Bangalore: Nrutyadhara Samman 2024, organised by Nrutyadhara Foundation in collaboration Deepika School, was held at the auditorium of the Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi, Bangalore on November 24.
Nrutyadhara Foundation, established by Guru Smt Prajna Mishra, a graded artist of Doordarshan and a Nrutya Visharad in Odissi, is one of the premier Odissi dance institutions in Bangalore.
This year, the prestigious award Nrutyadhara Samman was presented to Santhosh Rao, a senior journalist.Rao has contributed to both Kannada and Telugu newspapers, and presently, he is associated with Sakshi (Telugu) and Kolar Patrike (Kannada). In addition to his journalistic endeavors, he is a prolific author, having penned six Kannada and two Telugu books. Beyond his professional pursuits, Rao actively engages in social service. Through collaborative efforts with KMYF, he has played a crucial role in providing over 300 artificial legs to physically challenged individuals. Recognizing his notable contributions, he has been honoured with the Sri Krishadevaraya Award by Kannada Sanghas in Hyderabad.
The guests who attended the felicitation ceremony were Smt Rajeshree Holla, Smt Divya Shivanarayan, and Smt Sita Krishnamurthy.
The festival witnessed some scintillating performances by the artistes of Nrutyadhara Foundation and some guest artistes.
The first performance for the day was an invocation piece called Shri Hari Stotram that is sung in praise of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. The dancers of the host institution were able to cast a magical spell on the audience from their first presentation itself. The item was choreographed by Smt Prajna Mishra, the founder of Nrutyadhara Foundation.The second item of the day was Basant Pallavi, presented by the students of Nrutyadhara Foundation in Electronic City. Basanta Pallavi is a classical dance piece that captures the essence of spring, celebrating the beauty of nature and new beginnings through expressive movements and intricate rhythms.The dancers synchronisation and space management made the presentation enjoyable.
The next performance was a Kuchipudi performance by the students of Laasya Lahari Samskruthika Kala Samsthe. The item was directed by Smt Rajeshree Holla, a Kuchipudi exponent, who has had the rare opportunity of undergoing training under a galaxy of eminent Gurus – Vedantham Ramalinga Shastry of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh (A.P.), Vedantham Parthasarathi Vijayawada, Guru Smt. Dharani Kashyap Bangalore and Guru Smt. Veena Murthy Vijay, Bangalore.The fourth item was Ananda Tandavam. It is believed that when Lord Shiva is in a mood of happiness, He performs Ananda Tandavam. It means the bliss and symbolises utter joy and ecstacy. The dancing diety Nataraja is depicted with four hands, one holding drum, other the fire, the right hand showing the Abhaya Hastha and the left hand in Danda Hastha showing boons. His left leg is held aloft in Kunchita pada and the right leg rests on Apasmara, the demon. It is supposed to have been performed by Lord shiva after He killed Tripurasura and finished performing the Tripura Tandava, when Goddess Uma performed the lasya dance to calm Him down. Her dance pleased Him so greatly that His happiness was expressed in the form of Ananada Tandavam. It was choreographed by Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Sathyam.
The following item was a semi-classical dance drama Hanuman Chalisa, performed by the students and teachers of Deepika School. They performed to a thunderous applause.
The next item was an abhinaya ‘Aigiri Nandini’ based on Mahisasura Mardini Stotram According to the Devi Mahatmya, in the legend called the Mahishasura Vadha, furious about the asuras under Mahishasura expelling the devas and overrunning Svarga, the Trimurti of the deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva combined their energies, which assumed the form of a goddess called Durga. Armed with the weapons and attributes of the deities, Durga slew the shape-shifting Mahishashura, who assumed the forms of a lion, elephant,buffalo, and finally a man. Aigiri Nandini Stotram was composed by Adi Shankaracharya and choreographed by Guru Smt Prajna Mishra.
Thereafter, the students of the host institution presented Batu Nrutya. Batu Nritya is a pure dance offering in honour of Lord Batuka Bhairava, one of the 64 aspects of Lord Shiva. This dance item is filled with graceful poses, depicting actions like playing the drum, veena, flute, and cymbals. Janani and Krithik presented an item showcasing the amalgamation of the old and new – classical dance and tap dance. The art lovers appreciated the performers’ best efforts.
The next item was a solo Bharatnatyam recital by Srujana of Diksoochi Cultural Trust. She presentated ‘Krishnan Kalaya Sakhi Sundaram’, a popular Tarangam from the Narayana Teertha’s Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini, a classical Sanskrit opera that celebrates the life and exploits describing Krishna’s life. This particular Tarangam usually portrays the joyful and playful aspects of Krishna’s personality.The most iconic element is the dancer’s balancing act on a brass plate by placing shakatavadhana pada and a pot on the head while executing complex rhythmic patterns. This represents the dancer’s control, grace, and precision.The dancer brought out the playful and charming nature of Krishna through expressive storytelling, depicting playful interactions with the Gopis (milkmaids).The following item was ‘Ramachandraya’, featuring lively rhythms and melodious tunes that celebrate Lord Rama’s virtues, making it a perfect backdrop for a dynamic dance performance that embodies devotion and heroism from the Ramayana.
Then the students of the host institution presented Saveri Pallavi. The following presentation was ‘Sthayee’, a pure dance Nritta. This is rhythm-based and exhibits difficult body movements in a graceful manner. This has two components – Angika and Aharya. The brief, single-syllable Vanis are the only recitation, and the footwork follows the vani on the rhythm provided by the Mardala. This dance was redirected by Smt. Chirasmita and Sushri Shilavadra.
Then the students presented ‘Ganesha Pancharatnam’, a revered Sanskrit composition dedicated to Lord Ganesha, crafted by the philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya. The term ‘Pancharatnam’ translates to ‘five gems,’ referring to the five verses of the composition, each extolling Ganesha’s virtues, power, and benevolence. Reciting this sacred text is believed to invoke Ganesha’s blessings for wisdom, success, and the removal of obstacles. It is particularly popular among devotees seeking spiritual guidance and prosperity. The lyrical beauty and philosophical depth of the verses make it a significant part of Hindu devotional literature.
The next item was an instrumental piece of ‘Dil hai chhota sa.’The evening came to an end with a group Sambalpuri dance. This folk dance form mainly originated from the Sambalpur District, Odisha. The singing and performance aspect of this dance form includes a touch of both tribal and rural cultures.This dance was choreographed by Smt Chirasmita Das, an in house teacher.
Besides the main branch of Nrutyadhara Foundation, it’s two other branches, Nrutyadhara – electronic City lead by Smt. Sabisha Prasanth and Nrutyadhara – Begur Road lead by Smt. Chirasmita Das, also participated in the Annual day event.
The brain behind the festival is Guru Smt Prajna Mishra, a graded artiste of Doordarshan and a Nrutya Visharad in Odissi, Vidushi Guru Smt Prajna Paramita Mishra embarked on her classical dance journey at the age of 11 under the guidance of Guru Shri Subash Chandra Swain in Dhenkanal. Driven by passion and deep love for Odissi, she commenced imparting training in this traditional dance form to students in South Bangalore in 2010, aiming to foster awareness and appreciation among children. She and her students have graced numerous prestigious festivals with their performances.
Praised by both experts and critics, she stands out for her exceptional abhinaya skills. As a teacher, Smt. Prajna Mishra has gained widespread recognition for her commitment to her students. Her unique ability to nurture young dancers while maintaining high standards of discipline and artistry has made her a revered mentor. With a strong grounding in both the technical and aesthetic aspects of Odissi, Smt. Mishra has become a symbol of artistic excellence and cultural preservation. She is a recipient of many prestigious awards like Nritya Upasak from Dhamar Dance Institute, Indian Icon Award from Chiguru Cultural Trust, KalaSaraswati Puraskar from Natyasaraswati Academy, Nrutaan Samman from Nrutaan School of Odissi, Best Rhythmite Maestro from Rhythm Research Centre and many more.
Similarly, Deepika school for children with special needs focuses on the holistic development of every student. With an inclusive and compassionate ethos at their core, they support and celebrate each child for who they are, adapting to their learning styles and needs. Emphasis is given to art forms like dance, music, drama, visual art and play along with sports and Yoga.
