Student of Kelucharan Mohapatra, noted Odissi exponent Sharmila Biswas has experimented with new aesthetic forms and performed at prestigious festivals across the globe. However, she loves to perform in Orissa in front of all those who have “guided, chided, loved and encouraged” her all her life
Sharmila will perform the dance narration ‘Antar Yatra… the journey within’ at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar, August 3, to be jointly organised by her dance academy Odissi Vision and Movement and the voluntary organisation Aim for Seva
“I would like to work on developing a perfect curriculum for those keen to learn Odissi. I do have a few small and not-so-small ideas which I would like to explore and choreograph” — Sharmila Biswas
Odissi, the state’s own classical dance form, has hooked dancers from far and wide, thanks to its grace and alluring movements that are mesmerising. Odissi dancers have earned praise from the world audience and been bestowed with the most coveted awards.
Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Sharmila Biswas from Kolkata is a bright example. She has received training under legendary Odissi dancer, connoisseur and mentor Kelucharan Mohapatra. She has won many prestigious awards.
Sharmila will perform the dance narration ‘Antar Yatra… the journey within’ at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar, August 3. The programme will be jointly organised by her dance academy, Odissi Vision and Movement based in Kolkata, and the national voluntary organisation, Aim for Seva. It is one of a series of performances scheduled to be held in seven states.
Sharmila was born and brought up in Kolkata where she started learning dance from the age of eight. When she was 16, she started taking training in Odissi under Muralidharan Majhi and subsequently under Kelucharan Mohapatra. Later, she learnt ‘abhinaya’ from Kalanidhi Narayanan. Sharmila is married to doctor Swapan Biswas and the couple is blessed with a son named Shoumik.
Sharmila is fortunate to have got the chance to learn Odissi from the doyen himself. Dwelling on the special qualities of her legendary mentor, she said: “Guruji was endowed with exceptional qualities and talent. His command over movement, music, design, aesthetics and drama, his ability to grasp every aspect of art with the objectivity and precision of science, and the fluid emotion of his art made him an inspiration for generations of Odissi artistes. However, the quality in him that I loved the most was his ability to reinvent himself. As an artiste he was a child and a wise man at the same time.”
Keen to trace the origins of the temple dance style, Biswas studied the life and works of the ancient Mahari dancers. About her aesthetic research she said: “My research on Mahari extended for quite a few years and still continues. It gave me a new understanding of myself as a dancer. I became aware of the cultural environment in which the Maharis lived and worked. Their beautiful minds set them apart from the society, yet allowed them to remain connected. I learnt their aesthetics in detail. I came into touch with so many wonderful people who have greatly enriched me as a dancer.”
It is generally tough to showcase one’s inner journey in a dance narration but not for a genius like Sharmila. Asked to explain the concept of ‘Antar Yatra’, the exponent said: “Yes it is a concept tough to express in a stage presentation because it is not a linear narrative. It is not a series of attractive dances for the audience to sit back and enjoy. The narration has to be shared with the audience. While performing it I felt the spectators deserved an intense communication with the idea. As part of the narrative, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi dancers joined hands to narrate the thoughts and creative journey of women dancers past and present. Their thoughts are tentative as their journey is unchartered. Besides, the narration has been done in the four voices of women and the stagecraft has been intensely composed, as it plays an important role.”
“We have seen in the past few shows that the audiences have shared our aesthetic journey and formed their own perceptions. Their spontaneous interpretations have gladdened me, as that is how I want the viewers to react to Antar Yatra,” she added.
Biswas was conferred with the Best Choreography Award by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting for her dance production ‘Sampurna’ based on the devdasis of Puri. She also bagged the Uday Shankar Award for best choreography given away by the department of information and broadcasting, government of West Bengal. In 2010, Biswas was conferred the Mahari Awards and, in 2012, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Dilating on her future plans the Odissi maestro said: “Every aspect of dance excites me. I keep planning and wishing for things that are quite impossible for me to achieve. I would like to work on developing a perfect curriculum for those keen to learn Odissi. I do have a few small and not-so-small ideas which I would like to explore and choreograph.”
Sharmila attended the Young Choreographers’ Workshop, organised as part of the American Dance Festival, in 1990 where she interacted with choreographers who enjoy worldwide reputation. Over the years, she has participated in performing arts festivals like the Khajuraho Dance Festival, Konark Dance Festival and other gala events held in the UK, USA, Germany, Russia, Dubai and Bangladesh.
However, the noted danseuse’s excitement ahead of performing in a major festival in Orissa – the birthplace of Odissi – is huge. “Orissa is the nerve-centre of all my creative work and I don’t consider my achievement complete unless I get the opportunity to showcase my skills in the state. Here, my performances are viewed by all who have guided, chided, loved and encouraged me all my life. I expect lots of love from dance lovers in the state, and I do get a lot of appreciation from all of them,” she signed off.
Himanshu Guru
