Dhrupadi Ranga - Gitam, Badyam, Nrityam: A celebratory confluence of classical Arts

- Krishnakshi Kashyap
e-mail: sattriyakristi2012@gmail.com
Photos: Arup Jyoti Kalita

January 26, 2026

Guwahati's Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium resonated with the spirit of India's classical heritage as the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society (Cultural Affairs Dept, Govt. of Assam) presented 'Dhrupadi Ranga - Gitam, Badyam, Nrityam', an evening that celebrated the continuum of music, rhythm and movement. With scholars, practitioners, students, patrons and connoisseurs in the audience, the program offered an immersive and enriching opportunity to witness some of the finest exponents of Indian classical traditions.

Shruti Bujarbaruah

The program commenced with a Hindustani classical vocal recital by Shruti Bujarbaruah, whose soulful voice immediately drew the audience into a meditative soundscape. Opening with raag Madhuvanti, she established a serene mood, followed by the bhajan 'Baaje re muraliya baaje', rendered with emotive and spiritual depth.

Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah

The second presentation was a musical interlude by Bhaskar Jyoti Ojah, who began with evocative flute renditions. The performance gradually transitioned to the Khol, unfolding into a vibrant rhythmic soundscape. This presentation stood out for its seamless amalgamation of Indian classical ragas with the folk musical tunes of Assam, creating a bridge between the two. The interplay of melody and rhythm offered a refreshing sonic experience and prepared the ground for the dance presentations that followed.

Bayanacharya Ghanakanta Bora Borbayan's group

The next presentation by Bayanacharya Ghanakanta Bora Borbayan began with a sloka offering salutations to Lord Vishnu, after which a group of disciples entered with Sutradhari Bajona, immediately setting the auditorium in rhythmic motion. A well-rehearsed group of dancers presented one of the rare Zhumura Ramdanis and a Geetor Naach, displaying brisk footwork, graceful hand movements and symmetric group formations. Performed by students trained in a workshop under the guidance of Borbayan, the presentation beautifully captured the essence of Sattriya - devotional fervour, rhythmic sophistication and movement intensity.

Jaya Seal Ghosh

The evening then transitioned to Bharatanatyam with Jaya Seal Ghosh, whose first presentation portrayed Devi - the benevolent mother, yet also the Rudrarupini, the fierce force that annihilates evil. Set to Ragamallika (Suruti, Gaulai and Hamsanandi) in adi tala, with music composed by G.S. Rajan and choreography by Rama Vaidyanathan, the piece radiated divine energy. Her second performance of Madhuvanthi Tillana was marked by brisk footwork, intricate geometric patterns and graceful bhramaris. A brief lyrical passage in the charanam expressed the heroine's longing for Lord Krishna and the pain of separation. Set to raag Madhuvanti and adi tala, again choreographed by Rama Vaidyanathan, the work balanced rhythmic vigour with poignant abhinaya.

Sujata Mohapatra and Preetisha Mohapatra

A highlight of the evening was a captivating Odissi duet by Sujata Mohapatra and Preetisha Mohapatra. With exceptional body control, lyrical grace and refined expressions, they narrated episodes from the Ramayana - the exile of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, the spotting of the golden deer, the drawing of the Lakshmana Rekha, Sita's abduction by Ravana, and the injured Jatayu attaining moksha at Rama's hands. Their synchrony, emotive storytelling and sculptural movement vocabulary kept the audience spellbound. The choreography by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, and music by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra, lent the presentation timeless aesthetic depth.

Bickram Ghosh and Abhisek Mallick

The concluding segment featured Bickram Ghosh and Abhisek Mallick, bringing instrumental brilliance and rhythmic dynamism to the finale. Beginning with raag Charukeshi on sitar and a four-beat rhythmic cycle creating a percussive delight, the performance was charged with energy and precision. This was followed by Bickram Ghosh's composition 'Homecoming' from Rhythmscape, where contemporary rhythmic explorations merged seamlessly with classical structures. A spirited rendition of Pandit Ravi Shankar's choreography based on a Bangla dhun was performed as a concluding piece. Together, Mallick's melodic eloquence and Ghosh's commanding rhythmic artistry generated a synergy that left the audience energised and deeply engaged, providing a fitting culmination to the evening.

The event was graced by Nrityacharya Jatin Goswami, Pranjal Saikia (Vice-Chairman, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society), Dulal Roy, Raju Das (Secretary, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi), B. Kalyan Chakraborty (Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of Panchayat and Rural Development, Government of Assam), Rahul Chandra Das (Director, Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam), Sudarshan Thakur (Secretary, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society) among others.

Overall, Dhrupadi Ranga - Gitam, Badyam, Nrityam stood as a magnificent celebration of India's classical arts - where tradition and music, rhythm and movement converged into a shared artistic experience.

Krishnakshi Kashyap is a performing artiste, choreographer and educator of Sattriya, based in Guwahati, Assam. Her work focuses on the intersection of theory and practice of Indian classical dance, with a keen interest in exploring newer nuances within traditional structures of Sattriya dance.