Ahmedabad: As the sun dipped below the Horizon, the auditorium on the premises of Lord Jagannath Temple at Adalaj came alive with an air of devotion and anticipation.
The setting proved apt for an evocative evening of classical dance as eminent Odissi dancer Smt Sucharita Tripathy, one of the senior disciples of Guru Dr Suprava Mishra, took centre stage with her 38-minute thematic production titled ‘Ashtanayika Aradhana’, presented under Odissi Sandhya 4.0 on December 14.
‘Odissi Sandhya’ is a curated series of Odissi dance performances organised by Aum Arts Dance Academy, the brainchild of Guru Dr Suprava Mishra, aimed at promoting the classical form and its practitioners.
By the time the invited guests were ushered onto the stage to inaugurate the evening, all most all the seats had been occupied. A palpable sense of divinity pervaded the space. The dignitaries including HK Das, a retired IAS; renowned Bharatanatyam gurus Bharat Baria and Akshay Patel, Kathak gurus Alpa Desai and Prachi Rawal inaugurated the programme by lighting the auspicious lamp.In their brief addresses, the guests heaped praises on Aum Arts Dance Academy and wished continued success.
At the same time, they extended their best wishes to both the institution and Smt Tripathy for many more such memorable evenings.
From the title of the evening, the discerning rasikas could already sense that in the next few minutes they would be soaked in the emotional universe of eight kinds of nayikas described in Natya Shashtra.
As the curtain rose and the stage space got illuminated, Smt Tripathy appeared with her trademark poise and grace. She opened her recital with ‘Kuru Yadu Nandana’. As a ‘Swadhinabhartruka Radha’, the accomplished Odissi dancer Smt Tripathy, beautifully portrayed how she loves Krishna, who, in turns, is faithful to her. Here, Smt Tripathy employed her facial expressions to give justice to the feelings of Radha as a ‘Swadhinabhartruka Nayika’. Indeed, it was a treat to watch Smt Tripathy seamlessly slipping into the dual roles of Radha and Krishna. The opening itself set the tone for the rest of the evening.
She then transitioned to ‘Pasyati Disi Disi’, depicting Vasakasajja Radha, adorning herself with jewels, garments, and flowers, and anxiously watching the pathway for Krishna’s arrival. Smt Tripathy was excellent in conveying Radha’s emotions of anticipation, distress, hope and underlying anxiety.
The mood shifted with ‘Nindati Chandanam’, where she portrayed Virahotkanthita Radha, distressed by Krishna’s absence and longing for his arrival. Her subtle facial expressions and expressive mudras effectively captured Radha’s pain and longing.
Her next role was Radha as a ‘Khandita Nayika’. She presented ‘Yahi Madhav’, where she portrayed the emotional turmoil of Radha who confronts Krishna over his infidelity with restraint and depth, allowing the narrative to unfold through nuanced gestures and controlled expressions.
With the next lyric ‘Tam Matha Manmatha’, Smt Tripathy became Kalahantarita Radha, who regrets sending Krishna away in anger. The dancer’s abhinaya deftly traced Radha’s emotional journey from pride and indignation to remorse and longing.
She followed this with ‘Rati Sukha Sare’, portraying herself as Radha as an Abhisarika Nayika, boldly venturing out to meet her beloved. With her impeccable stage presence and confidence, she did a wonderful job in conveying the thrill of anticipation, the pain of separation and the promise of union.
She then took on the role of Vipralabdha Radha in ‘Yami He’. Her portrayal of Radha who adorns in her finest attire, waits in vain for Krishna in Vrindavan. While she checks her dressing in clean Yamuna water, time slips by and the moon rises high, she realises that her efforts have been futile. A seasoned dancer, Smt Tripathy took no time to get into the role, portraying of disappointment and disillusionment left a lasting impact.
Smt Tripathy concluded her recital with ‘Rase Harimiha’, portraying a Proshitabhartruka Radha, who describes to her sakhi Krishna’s raas with the gopis while enduring the pangs of separation. The portrayal captured Radha’s loneliness with quiet intensity.
Watching Smt Tripathy delineate all eight nayikas with such finesse was a rare delight. Her expressions were so finely calibrated that one could easily miss a fleeting eyelash flutter or a gently arched eyebrow without close attention.
Born and educated outside Odisha, Smt Tripathy’s classical dance journey began with Bharatanatyam for three years in her school days. Her formal training in Odissi commenced under the guidance of Guru Natabar Maharana in the Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra style while pursuing her undergraduate studies in St.Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
Life’s responsibilities—career, marriage and motherhood—temporarily interrupted her dance journey. Marriage brought her to Ahmedabad, where she came into contact with Guru Smt. Suprava Mishra. Initially enrolling her daughter at Aum Arts Dance Academy, Smt Tripathy soon found herself drawn back to dance by the irresistible rhythm of Odissi bols and the sound of ghungroos. Before long, she too became a dedicated student of the academy.
Over the years, she has performed at several prestigious festivals including Khajuraho Dance Festival, Konark Dance Festival, Modhera Dance Festival, Somnath Dance Festival, Kankaria Festival, Ahmedabad Literature Festival, earning widespread appreciation and accolades.
Blessed with the support of her guru and family, Smt Tripathy continues to strike a fine balance between passion and profession. Alongside her sustained practice and performances, she serves as a full-time Director at Tectona Softsolutions, proving that artistic dedication and professional excellence can indeed go hand in hand.
