The Fine Arts Society celebrated Guru Poornima by felicitating the doyen of Kathak, Pt. Birju Maharaj recently at the Sivaswami Auditorium. The evening began with a prayer song rendered by the students of the music school and one could see Maharaj-ji’s feet tapping away to the rhythm of the singing! He shared the dais with his dear friend, K. Kalyanasundaram, who heads the Rajarajeswari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir. After a brief introduction by Janaki Ramakrishnan, FAS president, the citation was read out by Radhika Ananthakumar. A lamp, shawl and citation were presented to Maharaj-ji. Ganesh Kumar recited an Oothukadu composition in his inimitable way and requested Maharaj ji to choreograph these rich verses in Tamil.
Srinivasan of New India Assurance said a few words about the importance of a guru and spoke warmly of Maharaj-ji. Guru Kalyanasundaram felicitated Maharaj-ji and spoke warmly of their long association and wished him several more years of dancing. In his reply, Birju Maharaj spoke of his childhood and of the training he received from his revered father Acchan Maharaj and after his demise, from his illustrious uncles Pt. Shambhu Maharaj and Pt. Lacchu Maharaj. He talked about how he introduced chaste classical Kathak in movies too, to reach a wider audience and how he won a national award for his dance choreography in Vishwaroopam.
Birju Maharaj’s prime disciple, Saswati Sen, gave a short but electrifying performance highlighting Maharaj-ji’s choreography His forte is presenting ordinary, day-to-day- life themes in short compositions set to complex rhythmic patterns, which to the layman look simple and appealing. Saswati Sen explained each variation before presenting the power-packed footwork with precision and lyrical grace. Her swift pirouettes across the stage and the flourishes were marked with elegance. The support from the wings was equally strong with Utpal Ghoshal on the tabla, Somnath Mishra for vocal and harmonium, Sandeep Mishra playing the sarangi and Smt.Alka Gujar on the sitar. Maharaj ji decided to sing and do abhinaya. Eyes flashing and eloquent, his mastery over the idiom evident, the legend mesmerised the audience with his ready wit, exquisite abhinaya and soulful singing.
Maharaj ji and Saswati lamented over the fact that dance these days, is being reduced to mere entertainment. Maharaj ji stressed that we should not forget to connect to the divine when we perform. After the programme he was surrounded by admirers and students and Maharaj-ji readily posed for photographs and blessed each student patiently, with a beautiful smile. An evening to remember, for years to come!
