The heavens were ready to shower their blessings on the auspicious art festival dark clouds pregnant with rain loomed large over Bhubaneshwar skies, making for conducive weather, guests arrived from within the state and beyond.
The very mention of Odissi dance guru Kelucharan Mohapatra is enough to inspire awe and affection among artistes and art lovers across the globe. Seven years after this dancing deity passed away, the five-day dance fest, ‘Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival 2011' under the aegis of Srjan (Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa) hosted both music and dance performances apart from honouring two artistes recognised in the field of performing arts.
The venue Rabindra Mandap washed afresh with a bout of rain, wore a festive look with strings of coloured bulbs illuminating its entire structure. Guru Kelucharan's pictures in statuesque postures adorned like flag-posts in a serial order, lending an artistic aura to the frontage.
The threshold of the mandap was flanked with pictures of Srjan's own artistes and those of the visiting artistes in their best performing stances. Strangers joined the camaraderie which wasn't surprising going by the warmth generated by the hosts Ratikanth Mohapatra, Sujatha Mohapatra, the artistic son and daughter-in-law of the doyen and all others of the Srjan family.
The dais too was something to marvel at; the backdrop with an artistic Srjan motif in the centre extended on either side with alcoves adorned with life-like portraits of the Guru in striking Odissi poses. Recreated frescos of Orissa temple sculptures laced the alcoves making for an aesthetic stage. Not just the performing arts fraternity, the higher-ups in the Orissa State government Department of Culture turned out to be regulars at all shows. Not a soul stirred till the end of each performance as evening slipped way into the midnight on certain days. In keeping with the norms, the state Governor Muralidhar Chandrakanth Bhandari declared open the fest while the closing ceremony was graced by the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The two gracious veterans, Gloria Mohanty, a film star of yesteryear and a disciple of Guru Kelucharan and Kumkum Mohanty, a reputed dancer and disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra, spoke eloquently on the contribution of the great master in catapulting Odissi dance form to the classical arts firmament, with precise documentation, codification, manuscripting and dissemination.
Kumkum Mohanty the first to head the research centre which has been now been named after the great guru, recalled her experiences with the guru and his constant guidance.
The performance platter was full and feisty. There were three presentations each evening, of great artistic value and perfection.
The scintillating flute by Surmani Pravin Godkhindi followed by the ever popular ghazals of Pandit Jagjit Singh on day one.
The next day, the audience were treated to Kumkum Mohanty's vintage Odissi nritya followed by Uma Dogra's kathak which was simply vibrating.
The Pakhawaz solo by Pandit Bhawani Shankar was something to reckon with as time crept slowly into the midnight.
Bharatanatyam danseuse Priyadarshini Govind paved the way for the awesome melodies emanating out of Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt's mohan veena with a live contest (sangat) in the form of percussion provided by Pandit Kumar Bose on the tabla.
The penultimate day had Mumbai-based Sunanda Nair sway hearts with her excellent Mohiniattam while Kala Ramanath – Mohammad Akram Khan's sangat on the violin and tabla were a treat to watch.
Last but not the least, was the home production Ravana choreographed and played by Ratikanth Mohapatra, Sujatha and the Srjan artistes which reflected the spirit of Odissi as its great master envisaged.
Ratikanth stole the show with his brilliant choreography and portrayal of the negative but real hero of Ramayana and in doing so we could find flashes of his great father-guru come alive on stage.
It was by and large an art festival in every sense of the term, devoid of pomp and vanity, immersed in aesthetics, carrying forward the great legacy with aplomb, worthy of emulation by others in the field.
