Bhubaneswar: A decent turnout on Thursday at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar was a proof that the Chhandabibha Dance and Music Festival’s quality is improving and how eagerly art lovers were waiting for this festival.
This was the third edition of the festival, organised by Odissi Dance Creation, a premier Odissi dance and music institution of the state, founded by young and talented dancer Pankaj Kumar Pradhan.
The festival divided in two sessions-afternoon and evening-was indeed a treat to both trained and untrained eyes.
After the afternoon session that witnessed some scintillating solo, duet and group Odissi and folk dance performances by the junior and senior students of the host institution, the evening session offered a bouquet of brilliant choreographies to its audience.
The evening had eminent guests like Prasanna Kumar Swain, VC of Utkal University of Culture and VC in-charge of Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri; Padma Shri recipient Guru Aruna Mohanty, renowned Mardala exponent Guru Dhaneswar Swain and eminent Odissi dancer Guru Dr Snehaprava Samantray who inaugurated the evening by lighting the auspicious lamp.
In the next segment, eminent Odissi dancer Guru Smt Sharmila Biswas, renowned Odissi vocalist and musicologist Guru Ramhari Das and Mardala exponent Guru Dr Jagannath Kuanr were awarded with Chhandabibha Samman 2025.
The eagerly-awaited cultural evening got off to a fine start with Guru Smt Sharmila Biswas presenting a solo recital ‘Evoking Radha’.With ‘Sakhi He Keshi Mathanamudaram’, the dancer succeed in creating a fantasy world where Radha, a common woman, longs for a companionship with Krishna.
In this piece loaded with Shrungaar rasa, conceptualized by Rituparno Ghosh and Smt Sharmila Biswas, choreographed by Smt Biswas and music composed and vocal by Srijan Chatterjee, the dancer dived into the sanchari bhava to come out with such a pearl for the art connoisseurs in Bhubaneswar. The audience, including this reviewer, remained in trance for some time even after the programme.
The following item was a duet Odissi recital by Diksha Routray and Smita Moharana, two leading dancers of Biswanath Sangeetalaya, Cuttack.They presented ‘Suryastakam’. Through their dance, they with their powerful dancing skills narrated different aspects of Lord Sun.
The item was choreograped by Padma Shri recipient Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, directed by Guru Smt Dipti Routray, music composed by Guru Ramhari Das, rhythm composed by Guru Niranjan Patra.
Next was a group Odissi presentation by the artistes of Soormandir, Cuttack. They commenced their presentation with ‘Ganesham’, narrating different episodes like how He lost his head and got back an elephant head. The level of kinetic energy of the dancers including Sonali Das, Sambhabi Mohapatra, Lipsa Mohapatra, Kajal Panigrahi, Shreya Swain, Mayur Krishna Sahoo, Jyotirmayee Tripathi, Sai Snigdha Routray, Saswati Sahoo and Chinmay Kumar Das, left the audience mesmerized.
The item was based on Raga Raga Malika and Tala Kaharwa, dance composed by Guru Dr Jyotsna Sahoo, music composed by Agnimitra Behera, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and lyrics by Shankaran Nambeesan.They followed it up by another power packed performance ‘Barshanuraga’.The dancers beautifully narrated what happens when raindrops fall on the ground.With it, it brings lovers closer and at the same time the pangs of separation. It also brings an opportunity to enjoy the fragrance of the soil and see peacocks dancing. The item was based on Raga Raga Malika and Tala Tala Malika, choreographed by Guru Dr Jyotsna Sahoo, music composed by Agnimitra Behera and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
The evening’s concluding item was a new choreography of the host institution Odissi Dance Creation titled ‘Nari’.
The institution’s dancers like Subhadra Das, Anusuya Pradhan, Laxmipriya Jena, Laxmipriya Sahoo, Kalyani Mohanty, Mamata Bariha, Punyatoya Behuria, Budhiram Bal, Biswajit Mohapatra, Basant Nanda, Dhiren Baral, Deepak Nandi, Satya Suryanshu and Soham Kumar narrated the episodes associated with Tapoi, Savitri and Yoshada to show how a woman plays three vital roles in her life.In Tapoi, Savitri and Yoshada, the roles of a sister, wife and mother were enacted on the stage by the dancers.
The seamless entry and exit, synchronisation, dancers’ abhinaya skills with amazing facial expressions made the item enjoyable. They had the audience in their thrall during the entire presentation.
Last but not the least, the use of a LED wall at the back of the stage enhanced the viewing experience of the audience.
The item was based on Raga Raga Malika and Tala Tala Malika, choreographed by Pankaj Pradhan, music composed by Matruprasad Das, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Sarat Pani and lyrics by late Guru Naba Kishore Mishra.
The production should visit different festivals in and outside the state and the nation as well.
Er (Dr) Srinivas Ghatuary was the anchor of the evening.
