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 Dance tributes to Dr Prabha Atre and Asha Joglekar - Vijay Shanker e-mail: vijaydance@gmail.com April 20, 2025 TRIBUTE TO DR PRABHA ATRE A unique music and dance programme was organised by Dr Prabha Atre Foundation, as a tribute to Dr Prabha Atre, based on her compositions, written and rendered by the great Hindustani music vocalist of the Kirana Gharana, who was also known as a musicologist and veteran mentor and actress. Many of her disciples are professional vocalists today. The programme featured Hindustani vocal recital by Pt Harish Tiwari and Kathak recital based on her compositions by Shovana Narayan and her disciples. The programme was held on 4th April at the Stein auditorium of India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Dr Prabha Atre left for her heavenly abode on January 13, 2024 in Pune at the age of 92. Her favourite ragas were Behag, Rageshri. Jaunpuri, Jogiya, Chandrakauns, Yaman etc, which are considered the masterpieces of Khayal music. Given her mastery over the technicalities of music, she invented some ragas like Apurva Kalyan, Darbari Kauns, Patdeep Malhar, Madhur Kauns etc. In the programme organised by Fine Arts Society, Chembur (Mumbai) to felicitate outstanding women on the occasion of International Women's Day, she was the seniormost personality who was honoured. She remarked, 'Music is Life, Music is Meditation'. She looked so royal and dignified with her silver streaks of hair, which is so vivid in my memory.  Shovana Narayan (Photo: Nitin Mehra) In an evening dedicated to honouring the esteemed icon, Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan performed under the auspices of the Dr Prabha Atre Foundation. Her heartfelt interpretation of Prabha Atre's "bandishes" captivated the audience, taking them on a profound and uplifting journey. The performance celebrated the diverse aspects of life, while maintaining a consistent theme of spiritual exploration. Shovana commenced her performance by paying homage to Nataraja with the bandish - Shiva Har Har Mahadev Shankar, which illustrated the eternal rhythmic cycle of existence through a vibrant and dynamic tandav that featured traditional rhythmic Kathak parans and kavits. Indian philosophy acknowledges Harihara which represents Shiva and Vishnu as distinct manifestation of the same ultimate reality, Brahman. Consequently, Krishna, the eighth avatara of Vishnu, who embodies love, wisdom and righteousness was introduced next with the bandish, Nandnandan Manmohan Shyamsundar Madhusoodan. This piece explored the various dimensions of the playful child within all of us, yearning for the unattainable, as expressed in Surdas's enchanting poem 'Maiya mai toh chand khilona laiho' (Mother get me the toy moon). Here, Krishna expresses a desire to play with the moon. At one moment Shovana portrayed the tearful, petulant child Krishna demanding the moon as his toy and in the next, she transformed into the affectionate, nurturing mother Yashoda. The performance was both poignant and moving. The protective aspect of Krishna was vividly illustrated through the dramatic retelling of the Draupadi cheerharan episode.  Shovana Narayan (Photo: Nitin Mehra) This was succeeded by a compelling representation of the quest for the elusive Krishna within the inner labyrinth of ourselves, as Shovana articulated, through the bandish, Tore bin chayan nahi, Brij ke Nandalala (I am restless without you). The evening culminated in a profound exploration of the soul's journey towards para-Brahman with Mere man logo shree charana (My mind is at your lotus feet) and Hey Govind Hey Gopal, Hey Mukund, Hey Murari leaving the audience in a state of deep trance like contemplation. TRIBUTE TO GURU ASHA JOGLEKAR The first dance festival of Kala Samarpan was organised by Nritya Tapasya Kathak dance academy (Vasai) on 18th March at the iconic Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar auditorium in Mira Road, Mumbai. It was organised by leading Kathak exponent Chetan Saraiya, as an expression of reverence to his beloved mentor, Guru Asha Joglekar.  Asha Joglekar Formerly known as Nandini Joshi, young Asha was born on September 10, 1936 in Wai, in a family of music and dance lovers. Her grandfather was a Kirtankaar (devotional singer), father was a lawyer at the Sangli princely state of Maharashtra, and her mother Surekha Joshi was a singer. Asha had her initial training in Kathak under the guidance of Guru Hiralal Jai and Guru Jayashree Kirtane. Being a charming girl, Asha was offered roles in movies but was reluctant. She made a brief appearance in P.L Deshpande's play 'Amaldar'. At the age of 17, Asha got married to Anant Joglekar and had two children, while in Chadrapur. Asha resumed her passion for dance and became the disciple of the established mentor, Guru Rohini Bhate. Asha established Archana Nrityalaya on Aug 15, 1963 and sought further guidance in Kathak from veterans like Nataraj Gopikrishna and his wife Savitri Devi, Guru Ramadevi Lachchu Maharaj and learnt intricate rhythms from Pt Ramdasji Sharma and acquired the Nritya Visharad degree at the age of 40. While in Mumbai, Ashatai organised workshops with master mentors like Pt Tirathram Azad, Pt Suresh Talwalkar and Guru Rohini Bhate, hence Ashatai imbibed the specialities of Lucknow, Jaipur and Banaras Gharana of Kathak which was well utilised in her performances and also taught to young aspirants. Asha appeared as Draupadi in the dance drama 'Sambhavami Yuge Yuge' and as an Apsara in Hindi and Marathi versions of Shakuntala. Asha was also instrumental in the Marathi translations of Bharata Muni's Natya Sastra and Nandikesvara's Abhinaya Darpana. Ashatai was the secretary of Nartak Milan, examiner for Maharashtra state and the Akhil Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and was in the selection committee of Marathi Films. She was recipient of several honours and awards, the most notable being Maharashtra State Cultural Award. Ashatai left us on March 18, 2016 but her legacy continues with several disciples like Dr Manjiri Deo, Archana Joglekar (daughter), Smriti Talpade, Ranjana Phadke, Vaishali Bhende, Shilpa Kantak, Prajakta Khadilkar, Ketaki Karan, Minoti Deshmukh, Deepali Vichare, Lata Bakalkar, Manisha Jeet, Radhika Phase, Chetan Sariya, Mayur Vaidya, Pallavi Degwekar, Phulwa Khamkar, Urmila Kothare, Bhakti Bharwadekar, Parinata Shah, Vaidehi Parashurami, Lalita Soni, Anu Lilani, Swapnali Kadam and Gauri Vaidya.  Amruta Nair The performances commenced with Guru Vandana, performed by six disciples of Chetan Saraiya of Nritya Tapasya. Amruta Nair performed the Varnam in the Mohiniattam style which was noteworthy for its powerful abhinaya pertaining to the various characters of the Ramayana, the most amusing being when different kings try to break the Shiva dhanush but fail miserably. The Ahalya shapam and Shabari's devotion was well enacted. Amruta Nair is the disciple of Guru Jayshree Nair of Upasana Academy of Dance.  Ishani Sathe It was interesting to watch the mother - daughter team of Ishani Sathe and Radhika Sathe. After the interpretation of the Surdas Bhajan "Nachat sudang shri naganand", the duo impressed with the Asta mangal taal of 11 beats and other intricate rhythmic numbers. They performed with effortless ease and expertise. Guru Kashmira Trivedi performed the popular "Krishna nee begane baro," revealing the vatsalya of Mother Yasoda for little Krishna with subtle expressions and also revealing the playful nature of little Krishna in the Bharatanatyam style. Her disciples performed a group number in praise of Lord Ganesha.  Neeta Surve Chetan Saraiya's senior disciple Dr Neeta Surve danced with elegance and command over the dance style of Kathak. She was particularly impressive in the Hori number that establishes the relationship between Radha and Krishna and in the Ghazal that describes the plight and anguish of the proshita bhartruka nayika as she misses her lover in the number "Sawariya sang nahi, Lagi suni raina" (Your absence makes me feel sad and lonely). Mentors and personalities who were felicitated were Dr Manjiri Deo, gurus Jayashree Nair, Ishani Sathe, Kashmira Trivedi, festival organiser and lights designer Sai Venkatesh from Bangalore, Vikram Goud of The Dance India magazine, Guru Paullomi Mukherjee, Kathak exponent and compere of the festival.  Vijay Shankar is a Kuchipudi and Kathakali exponent, teacher, bilingual journalist, arts critic and actor. |
