Music and dance are mediums that not only connect different cultures but also provide joy to the artists and connoisseurs associated with them. They are doing a wonderful job of connecting these cultural areas, as organized by the Center for Ancient Arts currently ongoing at Tagore Theatre, the 53rd Bhaskar Rao Dance-Music Conference. In the dignified presence of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee and Registrar of Ancient Arts Center Guru Maa Dr. Shobha Kausar, Secretary of Ancient Arts Center Sajal Kausar, and many honorable guests in the auditorium, this evening was also something special because the famous Santoor player Pandit Bhajan Sopori, along with Pandit Rajkumar Majumdar, a disciple of [a missing guru’s name], and Meenu Thakur, a scholar having a glimpse of the South Indian dance style, were here with their group to give their best Kuchipudi dance performance.
Pandit Rajkumar Majumdar is one of the finest Santoor players among today’s artists, and he has made a special place for himself in the music world. Born into a family of musicians, Raj Kumar Majumdar is a versatile santoor player and one of the emerging artists of the country. Known for a unique style of performance and quality of sound, he is highly appreciated and loved by all music lovers, especially for his superb skills in playing the Santoor by swinging both his arms in a pleasing style.
Kuchipudi dancer Vidushi Meenu Thakur, on the other hand, had the privilege of learning under the tutelage of renowned gurus like Swapnasundari, Pasumarthi Sitaramaiah, and Gurus Jayaram Rao and Vanashree Rao. Through intensive training and practice, Meenu became an excellent dancer of Kuchipudi dance. Among the current Kuchipudi dancers, Meenu holds an important position, having performed on stage for more than two decades.
The program started with a Santoor playing Jugalbandi by Pandit Rajkumar Majumdar and his daughter and disciple Anushka. They added and expanded the melodious raga “Puria Dhanashree” through traditional Aalap and then presented some beautiful compositions, receiving a lot of applause from the audience. By presenting beautiful compositions in Rupaka Taal and Teen Taal, they easily connected with the audience through their music.
The father and daughter displayed excellent santoor playing by presenting compositions decorated with lyrical verses. They concluded their program with a resounding ovation and also engaged in an interesting question and answer session. To accompany them, famous tabla player Pt. Siddharth Chatterjee added to the occasion by providing accompaniment.
After this, renowned Kuchipudi dancer Meenu Thakur took the stage with her group. She presented her presentation Navagraha Charitram, in which Kuchipudi dance drama depicts the influence of power, evolution, nature, and movement of planets through the intricacies of stories depicted about the nine planets as per Hindu mythology. “Navagraha,” which includes Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (North Moon mode), and Ketu (Dakshin Chandra Mode), exerts a deep influence through their nature, power, and status, which is portrayed through “Rasa” or aesthetics. If Surya, the king of the planets, riding on a chariot with seven horses, illuminates the entire world, then “Chandra” gives peace. The anger and enthusiasm of “Mars,” riding fast on a horned ram, or the wisdom of “Mercury” on the back of a lion, influence life in equal measure. The knowledge of the path of Dharma of the Guru, firmly seated on an elephant, or Venus in the state of “Sringara Rasa” riding on a horse, Saturn, in his destructive anger, and “Rahu” and “Ketu” are among all the planets of Navagraha-charitam. Various stories on various aspects were presented through dance. Thus the interpretation of “Navagraha-charitam” was presented in this dance drama. The audience was mesmerized after watching this presentation.
At the end of the program, the artists were honored with certificates and mementos. On the fifth day of the conference, classical singer Sujata Gurav and sarod player Rajeev Chakraborty will perform.
