Bhubaneswar: One of the premier Odissi dance institution Nupur’s two-day-long festival ‘Mallahr’ started at Bhanjakala Mandap on Saturday.
Established around four decades ago by eminent Odissi dancer Guru Niranjan Rout, Nupur has been a cradle for young talents, a launcpad for young and established dancers and a torchbearer of Odissi dance.
The evening witnessed esteemed guests like Brahmagiri MLA Smt Upasana Mohapatra, Project Chhauni’s executive director Smt Subhashree Mukherjee, music director Laxmikant Palit who inaugurated the festival by lighting the auspicious lamp.
The host institution’s president Shuvendu Mohanty and its founder Guru Rout also graced the dais.
On this occasion four promising young Odissi dancers-Sukanya Routray, Ananya Jugade and Saikiran Behera- were honoured with Guru Niranjan Rout Yuva Prativa Samman.
The cultural evening got off to a fine start with a soul-stirring solo Mardal recital by young Mardal player Soumyakanta Mallick. He commenced his recital with Adital, showcasing intricacies of Mardal vadan like ‘Udyama’, ‘Chaugati Ragad’, ‘Ragad’ and ‘Chalan’, following it with Madhyalay showcasing ‘Sabdaswara Pata’ and ‘Arasa’, before concluding with a brisk Drut Laya, setting the tone for the evening.
The spotlight then shifted to Snehamanjari Hota, a disciple of Guru Rout. She presented a Sabhinaya, beginning with a Pallavi based on Raga Khamaj and concluding with an abhinaya ‘Sajani Kali Kunjare’.
With her grace, clarity of movements and expressions, she captivated the art lovers.
The following item was a duet Odissi recital by Sasmita Behera and Monalisha Das from a Bhubaneswar-based dance institution Jagruti Cultural Academy established by Guru Dushmant Kumar Swain and Guru Trilochan Sahoo.
They presented ‘Jagat Janani’, choreographed by their two gurus, music composed by Guru Himanshu Sekhar Swain and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. The recital depicted the multifaceted essence of Goddess Durga.
Next, Mrs Manashi Mishra, a disciple of Guru Rout and who is running her own dance institution ‘Soumyanjali Nrutyakala’, came onto the stage to present a solo Odissi recital.
She presented an abhinaya ‘Radharani Sange Nachanti Muralipani’, originally choreographed by Guru Pankaj Charan Das and directed by Guru Rout. With Radha and Krishna on a swing, lost in dance and joy, Mrs Mishra’s remarkable expressions left the audience enthralled.
The fifth item of the evening was a group Odissi dance by the students of Shree Vidya Dance Academy, Cuttack.
Seven well-trained dancers presented ‘Dasamahavidya’, a powerful group composition paying tribute to ten divine matrikas, set to Raga Raga Malika and Tala Tala Malika, choreographed by Guru Rout, direction by Guru Jyotiranjan Das, music by Guru Ramhari Das and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
The evening came to an end with Mrs Mishra return with her disciples for ‘Basant Bijay’. The piece narrated the scenes of Radha and Krishna dancing amidst the colours of spring, providing a fitting and vibrant closure to the evening.
The art lovers were seen sitting till the last item, applauding each presentation-a testimony to Nupur’s enduring legacy.
The anchor of the evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
