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 The 22nd Sanjukta Panigrahi Yuva Mahotsav- Vijay Shankere-mail: vijaydance@gmail.com September 8, 2025 Mumbai's leading Odissi dance academy Smitalay, organised the 22nd Sanjukta Panigrahi Yuva Mahotsav on 22nd August at Veer Savarkar auditorium in Shivaji Park, featuring six accomplished young classical dancers from different parts of the country, projecting Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kathak. This is an annual feature organised by the veteran Odissi mentor and exponent, Guru Jhelum Paranjape, founder director of Smitalay. She says, "For the 22nd year we have managed to organise this festival as a tribute to the legendary Odissi exponent Sanjukta Panigrahi and her singer and music composer husband Pt Raghunath Panigrahi, with the Yuva Mohotsav in order to provide a platform for young performers and also to promote and propagate Indian classical dances, on a larger platform, for better understanding and appreciation of classical dances. It's not easy, as we get lot of applications and we would like to accommodate as many as possible but the expenses have to be met. With hardly any corporate sector coming forward it becomes difficult, hence this time we have presented only six dancers in different styles. Our students would also present the dance drama, 'Dastaan Veer Sant Shivaji' portraying the story of the Maratha King Shivaji." A renowned Odissi exponent and among the foremost disciples of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sanjukta Panigrahi was greatly responsible for placing Odissi on the international map. Along with the commendable singing by her singer husband Pt Ragunath Panigrahi, with musical compositions by Pandit Bhubaneshwar Mishra, they enthralled audiences in every country they performed. The soulful musical rendering of Raghunath and the immaculate lyrical Odissi performance by Sanjukta, transported the audience to a higher level of spiritual consciousness.  Dipjoy Sarkar The tribute festival commenced with Dipjoy Sarkar in a brilliant Odissi performance. Dipjoy is the disciple of Guru Sharmila Biswas. The distinct pravesham of the young dancer, with slow and striking movements, assured the audience that here's a dancer who is looking forward to long innings as a professional dancer, with his complete involvement and devotion, executed with the maximum usage of the stage space in "Gati Vilas" in raag Yog. Gati Vilas was the piece-de-resistance of the evening with the incorporation of angika abhinaya pertaining to the movements and characteristics of the birds and animals, like the swiftness of the horse, the regal and graceful gait of the swan, the sharpness and clarity of the hawk, the magical melody of the cuckoo. However, the powerful lion was missed out. This number was choreographed by Guru Sharmila Biswas. Music composition was by Debashis Sarkar, Ramesh Chandra and Bijay Kumar Barik. Dipjoy also performed Ramaashtakam in praise of Lord Rama.  Vedanti Bhagwant Mahadik Vedanti Bhagwant Mahadik rendered a fine Kathak performance, symbolising the expressive quality of the Lucknow Gharana and the rhythmic complexity of the Jaipur Gharana. Vedanti is the disciple of Guru Madhurita Sarang, Pt Rajendra Gangani and presently seeking guidance from Guru Rajashree Shirke. Vedanti executed Chautaal, Taal Asta Mangal of 11 matras with precision and the Shiva Vandana in praise of Lord Shiva. She needs to pay more attention to aharya abhinaya as her eyes were hardly seen, even though I was sitting in the first row.  Raja Dutta Raja Dutta is an accomplished Bharatanatyam performer, who initially learnt under Guru Anita Mallick, veteran Prof C.V. Chandrasekhar and Dr Mamata Neogi Nakra from Montreal too. Raja commenced with the beautiful "Gaiye Ganapati", a composition of Tulsidas in raag Kalavati with soulful rendering by Hariprasad Kaniyal and Cholkettus by Prof C.V. Chandrasekhar, a fine start to the brief performance that enhanced the spiritual atmosphere. The padam from Ramanatak exposed the episode when Manthara on hearing the news of Rama's coronation, informs Kaikeyi but she is not disturbed and feels that Lord Rama deserves the throne as he succeeded in lifting the Shiva Dhanush, thereby shattering the ego of Parashurama. But a little later the evil overpowers the good when Kaikeyi realises that her son Bharat should get the throne and Manthara rejoices as her evil intentions are accomplished. Raja's mukhaja and angika abhinaya pertaining to the typical look and stance of Manthara was quite captivating, creating a lasting impression, The choreography was by Badari Divya Bhushan. Raja concluded with an intricate Hindolam Thillana choreographed by Guru Geeta Chandran.  Dastaan Veer Sant Shivaji Ki The post interval session commenced with the short but powerful dance drama 'Dastaan Veer Sant Shivaji Ki' that portrayed not only the brave Maratha King Shivaji but also his idealistic qualities of being a humanitarian personality. His early training in martial arts by Dadoji Kondeo and his friends Tanaji and Baherji who take a vow to destroy the Mughals, the tactics of Ganima Kawa, guerilla warfare, killing Afzal Khan and escaping from the clutches of Aurangzeb and ultimately forming the Maratha army formed the highlight of the dramatic presentation, executed well by the talented dancers from Smitalay - Dipali Tikam, Rupali Kadam, Manisha Bowalekar, Komal Bhairi, Shubhavi Kashekar, Sayali Ganvir and Anika Chonkar. Script was by Dr Bharati and Bunckim, music -- Bunckim, choreography- Guru Jhelum Paranjape, rhythm - Rohan Dahale, vocal by Jatin Sahu, Rohan and Bunckim.  Nandini Ganesan Nandini Ganesan is the granddaughter of Kalasadan Guru Mani, one of the foremost mentors to start Bharatanatyam classes in Mumbai. Nandini is an accomplished performer, forming a fine combination of expressive excellence and striking movements. She is at present seeking guidance from Guru Chitra Visweswaran. Nandini commenced with Kali Kautvam and then proceeded to interpret Adi Shankaracharya Panchakshara Slokam Na Ma Shi Va Ya, each symbolising the "pancha bhutas" essential for life and well-being of both nature and human life. The varied attributes and qualities of the Mahadeva was depicted as the Lord of creation, preservation and destruction, the one who consumed the poison and becomes "Neelakanta" and the one who destroys Kamadeva to ashes and much more.  Ananya Parida Ananya Parida, disciple of Guru Aruna Mohanty, is a talented Odissi dancer. Ananya performed Jagannath Ashtakam in praise of Lord Jagannath, incorporating the varied facets and episodes in the life of the Lord of the Universe. Ananya interpreted the ashtapadi "Hari abhi sarithe" in which the Sakhi asks, "Why do make Krishna suffer? When you meet him you fight and later you repent". This number was pleasing but one could expect better involvement and intensity.  Tejashreee Vaidya Tejashreee Vaidya is the talented disciple of Guru Ranjana Phadke. Revealing her vivacious quality and commendable grasp over the technical quality of Kathak, she commenced with Shiva Vandana and concluded with Shiva Paran. She performed Jhaptaal of 10 beats precisely. However, the highlight of the evening was the Ghazal "Jab bhi nazar ke samne aate hay, Tere khat kaante ki taraf chubti hay" (Whenever I see your letters, it pierces like thorns) covering the varied shades of love which is inclusive of love, pain, sorrow and betrayal. Tejashree is a charming dancer and could be among the main ranks of dancers, if she continues to perform with the same amount of passion and zeal. It was a wonderful festival of young dancers as a tribute to one of the best Odissi dancers India has ever seen.  Vijay Shankar is a Kuchipudi and Kathakali exponent, teacher, bilingual journalist, arts critic and actor. |
