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Nimitta: Shila Mehta explores new theme in Kathak
Photos: Girish Nambiar

May 8, 2018

Shila Mehta, director of Nupur Zankar Kathak institute in Mumbai was trained in Kathak by Prahlad Das, father of Chitresh Das. She also studied under Chitresh Das and later on under Vijay Shankar, disciple of Birju Maharaj, for a number of years.For some time she also attended Kumudini Lakhia's workshops. She moved to Mumbai 20 years ago and established her Kathak institute at Kandivali suburb in Mumbai. Today there are more than 100 students learning Kathak at her institute.

When Shila's husband moved to Princeton, New Jersey, she opened a branch of Nupur Zankar there, dividing time between USA and India. She also regularly visits Belgium and has opened a branch there at Ghent, visiting it to train Belgian dancers interested in Kathak. ICCR sends students from abroad wanting to learn Kathak to Nupur Zankar.

Shila consulted the celebrated Kathakali and Mohiniattam exponent Dr Kanak Rele in Mumbai for suggestions on mythological story of Shikhandi from Mahabharata to present in Kathak. Kanak Rele has choreographed it in Mohiniattam and her disciple Sunanda Nair has successfully presented it in Mumbai and abroad. Kanak Rele has also performed it earlier. The issue of third gender has drawn attention in recent years. The third gender community has suffered a lot and has been treated in a despicable manner by society. But of late, this community has come into its own and has asserted its rights. It is accepted that soul is above gender and therefore they need not be despised. So far such a theme has not been attempted in Kathak.

The story of Amba, Ambalika and Bhishma from Mahabharata is well known.
Shila spent a month learning the story, its implications, how to incorporate several elements into Kathak format and finally choreographed it as a solo Kathak. The title Nimitta was chosen as refusal of Amba by Bhishma resulted into revenge and became the cause, Nimitta, for Bhishma's death. Shila developed the theme taking assistance from her musicians and also Charani ballad singer for the text to use in the production. That worked well for choreography, as earlier also Shila had employed Charani ballad singing and text for her other Kathak productions. It suited perfectly as it describes war and how the fight between Arjuna and Bhishma results in shower of arrows on either side.


As Shikhandi dressed in a specially designed costume, with North Indian jacket and a ghaghara (skirt) with Benarasi sari and border, and in one ear a kundal, on the arm a bangle and one side of dupatta to suggest female, and the other side bereft of ornaments to suggest male aspect. In order to depict combined male, female elements the costumes suited the character of Shikhandi. Shila also walked in with a typical feminine movement.

Creating the Kalachakra, the cycle of time when the Kurukshetra war takes place, Shila used forceful movements of arms in circular fashion with her back to the audience. The narration in Hindi establishes the context of war. The shloka in Sanskrit with blowing of the conch, the armies on both sides marching, the vultures flying, horses, elephants, chariots moving create the scene of war field, using the mnemonic syllables takit dhikit, takit dhikit, and the Charni singing describing the shooting of arrows makes one almost feel that the war is on. Bam bam, Rudra banam, banam sasi sit maha banam, megh banam, zala managala, pavanam, jala banam, bija banam, Vajra banam enumerating various types of arrows in its nature of ferocity like Rudra, big, invoking rain, wind, water and thunderbolt, the war is on, the sky is all aflame and resounds, fight, fight, and with such recitation on both sides the arrows are let loose.

The sutradhara announces that in the balance of dharma and adharma, time (kaal) was declaring that there was no fear of death. Arjuna moves his chariot towards the army of Kauravas, and saw before him Bhishma standing addressing Shikhandi to tell Arjuna that he can shoot as many arrows as he wants to, Bhishma shall never attack a woman. The unbearable pain in chest of Shikhandi turns into flashback. As Amba, the princess, she has all the grace in the world, her ornaments, garments, anklets, bangles, enhance her feminine beauty. Using the ghunghat ke gat, husna ki gat, bindi ki gat, and walking gracefully as Amba, Shila evoked her royal demeanor. The characteristic gat bhava and gat nikas of Kathak were used artistically. With garland, Amba proceeds to her beloved Salva, who rejects her and taunts her that she has been with Bhishma, and he would not marry her. Go to Bhishma. A tearful Amba with folded hands begs of Bhishma to accept her, but he as a celibate does not relent. In what a state I am, cries Amba. She entreats him: Araj hai mori, karo na jora jori, Salva ko pati rupa me dekha, mai kaise naya byaha rachau? (I have seen Salva as my husband, and now how can I have another marriage? O Bhishma, put sindur on my head.) But Bhishma is steadfast in his decision. At this injustice, Shikhandi wows to fight him in battle taking the birth as Shikhandi. Bhishma announces that he will not attack a woman, Shikhandi laughs at that and tells him that she is of third gender and asks Arjuna to kill Bhishma.

The cry of Shikhandi tears the sky. As napunsaka, neither woman nor man, Shikhandi cries and laments that she/he is Nimitta, a mere cause for the death of Bhishma, and prays to Lord Shiva that ultimately only he will rescue her when she goes unto him. The lament of Shikhandi ends with the blowing of conch and darkness descends upon stage.

As a solo it has been powerfully choreographed and in both phases of Amba and Shikhandi, Shila succeeds in portraying them distinctly. The pain lingers long in story of Shikhandi as third gender. With little tightening and recorded music, this production needs to be seen in other cities. The collaborative attempt of a senior dancer like Kanak Rele and her guidance to much younger dancer augurs well. Kathak dance form thus finds an extra dimension.





Following the solo presentation was group dances by the students. From tiny tots to senior dancers, their exposition showed the range of Kathak, the ability to master the technique and Shila's hard work over the years. The various students of different levels performed old compositions. The kavits, Hori, Rasaleela, tarana, were rendered with zest. Compositions of Bindadin Maharaj like Sab ban than aiyi pyari re, Chandrabandan, and Mriganayani odhi nayi sari re evoked memories of early 70s when these songs were popular. The dancers danced with suggestive abhinaya describing colourful saris, their faces like moon and eyes like those of deer, the garlands of pearls, the curly hair, the faces shining like lightning and their seductive gaits ‘mukha damini si chamakta, chaal matawari' were sung in melodious tunes.

The songs for Rasaleela enacting playing of drums, flute, been, mridang and humming sweet tunes, the Gopis move in circle in a joyous dance. The three Belgian dancers performed Rajasthani Ghummar dance with such perfection and lilt that the audience lustily cheered their efforts to learn folk dances besides Kathak. In Teratali, dancers keep taal by playing on small cymbals striking them in unison to the rhythm. They danced spiritedly and won appreciation of the audience.


Dr. Sunil Kothari is a dance historian, scholar, author and critic, Padma Shri awardee and fellow, Sangeet Natak Akademi. Dance Critics' Association, New York, has honoured him with Lifetime Achievement award.




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