Dances with the gods

A string of cultural events enthrall Malda residents.
Manas R Bannerjee reports

Malda’s English Bazaar residents were in for some good entertainment during the last few days when a local cultural organisation and educational institutes staged several shows at the Malda College auditorium.

Ananya Bose, a college student and also the director of the music and dance academy, Srishti, invited the team from Kalamandalam led by Bharatnatyam expert Ms Thankamani Kutty to present Tagore’s dance drama, Chitrangada.

The programme was organised to mark the second anniversary of Srishti.The students of the academy also presented several dance recitals including ones based on Rabindra Sangeet as well as folk songs.

Besides, there was a performance based on Tagore’s poem, Dushsamay. Chitrangada, in different classical combinations, was directed by Guru Gobindan Kutty and Ms Thankmani Kutty.

Malabika Sen as Kurupa and Sanjukta Banerjee as Surupa performed well, much to the satisfaction of the audience.

Ananya Bose, a student of Ms Thankamani Kutty, presented three solo items. The audience was happy with her performance because it was for the first time that a local artist got support of such kind from an eminent institution as Kalamandalam, said cultural activist Reshmi Muzumder.

Ananya’s presentations include Natyangam, based on Indian classical Raga Hansadhwani, Shibakastakam, in a combination of Khandachapu Tal and Raga Mohanam, and finally, Tillana, directed by Ms Thankamani Kutty. Ms Kutty was herself on stage providing the vocal accompaniment.

Following this on 17 December, Malda Aabritti Shiksha O Charcha Kendra presented a cultural programme of poetry and drama in memory of local poet and writer Tridib Gupta.

The next day, a kindergarten school, Nalanda Shishu Sikshayatan, staged its annual cultural programme. Needless to say, the tiny tots were the main actors. Among other performances, they presented Sita Haran with the help of a senior local artist by way of music, light and songs.

Source : N B Extra of The Statesman on Dec 23 , 2005.

Pic collected