|     |
|
| |
 Shraddhanjali - Tributes to Dr. Kanak Rele - Vijay Shanker e-mail: vijaydance@gmail.com June 8, 2023 Nalanda Dance Research Centre and Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya presented the Shraddhanjali program as a tribute to the founder of Nalanda, Dr. Kanak Rele, renowned Mohiniattam exponent, dance educationist, mentor and scholar on March 26, at Kanaka Sabha, Nalanda in Mumbai. To mark the golden jubilee year of Nalanda, the program was titled 'Kanak Utsav - Shraddhanjali Gurusmaranam Shishanam' and was presented by the Nalanda Parivaar and performances by guest artistes as well. An Ode to Dr Kanak Rele from the academicians of the Nalanda Parivar: "To our beloved Guru divine, You are the light that made us shine, Your teachings we hold close to our heart, As we pass them on to each new start, Your legacy lives on through us, As we carry on the torch that you did entrust." The Shraddhanjali program commenced with prayers rendered by Kalamandalam Gireeshan who has been associated with Kanak behn for a long time and has been credited for his intense emotional renderings for several performances for more than five decades.  Deepak Mazumdar, Dr Uma Rele and Ambika Vishwanath paying floral tributes to Dr Kanak Rele The welcome address was given by Dr. Chinmayi Deodhar, followed by an emotional speech by Guru Deepak Mazumdar. Deepak holds the distinction of being the first male student who joined Nalanda when he was barely 18. He has been closely associated with Kanak behn for over four decades and owes his success entirely to her. Bharatanatyam exponent and vocalist Dr. Ambika Viswanathan demonstrated the 'Ashta Rasas' as propounded in the Natya Sastra, directed by Dr. Kanak Rele with complete involvement and intensity. Lalita Kalalayam KNP Nambisan demonstrated some basic tala patterns pertaining to Sopanam Sangeetam that formed the base for the Mohiniattam performances. Nambisan has also been associated with Nalanda for several years. Dr. Uma Rele, principal of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, and Vaidehi Rele interpreted a beautiful number that incorporated vatsalya rasa in the Bharatanatyam style with sincerity and innate feelings. After the elegant Mohiniattam by Dr. Madhuri Deshmukh, Dr. Meenakshi G performed Gopika Viraha Geetam as choreographed by Kanak Rele in 1996. In Ragamalika and Talamalika, it depicts the viraha as experienced by Gopis in Vrindavan after Krishna leaves Vrindavan to go to Mathura. Here the Gopi reminisces the joyous moments with Krishna when he was in Vrindavan, performed with dexterity by Meenakshi. While a brief Kathak recital was presented by Varada Pandit, Sandhya Pisharody regaled the audience with her powerful vocal rendering. Mumbai's leading Odissi exponent, Ankur Balal, disciple of Guru Jhelum Paranjape, rendered a sparkling performance. Radhika Nair's Bharatanatyam was well appreciated by the audience. Megha Mohad is another talented Mohiniattam dancer from Nalanda, followed by Dakshinamurthy on mridangam and konakkol. Jonaki Raghavan performed Kathak and Jhelum Paranjape followed with a brief and bright Odissi performance. The last performance of the evening was Kathakali by Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan who depicted the powerful Poothana Moksham, which indeed was the favourite portrayal of Kanak behn. The vote of thanks was rendered by Vijaykumar Patil. On the whole it was a heart-warming programme of emotions and reverence.  Vijay Shankar is a Kuchipudi and Kathakali exponent, teacher, bilingual journalist, arts critic and actor. |
