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 Alok Murali Festival 2024 - Tapati Chowdhurie e-mail: tapatichow@yahoo.co.in September 17, 2024 Odissi exponent Sriparna Bose celebrated 'Alok Murali Festival 2024' in honour of late Guru Muralidhar Majhi, who first promoted and popularized Odissi dance in Kolkata, and Guru Aloka Kanungo, recently at Rabindra Sadan Auditorium. In doing so, she proved herself to be an example of our ancient tradition of Guru Shishya Parampara - where the art is handed down from generation to generation. The celebration of art is the most important aspect responsible for an unbroken tradition of handing down of the traditional arts. Not only is art kept alive, it is also enriched by every passing generation, while at the same time keeping its roots intact as it keeps flowing in an unending stream.  Sriparna Bose Sriparna Bose, a senior disciple of Guru Aloka Kanungo and Guru Muralidhar Majhi, regaled the audience with her abhinaya piece Mo krishnapori in raag Misra Khamaj and Khemta taal, written by Loknath Pattanayak. It was a Guru Muralidhar Majhi choreography authentically presented by her. Possessed with a svelte physique, she retold the story of little Krishna and mother Yashoda with grace and elan. This celebration of dance is in its 2nd year. It was indeed a task to sit through the evening where twenty one dancers participated. Therefore, I have restricted my journalistic discretion to review the ones I have seen. Sriparna Bose felicitated Annapurna Majhi, wife of Guru Muralidhar Majhi, recalling her husband's contribution to Odissi dance. Mohiniattam practitioner Priyadarshini Ghosh received the 'Alok Murali Sirsha Samman' on the occasion. The festival commenced with the presentation of Priyadarshini Ghosh, who performed Nata Nayaka, a composition of Shri Dayanand Saraswati in ragam Revathi and adi talam to a recorded vocal rendition of late Lakshmi Narayanaswamy. She concluded her recital with Jayadeva's ashtapadi, Sakhi hey keshi mathana mudaram in Ragamalika. Having undergone rigorous training in Mohiniyattam in Kolkata under Kalamandalam Thankamani Kutty, she has painstakingly followed it up with further training under stalwart gurus like Kalyani Amma. Priyadarshini showed that Art has no barriers. A Bengali by birth, who is an ambassador of Kerala's very own Mohiniattam, she has been travelling the world popularizing and displaying the grace and beauty of the form. Kuchipudi dancer Madhuri Majumder, a disciple of Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, performed Gajavadana poluketenatalli - an Annamacharya keertanaam. She has truly extended the boundaries of Kuchipudi.  Madhuri Majumder  Bibhu Prasad Behera Bibhu Prasad Behera from Bhubaneswar, a disciple of Guru Niranjan Rout, immersed himself in the abhinaya piece Bada mayabi yiba nude kahari. The song told the story of the cycle of love. It is a poem by one of the Pancha Sakhas, Yasobanta Das, which explored the life cycle that is an integral part of our scriptures. The impermanence of the body that starts with childhood and goes through youth, old age and finally death, continues till the soul realizes its true nature and breaks free from the bondage of the body, is the philosophical idea that was brought home to the audience aesthetically. Ramesh Chandra Das composed the music and rhythm was composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, with choreography by Guru Niranjan Rout. Bharatanatyam dancer Atanu Das, a disciple of Shijith Nambiar and Parvathy performed Adi Shankaracharya's Kalabhairavastakam in raagam Hamsadwani and talam tisram choreographed by Sheejith Krishna, the music of which was by Bombay Jayasree. Kalabhairava is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and the devatha of Lord Raghu. Kalabhairava is also regarded as the guardian of Shiva temples. Kalabhairavastakam is recited by the priests of the Kalabhairava temples. Kalabhairava, the Rudra Avatar of Shiva who is the omnipotent time or Kaal, is the fearsome face of Shiva as time stops for none. Each and every living being is afraid of time as it spares none. Hence Kaal is feared by one and all. Kalabhairava Ashtakam is recited to make your journey through time or life free from troubles and dangers.  Atanu Das  Somabha Bandopadhay Well trained Odissi dancer Swaralipi Roy performed Dasha Mahavidya - the ten incarnations of Devi - choreographed by her Guru Aloka Kanungo. Manipuri dancer Somabha Bandopadhay, disciple of Dr. Sruti Bandopadhay, performed Krishna Nartan - a nritta item where a range of talas like Duitalmacha of 12 beats, Brahmatal of 28 beats, Tanchap of 8 beats and Menkup of 6 beats were used. Sung by Atashi Chatterjee, the pung vadan was by Birmangal Singh. Krishna Nartan, as the name suggests, is the dance of Krishna. Ayan Mukherjee and Satabdi Acharya performed Ardhanarishwar in raag Malkauns and taal Dotuki, composed by Bhaba Pritananda Ojha. It was choreographed and directed by Mahua Mukherjee in Gaudiya Nritya style to a composition of Amitabha Mukherjee. At the Alok Murali Festival, participants showcased their exceptional talents in various classical dance forms. The recipients of the Alok Murali Anugata Samman award are Amrita Das and Laavanya Ghosh for Odissi, Manipuri nritya practitioners Somabha Bandhopadhay and Priyanka Talukdar, besides others. These gifted artistes have been recognized for their exceptional dedication and mastery of their respective classical dance forms.  Tapati Chowdhurie trained under Guru Gopinath in Madras and was briefly with International Centre for Kathakali in New Delhi. Presently, she is a freelance writer on the performing arts. |
