Bhubaneswar: Srjan’s claim to fame is it’s neat presentation. It was once again established as the five-day-long 28th edition of OMC GKCM Award Festival came to an end at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
After the customary lighting the lamp ceremony, the felicitation ceremony started.
The prestigious GKCM Award 2022 was presented to Shri Niranjan Rout and Shri Ramhari Das for their immense contribution and lifetime achievement in the fields of Odissi dance and music respectively.
The coveted award carries a purse of Rs. 1,00,000/- and a citation. This was followed by the presentation of the GKCM Yuva Prativa Samman, which focuses on reviving the all-important role of the solo artiste in the classical idiom.
The recipients were Smt. Geetanjali Acharya and Shri Matru Prasad Das for Odissi dance and Odissi music (Vocal) respectively, in recognition of their inspiring performances and commitment to their respective art.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000/- and a citation.
The cultural evening witnessed the Srjan ensemble, under the , son and disciple of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, taking the stage by storm.
They presented the Odissi dance ballet “Ravan,” choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra.
Defying the popular notion of Ravana, this Odissi production presented a novel understanding of the epic Ramayana.
The presentation witnessed a departure. Instead of an invocation to God’s or Goddesses, here the dancers offered an invocation to Ravana.
With excellent body movements, eye and facial expressions, stage management and, last but not the least, flawless entry and exit of ten dancers (Smt. Rajashri Praharaj, Ritu Sengupta, Aishwariya Singhdev, Sipra Swain, Preetisha Mohapatra, Madhabi Rout, Daina Ghose, Alisha Dhal, Sanjay Kumar Behera, and G. Sanjay), the presentation became enjoyable.
Their portraying of characters was overwhelming.
The skilful and distinctive light designing of Shri Debiprasad Mishra and the seamless sound engineering of Shri C. Anand Krishna need special mention.
Among others, Shri Sidhanta Mohapatra, Noted Cine Actor and Former Member of Parliament; Shri Ashok Kumar Tripathy, Former Member, Board of Revenue, Odisha; and Shri Balwant Singh, Managing Director, OMC attended the event as esteemed guests.
The entire five-day-long festival was curated, conceptualized, and designed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with the programme execution by Shri Debiprasad Mishra.
The emcees of the festival were Smt. Anuja Mishra and Shri Mrutyunjaya Rath.
By kalasanskruti
Photo courtesy: Srjan
