SOYONG, OP
He was never satisfied with learning just the technique or the kinetics of dance. He wanted to explore – the space around him, the energy as a driving force, colours, moods and just about everything. His solo performances and group ensembles in Odissi have received critical acclaim at leading festivals all over the world.
Meet Manoj Kumar Pradhan, a young dancer from Bhubaneswar, who has earned accolades for his scintillating performances in India and other countries such as Japan, Thailand, Brazil and Malaysia. Born in Sakhigopal, he started dancing at the tender age of five.
Manoj, the youngest son of Bhagabat and Indumati Pradhan, said, “My mother was an accomplished Odissi dancer. Owing to her family responsibilities, she had to quit dance, but she was a constant source of inspiration for me. God had a different plan for her, she was paralysed when she was still young and my uncle Jayakrishna and aunt Radhamani took care of me. Seeing my inclination for Odissi, my uncle admitted me in the Satyabadi Sangeeta Bidyalaya where I learnt my first dance lessons from Guru Lingaraj Behera in 2001.”
After his High School certificate examination, Manoj came to Bhubaneswar where he happened to meet Guru Durga Charan Ranbir in 2008, who saw a spark in him and asked him to stay with him and learn Odissi.
Manoj later developed an interest in Lasya, Dasa Mahavidya, Sthai, Abhinaya and Pallavi aspects of Odissi. He said, “From my Gurus, I learned to love dance as though it were human, to feel its all-encompassing beauty. My steps never mingled during performance at any place.”
Manoj recounted a memorable experience: “Once, just prior to my performance in New Delhi, I developed fever and was diagnosed with malaria. It was just one day before my scheduled performance. The organisers and my friends suggested that I should not perform, but I was determined to dance in front of the large audience that was expected for the event. I took medicine and performed ‘sivastaka’ and two more items over two hours.”
Manoj has been honoured with Nryutyashri, Nryutya Manjari, Nryutya Madhuri, Nryutangyana and many more awards. Asked if he was interested in Olywood, he said, “I am a graded artiste of Bhubaneswar Doordarshan. If I am given a role that is classical dance based, then I will accept, but in modern dance I have no interest.”
Nowadays, Manoj is busy with workshops, imparting Odissi lessons to those who are interested in learning the dance form. His students include locals as well as foreigners. He said, “Odissi is known all over the world, and I can play a part in spreading the dance form across the world.”
