On the 29th of September, Rasa School of Odissi presented Shrungaram ( Rutu Kavya )at Triveni Kala Kendra. Conceived and directed by Subrata Tripathy, this dance ensemble is a poetic exploration of the seasons through the works of celebrated poets of ancient India. It delved deep into the impact of seasons on human consciousness, a theme cherished by romantic poets across eras.
From time immemorial, seasons have not only been a reason for the celebration of nature and its bounty but also a reflection of the soul. “Ritu Kavya,” with its nuances, explored these connections, illustrating not only the typical essence of the seasons but also the rich emotional dualities they evoke. For instance, the scorching summer can feel like fleeting youth when seen through the verses of Kalidasa’s Ritu Samhara, while the verdant, resplendent monsoon evokes the poignance of a pining Nayika in Vidyapati’s verse.
This theme provided the framework for the choreography, which bloomed into a mesmerizing performance by some of today’s finest dancers, namely Subrata Tripathy, Lipsa Sathpathy, Geetanjali Acharya, Sudarshan Shaoo, Santosh Kumar Swain, and Samarjeet Deo. The music was composed and rendered by Jatin Kumar Sahoo, accompanied by Rohan Dahale, Vijay Tambe, and Aparna Deodhar. The narrative was written and narrated by Soumi Duttagupta.
