Gita Govindam: A Celebration of Ashtapadis May 29, 2009

Gita Govindam: A Celebration of Ashtapadis by Debi Basu, Daksha Mashruwala and Anandi Joshi. A Sanyuktam Presentation. The contemporary Odissi scene is virtually synonymous with the name of the late legendary Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. His contribution towards reviving, shaping and perpetuating this classical dance form has been widely acknowledged. The NCPA was privileged to host his masterclasses for many years. While Kelu-babu's oeuvre was formidably varied, his choreography of Jayadeva's ashtapadis from the Gita Govindam has always been viewed as particularly significant. These remarkable compositions have been performed widely, and their invocations of the subtle nuances of the love between Lord Krishna and Radha have enthralled audiences across the world. Three of the city's leading Odissi dancers, all senior students of Kelu-babu, have decided to collaborate on this rare multimedia event. Debi Basu, Daksha Mashruwala and Anandi Joshi consider themselves fortunate to have witnessed the genius of Kelu-babu's art and pedagogy at close quarters. This show is not merely a tribute to their guru's choreography, but also an attempt to preserve the purity and fierce integrity of his body of work, to link the heritage he represented with our future. In this dance production, they present a spectrum of ashtapadis, rare compositions choreographed by their master. The programme will
also include a multimedia presentation that explores the stylistic and thematic connections between patachitras (the ancient Orissan art of
devotional painting on cloth) with the Odissi dance form.

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