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 Kathak in the theatrical format -Vijay Shankar e-mail: vijaydance@gmail.com June 17, 2023 The National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) presented two leading Kathak dancers of the city, Dr Rupali Desai and Manisha Jeet in Kathak presentations that explored the theatrical format of this dance style with group presentations showcasing different themes. Rupali Desai with her talented team of disciples portrayed the multi-faceted and all powerful elephant headed God Ganesha. Manisha Jeet with a team of dancers included two male dancers who effectively portrayed the concise version of Ramayana and the story of Pancha Mukhi Hanuman created a dramatic impact on the audience. The programme was held at Experimental theatre, Mumbai, on 18th May.  Rupali Desai  Rupali Desai's group The performance titled 'Nrutyadhisthan Ganesh' showcased an exquisite collection of compositions created by Rupali Desai as part of her thesis. In this enthralling presentation, Dhrupad, Stuti, and Ashtapadi, which are prominent elements of Hindustani classical music, were meticulously composed by Rupali, honoring their traditional roots. The performance expertly blended the rhythmic essence of 'Taalanga' and the emotional depth of 'Bhavanga'. The intricate Taalachakra, a series of 'kavittas' (poetic interludes) in various taals, and presentation of the 21 Matra taal - Ganesh taal, showcased the ten elements of taal with finesse, which indeed was the highlight of the presentation. Every aspect of this performance seamlessly harmonized, from the soul-stirring compositions and the captivating dance presentations to the mesmerizing music, meticulously choreographed sequences, and attractive costumes. The music was composed by Pt. Mukundraj Deo, Manoj Desai, Atul Phadke while the choreography was crafted by the talented Disha Desai. A distinctive highlight of the performance was the inclusion of numerous names and adjectives of Lord Ganesh in the compositions, which were meticulously researched from Sanskrit texts and scriptures. These divine epithets were brought to life through graceful dance movements and powerful portrayals, adding a touch of reverence and authenticity to the presentation. The speciality of this presentation was Ganesha Ashtapadi which was presented for the first time in Kathak. Additionally, each paragraph of the Ashtapadi, an eight paragraph composition, was set to a different raag, showcasing the depth and versatility of the musical repertoire. Enhancing the impact of the performance were skillfully managed light effects, deftly handled by Vijay from NCPA team. These effects heightened the overall experience, captivating the audience with their brilliance and enhancing the thematic significance of Lord Ganesh in the Kathak tradition.  Manisha Jeet (Photo: Madhusudan Menon)  Manisha Jeet's group The second performer of the evening was the accomplished Kathak exponent Manisha Jeet. The most creditable part of her choreography is the dramatic impact, uniformity and the team spirit of all the dancers. The energised Pancha Mukhi Hanuman by the imaginative choreographer, traced the origin of Kathak to Katha Kathan (story telling aspect), draping her theme through layers of Nartan aavartan and kirtan. Her talented disciples and guest performers set the pace for entertainment, dramatic quality and spirituality while portraying Pancha Mukhi Hanuman with each head associated with the deity of Vishnu, facing a cardinal direction: Hanuman facing the east, Narasimha facing the south, Varaha facing the North, Garuda facing the west and Hayagriva facing the sky. The dramatic interludes of Mahiravan by the dynamic Bharatanatyam dancer Satchidanand Narayankar created a lasting impression with his powerful portrayal and Hanuman by Gauresh Vasant Shekar from Pune lifted the show and choreography to a higher level. The vigour and the tussle between the good and bad epitomised in the two characters led us to the munificent dynamic form of Pancha Mukhi Hanuman. Absolutely mesmerizing evening between 21 and 5, one lost track of time and the distance to be aligned homewards Earlier this team also presented the concise version of Ramayana, the interpretation based on one shloka of Tulsidas Ramayana that incorporated the glimpses of the epic with striking stances. On the whole it was exciting to watch Kathak in the theatrical format.  Vijay Shankar is a Kuchipudi and Kathakali exponent, teacher, bilingual journalist, arts critic and actor. |
