across India and abroad.
The entire festival has been curated, conceptualized, and designed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with the programme execution by Shri Debiprasad Mishra.
Shri Mrutyunjaya Rath and Smt. Anuja Mishra ably conducted the proceedings of the evening.
This year, the festival has been dedicated to legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj.
Notably, the past two editions were held on digital platforms due to the prevailing pandemic situation.
By kalasanskruti
Photo courtesy: Srjan
