Bhubaneswar: Priyadarshini Pradhan and Harekrushna Dhal of Nritya Naivedya, a Bhubaneswar based Odissi dance institution, ticked all the boxes of a must-see performance while performing ‘Hidimba’, on the first day of 2-day-long 48th Dr Dibakar Mishra Gandharva Kala Mahotsav-2022 at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on June 27, the inaugural evening.
Though I enjoyed the evening, the presentation of Priyadarshini and Harekrushna in particular touched me, and others as well. I could say so because the connoisseurs as well as common audience sat glued to their seats throughout the presentation.
To me, the presentation was engaging not only because of the heart touching story of ‘Hidimba’ and captivating story telling but also because of the dancer duo displaying brilliant body kinetic, facial expressions and eye movements.
After escaping the death trap set by ‘Duryodhan’, ‘Kunti’ and ‘Pandavas’ took shelter in the same jungle where ‘Hidimba’, the demon princess and her brother ‘Hidimb’ lived. Since ‘Hidimb’ was a human flesh eater, he sensed that human beings were near somewhere. He asked his sister to kill one.
Obeying the order of her brother, ‘Hidimba’ went on a search and found ‘Bhima’ guarding his brothers and mother.
Instead of killing him, she fell in love with ‘Bhima’ and wished to marry him.
Though reluctant she was initially to accept ‘Hidimba’ as her daughter-in-law for she being a demon princess, ‘Kunti’, who had a great foresight, later received her. She knew their ( ‘Hidimba’ and ‘Bhima’) son would play a decisive role in the Mahabharata war, between the ‘Pandavas’ and ‘Kauravas’.
Bhima too accepted her on condition that he would leave her after she gives birth to a child. After the birth of Ghatotkach, Bhima left her and joined his brothers.
Hidimba back in the jungle brought up her son single-handedly, without any complaints that she was left to fend for herself.
Moreover, when her son Ghatotkach grew up and became a strong warrior, she sent him to fight for the ‘Pandavas’ in the Mahabharata war.
Despite her sacrifices, her was a lesser known character in the epic Mahabharata. Though she was the wife of Bhima but never enjoyed nor lived a queen’s life. Nor did she demand the rights and privileges of a queen from Bhima.
Be it shifting from one character to another, one zone to another, Priyadarshini and Harekrushna, both are disciple of Pravat Kumar Swain, were excellent.
The item was choreographed by Pravat Kumar Swain, music by Guru Sukanta Kumar Kundu, rythym by Guru Bijay Kumar Barik and script by Dr Srinivas Ghatuary.
By kalasanskruti.
