Sharmila Biswas presents Odissi at GKCM Awards 2015

Bhubaneswar, Sep 7: The 21st Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Award Festival started with great enthusiasm and excitement among the art connoisseurs thronging to Rabindra Mandap on 5th September 2015.

The first presentation in the inaugural evening was the prime disciple Sharmila Biswas who over the years has explored the myriad hues of Odissi traditional repertoire laced with Astapadis and compositions of medieval poets like Jayadeva, Upendra Bhanja, etc. Her programme commenced with Rag Madhuri. This was followed by Pasyati Dishi Dishi set to Rag Des and Tal Ektali from Jayadev’s Gita Govinda depicting Radha as the Kalahantarita Nayika who sent Krishna away longing for him despite her wounded vanity. Then chiding Radha for her sullen behaviour, the sakhi explains how Krishna waits for her to unite with spring and then both ultimately unite. While the music was composed by Bhubaneswar Mishra the dance was choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

The second presentation of the evening was by eminent Carnatic Vocalist Pandit O. S. Arun who regaled the audience by his sonorous voice rendering some classical Carnatic song like Swagatam Krishna Saranagatam Krishna, Priya Charusila, Aaj Ayea Shyam More, etc. The auditorium was full with the art lovers who were deeply engrossed with the wonderful renderings in the evening.

The dignitaries who graced the occasion were Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India; Shri Ashok Chandra Panda, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism & Culture; Shri Ashok Kumar Tripathy, Member Board of Revenue; Shri Manoranjan Panigrahi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Culture Department and Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra, Director, Srjan. The programme was compered by Er. Srinivas Ghatuari.