The second evening of the 25th OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival on Friday was a memorable confluence of stellar music and dance performances.
It featured a classical music fusion presentation by flutist Paras Nath, violinist Deepak Pandit and ‘Mandolin’ Rajesh, accompanied on the tabla by Prashant Sonagra. Besides, Odishi group presentations were made by Suravi and the Orissa Dance Academy.
On the third evening on Saturday, the programme commenced with traditional lighting of the lamp by esteemed dignitaries like Director, Biju Patnaik International Airport, Suresh Chandra Hota, Director, The Crown Debashish Pattnaik and director, Srjan, Ratikant Mohapatra.
First was Hindustani music recital by renowned Sarangi exponent Sabir Khan accompanied by young and versatile tabla player Ishaan Ghosh.
Exploring novel interpretations of Sarangi playing, Sabir Khan delved into the nuances of the beautiful Vachaspati Raag. With its celebratory notes, the raag invoked a feeling both of happiness and gaeity. In their recital, they also explored folk and Rajasthani compositions.
In the only solo presentation of the festival, Niharika Mohanty, senior disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, and founder-director of Guru Shradha, California, USA, presented two dance pieces, Behag Pallavi, a pure dance and Braja ku choro, an Odia Abhinaya.
Both pieces were composed by legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. With years of nuanced training under Guruji, Niharika Mohanty's execution of Behag Pallavi displayed the essence of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra's gharana was executed and interwoven with her own creative expression.
In her second presentation, Braja ku choro asichi, she beautifully portrayed mother Yashoda cajoling baby Krishna to sleep. If he does not, then a thief who has come to Braja would steal him away.
The concluding presentation for the evening was by eminent Odishi guru, Bichitranda Swain's Rudrakshya ensemble.
They presented Jaha Krishna Saha Kali, a production delving into a deep connection between Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu), and Kali (an avatar of Shakti).
Set to the music composition of Ramahari Das, rhythm composition of Dhaneswar Swain and dance direction and choreography of Bichitrananda Swain, the dancers Jagyan, Dushasan, Bichitra, Santosh, Samir, Sanjeev, and Rasmi portrayed this intricate production beautifully with neat footwork, grace, and commendable stage presence.