Bhubaneswar: The 32ndGuru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival, organised by Srjan – Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa in collaboration with Sri Sri University (SSU), Cuttack commenced with much grandeur, here at Rabindra Mandap on Saturday.
The five-day cultural extravaganza scheduled from September 5–9 at 7 pm daily features a stellar line-up of classical music, dance, and theatre performances. This year’s edition of this premier classical event in the cultural calendar of Odisha coincides with the commemoration of the birth centenary year celebrations of revered Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
The inaugural evening witnessed a befitting opening with the celebrated Hindustani vocalistand music luminary Vid. Shubha Mudgal captivating the Bhubaneswar audience with her melodic excursion.
The programme commenced with the welcome address and the auspicious lighting of the lamp by Pt. Anup Jalota, former IAS officer Ashok Kumar Tripathy, MGM Minerals CMD Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, SSU Vice Chancellor Tej Partap, Director Srjan Guru Ratikant Mohapatra.
Vidushi Shubha Mudgal began her presentation with two compositions in the beautiful and melodious Raag Bageshri. The first was a composition centred around the birth of Lord Krishna in Vilambit set to Rupak Taal. The lyrics, Mangal Gao Mai Aaj Lal Ko Janm Dyosai, Baajat Rang Badhaairang sonorous in the halls of Rabindra Mandap. She then presented a composition in Madhyalaya set to Teen Taal. A composition of her revered Guru Pt. Ramashreya Jha “Ramrang,”Khelan Mangat Chaand Kanhayi, resonated the devotional spirit of Krishna Janmashtami and the aura of the intricacies of Raag Bageshri.
Widely recognised as one of India’s leading classical vocalists, she then rendered a beautiful and soulful composition in Raag Gaur Malhar, after which she explored the intricacies of the Khayal, Thumri, and Dadra, a testament to her expansive musical vocabulary.
A Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award recipient, she treated the audience to a masterclass in Hindustani vocal euphony rendered with deep musical imagination and stylistic nuance.
She was skilfully accompanied by the resounding cadence of Dr. Aneesh Pradhan on the Tabla, the melodic notes of Sudhir Nayak on the Harmonium, and Sushree Nilima Pradhan on the Tanpura. Nitin Joshi provided brilliant technical support as her Chief Sound Engineer. Immersed in the Art of Hindustani vocal music for almost five decades, she drew from her vast and expressive repertoire to providea befitting inauguration to the festival.
The proceedings for the evening were conducted seamlessly by the eloquent Dr. Mrutyunjaya Rath.
Today evening will feature a Sarod recital by Pt. Tejendra Narayan Majumdar accompanied by Shri Satyajit Talwalkar on Tabla, followed by a solo Odissi recital by Ms. Lipsa Satapathy.
