Bhubaneswar: The 5th edition of Saptaranga, an evening of classical dance, organised by Mrudugunjan, was held at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar on March 31.
This reviewer, in his 30-year-long journalism career, has seen many Odissi dance and music institutions seeing the light of the day, and picking up the steam. Mrudugunjan is one of them.
Established in 2016, Mrudugunjan is the brainchild of one of the talented Odissi dancers of the present time, Rajashree Mohapatra.
Rajashree was mere five years old when she first tied ankle bells to her ankles and started learning Odissi dance. Her first guru was Guru Ranjan Kumar Sharma. Later, an opportunity came on her way to learn from eminent Odissi dancer Guru Sujata Mohapatra. To hone her dancing skills, she took admission in Guru Niranjan Rout’s Nupur institution.
After her graduation from Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, she completed her post-graduation and M.Phil from Utkal University of Culture. During her study period, she got opportunities to learn directly from Guru Nabakishore Mishra, Dr Snehaprava Samantray, Dr Manoranjan Pradhan and Guru Lingaraj Pradhan.
Apart from receiving national scholarship, Rajashree has performed at various prestigious festivals in India and abroad and received many awards and accolades including Sasneha Samman, Rajiv Samman and Sabuja Samman.
With an aim to promote Odissi dance all over the world, she set up an institution named Mrudugunjan in the year 2016. Thanks to her dedication, the institution has emerged as one of the reputed institutions of the state with its own repertory. Her students have performed at various festivals.
Her institution’s annual festival Saptaranga has been an attraction for the art lovers in the capital city.
This year’s festival was divided in three sessions-morning, afternoon and evening. Ekamra MLA Babu Singh graced the programme as chief guest and felicitated the artistes performed in the first two sessions.
Similarly, the evening session was inaugurated by three eminent Odissi dancers like Dr Snehaprava Samantray, Smt Minakshi Behera and Smt Chapala Mishra.
After the customary lighting the lamp ceremony, began the felicitation ceremony. Chaiti Ghoda nacha performer Padma Shri recipient Utsav Charan Das, eminent Odissi dancer Guru Manoranjan Pradhan, noted theatre personality Lala Biren Ray, Odissi vocalist Guru Nimakanta Routray and Mardala exponent Guru Bijay Kumar Barik were felicitated with Mrudugunjan Samman.
The cultural evening took off to a fine start with eminent dancer Rajashree Praharaj presenting a scintillating performance. She presented ‘Ardhanarishwara’, music composed by Suramani Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi and dance composed by legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.A promising dancer of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra style and a recipient of Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, Praharaj treated the audience with her breathtaking expressions and abhinaya skills.
Next performer of the evening was another young and talented dancer Gourishankar Dash who presented Bageshree Pallavi. Set to Raga Bageshree and Tala Ektali, the item was choreographed by Dash himself, music composed by Guru Sukanta Kumar Kundu and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
His intricate footwork, expressive eye movements and nuanced expressions showed his expertise.
Dash, the founder of Devanshi Dance Academy, has successfully been organising Saptasajya Dance Festival in Dhenkanal.
The third item of the evening was a duet Odissi dance recital presented by Biswabhushan Champatiray and Jagatjit Dash. Their presentation was ‘Shivapanchakshar’, choreographed by Guru Niranjan Rout, music composed by K Ramarao Patra and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Their controlled body movements and nuanced expressions made the presentation enjoyable.
What came next was a group Odissi presentation by the students of Mrudugunjan led by its founder Rajashree Mohapatra. The dancers, all gifted with a chiseled body, presented ‘Devi’, narrating the ten incarnations of Goddess Durga. The item was choreographed by Guru Niranjan Rout and it’s music and rhythm composed by Guru Ramhari Das and Guru Dhaneswar Swain respectively.The dancers who captivated the connoisseurs with their amazing synchronisation, space management and body movements were Soudamini Bilash Chhotray, Tamanna Dash, Smitanjali Pothal, Soubhagini Bal, Shriti Sahu and Debashree Maharana.
The fifth item of the evening was also a group presentation by the students Suravi, an Odissi dance institution founded by Guru Pitamber Biswal. They presented ‘Balgopalashtoka’, choreographed by Padma Shri awardee Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Guru Pitambara Biswal, music composed by Guru Sukanta Kumar Kundu and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Niranjan Patra. The presentation was a treat for both trained and untrained eyes.
The following item was again a group presentation by the artistes of Mrudugunjan. They presented ‘Panchabhuta’. The dancers described how human beings are born out of the five elements such as earth, water, fire, wind and ether and finally return to them. The excellent choreography by Guru Niranjan Rout and direction by Rajashree Mohapatra left the audience mesmerized.
The evening came to an end with some scintillating Sambalpuri folk dance performances by the students of Mrudugunjan.
The emcee of the evening was Er (Dr) Srinivas Ghatuary.
