The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in association with the State Culture Department organised Mallhara Utsav here under its horizon series on Tuesday.
Noted Odishi dancer Shrabani Mitra and her troupe performed in two segments—Mallhara and Odishi.
The dancers welcomed the rain in their dance performances. The evening opened with an evergreen composition of poet Rabindra Nath Tagore ‘Mana Maro Megha Ra Sathe...’ This was followed by another composition of Kabiguru, ‘Shrabanare Gaganera Gaye...’
The dancers with graceful movements described the picture of rainy season like, the sky drips life, mother earth turns green, rivers flow wide, fields overflow with crops and fills the heart with joy.
Odishi segment began with Ganesh Vandana, ‘Bakratunda Mahakaya...’ based on Raga ‘Chakrabak’ and Tala ‘Ek Tali’. Guru Ratikanta Mahapatra choreographed the dance piece. In an abhinaya ‘Ke Murali Bajauchi Brundabane Go...,’ the dancers were excellent in describing the celestial love and bonding between Radha and Krishna. The dance item was based on Raga ‘Kalyani’ and Tala ‘Ek Tali’.
A pure dance form Batu on Raga ‘Bhupali’ and Tala ‘Ek Tali’, the dancers portrayed emotional and artistic postures of the beautiful sculptures found in ancient temples of Odisha. Shrabani Mitra’s choreography ‘Mo Baya Ra Banka Chula Re....’ described the emotional attachment of mother Jasoda and Krishna. Based on Raga ‘Mukhari’ and Tala ‘Jhula’, the dance item mesmerised the audience.
The concluding show of the evening was an abhinaya ‘Astanayika’. The eight Nayikas are Abhisarika, Vasakasajjika, Virahotkanthika, Vipralabdha, Prositabartika, Khandita, Kalahantarika, Swadhinapatika. Guru Durga Charan Ranbir choreographed the dance piece.