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 Pune Odissi Utsav - Neha Muthiyan e-mail: kathakpathshala@gmail.com Photos: Amit Vaidya October 16, 2024 As part of its initiative to promote Odissi worldwide through a chain of exclusive Odissi dance festivals, Odissi International Forum in association with Pune Odissi Family - an informal forum of the Odissi dancers and dance institutions of Pune - hosted the third edition of the annual Pune Odissi Utsav at Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagruha auditorium in Pune on September 29. Odissi International Forum is a 15-year-old global network of Odissi dancers and Odissi dance institutions across the world with its headquarters at Bhubaneswar in Odisha, the land of Odissi. The Forum was founded by Delhi-based journalist Shyamhari Chakra who hails from Odisha and specializes in writing on dance. In addition to its annual Biswa Odissi Utsav in Bhubaneswar, the Forum has been hosting annual Odissi Utsavs in Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Ranchi. A special edition of Odissi International was hosted in the USA in 2019 in collaboration with the University of North Carolina. Pune Odissi Utsav was launched in 2022 with Kalakshetra-trained Bharatanatyam dancer Padmaja Acharya as the festival convener. Padmaja, a part of the Odissi International Forum who is also trained in Odissi dance, hails from Odisha and has settled down in Pune. While the first and second editions of Pune Odissi Utsav were exclusive to the Odissi dancers and Odissi dance institutions of Pune city, its latest edition welcomed participants from nearby cities of Mumbai, Nashik, Goa and Amravati. Nearly 50 dancers joined the festival.  Akankya Odissi The festival spread over six hours with 25 slots featured 19 solo dancers, two duet performances and four group presentations. It showcased choreographies of great masters like gurus Pankaj Charan Das, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Debaprasad Das, Gangadhar Pradhan and Durga Charan Ranbir apart from younger generation gurus Aruna Mohanty, Sangeeta Dash and Ratikant Mohapatra. Three of the dancers who performed in the festival - Rasika Gumaste, Manaswini Mohanty and Madhumita Mishra - also staged their own choreographies. The 3rd Pune Odissi Utsav not only showcased seasoned professionals but also highlighted the promising talents. This blend of experience and youthful exuberance added a unique dimension to the festival, allowing the audience to witness the journey of emerging artistes alongside established performers.  Advaita  Ritu Aherrao Eight-year-old Advaita from Mumbai, disciple of Manaswini Mohanty, won hearts with her performance that showcased a striking balance between innocence of her age and the maturity needed for the stylized depiction of emotions. Similarly, Sayantana Mohan from Goa, aged 10 and disciple of Pompi Paul, exhibited excellent energy and grip over the form. Ritu Aherrao from Nasik, a dancer in her early 20's, also impressed with her grace that is the essence of Odissi. The participation of these young talents not only celebrated the future of Odissi dance but also inspired a sense of continuity and growth within the art form. The Utsav featured several standout performances that truly captivated the audience. Gauri Shukla's rendition of Aaravi Pallavi, Shreyasi Goswami's Haririha and Priyadarshini Ray's Laxmi Mangalacharan showcased the depth and beauty of the Odissi tradition. The duet by Yogita and Varada, titled Ardhanarishwar, brought a dynamic collaboration to the stage, while Monaswini Mohanty's Rageshri Pallavi was another highlight that left a lasting impression.  Monaswini Mohanty  Rasika Gumaste Additionally, Rasika Gumaste's interpretation of the Marathi poem Jogiya by renowned poet Ga.Di. Madgulkar was particularly appreciated for its thoughtful presentation, blending literary depth with the grace of dance. These performances not only showcased the versatility of Odissi but also enriched the cultural dialogue, leaving the audience inspired and engaged. Odissi is still in its nascent stages in Pune, but with dedicated efforts of the Pune Odissi Family led by Padmaja Acharya with valuable guidance from Shyamhari Chakra, the future looks promising. Their commitment to nurturing talent and promoting this graceful dance form is sure to foster a growing appreciation among audiences. As they continue to host events like the Pune Odissi Utsav, we can expect a steady rise in the popularity of Odissi, enriching the cultural landscape of the city and inspiring new generations of dancers.  Inauguration by Guru Anuradha Gandhi & Shyamhari Chakra The Utsav was inaugurated by Guru Anuradha Gandhi, one of the first generation Odissi dancers of Pune along with the festival founder Shyamhari Chakra.  Neha Muthiyan is the editor-publisher of bi-lingual dance magazine Loud Applause published from Pune. A senior Kathak dancer, she is the Guest Editor of the recently released Ashish Mohan Khokar's Attendance Dance Annual - Pune Special Edition. |
