post news network
Bhubaneswar, June 26: The evening began with a poignant tale of devotion. Set to the song ‘Ahe Nila Shaila’, the Odissi composition by Kolkata-based danseuse Maya Bhattacharya and troupe presented glimpses from the life of poet Salabega.
The audience at Rabindra Mandap, who were attending a programme organised by Indian Council for Cultural and Relations Sunday, was treated to a vivid narrative of the poet’s yearning and trials and tribulations on his path to meet Lord Jagannath.
Maya later spoke with Orissa POST about the composition. “The poet was not allowed to enter the Jagannath temple as he was a Muslim. He, therefore, chose to express his love for the Lord through hymns. The poet contracts leprosy at a point in life and prays to the Lord to cure him. He urges Jagannath to save him just as he had saved many others through his many avatars.”
The song for the presentation was set in Aarbhi raag to Jati taal. The dance was composed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and choreographed by Maya herself.
The Abhinaya was followed by Sur-Sangam. The dance described the “truth of the dependence of dance and music”. According to the dancers, dance and music cannot have existence on their own.
Maya was a disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and has been performing across the country. She performed a dance ‘Abhinaya-Lila Nidhi He’ as a tribute to the guru. The music was composed by poet Baladev Rath.
“The dance is a portrayal of the ‘leelas’ of Krishna as he steals clothes of ‘gopis’ as they take bath in the Yamuna,” the artist said. The music was composed by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra and it was set in Mukhari raag to Khemta taal.
Besides these key performances, the evening also featured four other recitals — ‘Krishna Madhurya’, ‘Mor Bhabanare’, ‘Abhisaar Chali Sur’ and ‘Moksha Durga’.
Krishna Madhurya was a Kathak recital by Maya; it was an experimental presentation. “The lyrics of this dance are taken from ‘Kavitt-a’ collection of short poems but it follows the rhythm of Odissi music,” Maya said.
Maya has earned acclaim beyond dance. She is also known as a yoga practitioner and gymnastics champion. She learnt Kathak from guru Krishna Acharya and Bharatanatyam from Guru Khagendranath Barman. Eventually, she moved to Odissi out of love for the dance.
