NAVODIT 2016 at ASI Auditorium Port Blair Andaman Nicobar Islands

Art has always fascinated me, particularly the dance. Now a day it is clubbed with performing arts. Do performing arts include dance, playing musical instruments, singing, plays-theatre etc? What about painting, writing, decorating home?

When I started appreciating arts at young age, I came to know few artists who were famous at national level; it was only due to the Doordarshan. That was the only channel and it was synonymous of TELEVISION. I saw Smt Swapna Sundari, Chitra Viswesaran, Alarmel valli, followed by Malvika Sarrukai, Prerna Shrimali, Veroniqa Azan, Shobha Naidu, Vanisri Rao, Charu Mathur, Malbika Sarkar etc they were called Young artist. Few were famous even more than few elder artists.

However young artists were always encouraged to show their talents at various stages, Yuva kalakar, Yuva Mahotsav, Sharadotsav etc. 

Suddenly I saw a tweet of Ministry of art and culture stating that there will be a function at Port Blair named as NOVODIT. The department of Art and Culture Andaman Nicobar Administration is organizing in association with East Zone Cultural Centre on 25 November 2016.

Hon'ble Lt Governor  A & N Islands inaugurating the function 

I am a so called art enthusiast and I am very well known among few people and ill famous as a dancer.

Despite of well known in circle, I was not invited to the function. I mean I did not receive any invitation card. I don’t know whether there was any invitation card printed or not? But previous experience tells that I usually do not get invitation card. In some functions I had to plead with few officials shamelessly for an invitation card. Most of programs usually held free for public. But being in Government we often feel that if I get an official invitation then my social status seems to be enhanced.

But till 6 pm I could hold back myself, as the clock proceeded further I lost all resistance. After dropping my son for tuition class I just ran towards the venue, it was late though. As with thumping heart I entered the auditorium found that Hon’ble Lt Governor of A & N Islands was addressing the gathering. Thus I felt some relief, and thought I am not that much late.

I was waiting for magic to happen. 

Dharmendra Kumar from Bihar

There was an  announcement that program will start with a song of folk singer from Bihar. Mr Dharmendra Kumar came to stage. He is a young artist from Bihar. He started singing folk Songs of Bihar. Then he sang a Purvi, poorvi? accompanied by musicians. These musicians hailed from Port Blair itself.

Sound was good with broad spectrum of octave, but somewhere it sounded that he lacked, what we call as   “Swar ki pakad” the mastery on swaras. But if he practices with a good guru, teacher then he can improve his art.

Another star of attraction was this girl named Miss Priyanka Talukdar. Her father Shri Talukdar has been teaching music in Port Blair for the last many years. I had met him back in 1998 when i was in Education Department. He worked as par time teacher then. But his efforts to teach students has bored fruits now after 20 years. The girl which we saw 18 years back is now performing on stage it was a good feeling. 


She (Priyanka) sang a Tarana also. She rendered it in a simple way. But there is lot of scope for improvement. She has to get specialised training from some Guru at Mainland to hon her skills. her. Her स्वर  swar rendering is good. 




Next was an item as they called it, the folk song of Bengal, but it was a Baul geeti, Baul songs by Dhanonjay Dhibar. He had a good power voice. But somehow he has to get into the true feeling or character of a Baul while singing.
He tried but as he himself said he was not able to dance as the space was not enough in front of the stage.
As we know the Baul songs are soul touching experience. To feel to touch that feeling we can not resist dancing on those Baul musical beats coming out of the ektara- one string instrument.


But in present times singers use electronic guitars and other electrical instruments.

Dhananjoy also used an electronic instrument.













Next was the Bharatnatyam item. As they announced the word “item” it sounded as a tailored item. It was Bharatnatyam by Sumita Roy.
Many senior artists often complain that few modern parents come and ask to teach “items’ to their wards. That sounds awkward to senior gurus. Now a days it is fashion to present an item on stage, instead of Dance.

Coming to the present function this item was a “thillana’ as was announced. Thillana is same as Tarana in Hindustani. We perform Tarana in Kathak similarly thillana is performed in Bharatnatyam. But the present item was little bit confusing, as it was little slow in temper. Usually what I have seen in Thillana it happens to be most energetic item in whole dance program, or it should be portrayed such. But those crisp beats, gaps all were missing. I mean as far as the image which I had of thillana, this item was not upto mark to that image. But the “adavus” poses mudras were quite fine. Thus she seemed to be a serious student. Movements of eyes, head, hands were all quite good. 

Next came a surprising dance program. I am sure not many in audiences must have heard the name of Gaudiya Nritya.  
Years back I saw the Satria dance, on Doordarshan, which took shape in Shatras or Chatras,  the ashrams in rural Assam. 
But Gaudiya Nritya even i have not heard before, may be say 2000? But due to efforts of few dancers from Bengal Gaudiya is now developing into a full fledged dance.
Often it so happens that we know or have many rituals and keep on doing since ages but do not know the significance of these rituals. I am connecting to the origination of such dances. So at various religious occasions in rural India people perform dance and sing songs, but keeping all this as just ritual things. And we know that in India many dances are associated with the Temple rituals. Even Kathak was performed by the Kathakars- loose meaning is story teller, temples. The subject of these stories were mythological aspects. As it is believed the dance as we know Kathak Kathakali Kuchipudi are all evolved from Temple dances. Thus very recently this dance the Gaudiya also have been researched and being presented as classical dance of Bengal.  Present dance was performed by the Satabdee Banerjee. 

           

At the end Director, East Zone Cultural Centre, Shir Om Prakash Bharati proposed vote of thanx and certificate as token of appreciation were presented to participants by Chief Secretary of Andaman Nicobar Administration Shri Anindo Majumdar ji