Bhubaneswar: The third evening of the 23rd Ekamra Nrutya Mahotsav, a vibrant celebration of classical dance and music hosted by Suravi—one of India’s premier dance institutions—unfolded like poetry in motion at Utkal Rangamanch in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
The audience was treated to an enchanting blend of soul-stirring flute notes and captivating Odissi recitals that lit up the cultural night sky.
The evening commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp ceremony, graced by eminent Odissi dancer Guru Sujata Mohapatra and renowned Mardala maestro Guru Sachidananda Das, setting the stage for an unforgettable artistic journey.
The spotlight then turned to Soumyaranjan Joshi, a young and promising flutist, who opened his recital with Raga Yaman, weaving magic with mellifluous notes. His mastery over the nuances of melody and rhythm left the audience spellbound.
The recital began with Rupak tala and concluded with Teentaal, ending on a high note with the beloved bhajan ‘Vaishnav Jan To’. He was ably accompanied by Biswaranjan Nanda on the Tabla, whose rhythmic brilliance added depth to the performance.
Next to take the stage was Smt Sridutta Bhola, a disciple of Padma Shri Guru Aruna Mohanty. She mesmerized the audience with the abhinaya piece ‘Pashyati dishi dishi’ from Jayadev’s Gita Govinda. Choreographed by her guru and set to music by Dr Subas Pani, the performance portrayed the poignant tale of Radha’s yearning, brought to life through Sridutta’s expressive face and emotive gestures.
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Her stage presence was elevated by a team of stellar accompanists: Dr Nazia Alam (vocal), Guru Bijay Kumar Barik (Mardala), Agnimitra Behera (Violin), Srinibas Satpathy (Flute), and Pabitra Kumar Pradhan (Manjira).
The curtain came down on a high note with a dynamic performance by Sourav Mohanty. He began with the ‘Chakrabak Pallavi’, set to Raga Chakrabak and Tala Ektali, choreographed by Padma Shri Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, with music by Guru Nirmal Mohapatra. He followed it up with a soulful abhinaya—‘Ahe Nila Saila’—a piece steeped in devotion and choreographed by Rahul Acharya, with music composed by Guru Sukant Kumar Kundu and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Sourav’s graceful movements and emotive storytelling brought the mythic verses to life.
He was accompanied by an accomplished ensemble: Guru Sukant Kumar Kundu (vocal), Guru Niranjan Patra (Mardala), Agnimitra Behera (Violin), and Dibakar Parida (Manjira).
As the evening drew to a close, the hall echoed with applause, bearing testimony to a night where music met movement, and tradition came alive in its most resplendent form.
The Ekamra Nrutya Mahotsav, once again, proved to be a cultural feast for the soul.
The anchor of the third evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
