That whiff of India from afar

While veterans like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Madhavi Mudgal gave scintillating performances at UTSAV in the U.S., it was the use of props in Don Quixote by Chennai-based Sahridya Group, which stole the show.

October 22, 2015 08:40 pm | Updated 08:40 pm IST

Madhavi Mudgal with her group.

Madhavi Mudgal with her group.

It all began in March 2011, with the mounting of a month-long festival of arts of India titled Maximum India by The Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington. Prior to that barring the Festival of India in the U.S., in the ‘80s, such a major festival covering performing and plastic arts including literature, films, seminars, book discussions, nothing focussing on Indian classical dance and music was held on such a scale in Washington.

Among the Indian diaspora who were principal supporters there was one connoisseur Sridhar Potarazu, an ophthalmologist and in business of heath care, known for his passion for the classical Indian music and dance. It was his dream to have legendary dancers and musicians from India perform at this most coveted and prestigious venue.

For the past two years he has been holding under the aegis of Shivam Inc, in collaboration with the Indo-US Business Council, Utsav, a three-day festival at The Terrace Theatre. Leading musicians from the Hindustani and Carnatic music streams and dancers are invited to participate. In morning on both days a seminar on dance and music is held. The response has been overwhelming.

The 3 edition of Utsav was flagged of on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi with a bhajan, “Vaishnava jan tu” in Khamaj raga. UstadAmjad Ali Khan with Bapu Kaunsa played the new raga he has created in a dignified manner evoking devotional mood. He also surprised the audience by his melodious singing and rendering the composition on sarod.

Later on his two sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan in a duet presentation performed Malkauns raga with jod and jhala, albeit with passion and fast tempo. The two accompanists on tabla gave them excellent support. The finale saw the father and the sons performing in harmony – bereft of speed and razzmatazz – paying tribute to Gandhi in a befitting manner.

On the second day the crowds converged at Terrace Theatre in large number. There was a palpable excitement in the air. Miguel Cervantes’ Spanish classic Don Quixote was presented in a dance theatre form, by Chennai-based Sahridya Group, using music, dance, English dialogues, imaginative costumes, props and dramatic lighting. A cast of 12 male and female dancers including the choreographer Sheejith Krishna in role of Don Quixote, kept the audience in thrall.

As a narrator, Akhila Ramnarayan provided the context. Excellent Bharatanatyam dance technique and lilting music, created beautiful scenic visuals of open farms, village squares, mountains, passing clouds, using slide projections complimenting dance.

In one particular sequence, Don Quixote and his companion Sancho Pazha were seen admiring the beauty of mountains. The female dancers came dancing, waving gossamer scarves, awash with colourful lighting by ace light designer Murgan, to the melodious music generating exquisite delightful visual.

For the audience abroad, the familiar story with configuration of various arts was a treat! I recollected the drawing of Don Quixote astride a horse, tilting the windmills with spear, imagining them as giants, Sancho Paza begging him not to attack windmills and finally both falling on the floor! By all standards it was a bold attempt. A shift in theme from epics, it had an appeal to the audience, who gave them a standing ovation.

As was expected the recital of the classical Carnatic vocalist from Chennai, Sangit Kalanidhi awardee Sudha Ragunathan, disciple of M. L. Vasanthkumari, drew a full house. Her rendering of compositions in Khamas, leisurely exposition of Ragam, Tanam Pallavi and other melodies was a connoisseur’s delight. Similarly, next afternoon, ace violinist A. Kanyakumari and her troupe began with American National Anthem that thrilled the audience, who stood up with their hands on their hearts! A diminutive figure she is a dynamo, playing violin with assurance eliciting bravos from the discerning audience.

Finale by Odissi dancer Madhavi Mudgal with her impeccable group choreography, and equally compelling solo renderings of Gita Govinda ashatapadi and Odiya song Pranasangini re, charmed the audience from the word go. Madhurashtakam was like icing on the cake. To write more on this celebrated dancer is like gilding the lily!

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