Paying homage to her guru
9 Feb 2013 4:30 AM IST
For any creative person, mentors are perhaps more important than their parents. Because it is the mentors who nurture them and shape them into what they ultimately become. Little wonder then that an exponent like Dr Sonal Mansingh would leave no stone unturned to pay homage to her guru.
In a two-day festival at the Capital, she attempted to rekindle the memory of Jivan Pani, an eminent scholar-poet of modern India. Pakhawaj Guru Banamali Maharana was given the Jivan-Ratna Samman at the festival, acknowledging his contribution in popularising the Indian classical dance form in India and abroad.
The festival was organised by the Centre for Indian Classical Dances of which Mansingh is founder-president. The festival commemorated Jivan Pani’s contribution to the Indian visual and performing arts. ‘As an expression of our eternal gratitude, we started the Jivan Pani Memorial Festival. It’s a tribute to Jivan Pani, who was my guru, mentor and guide. We hope this festival will help in fulfilling our mission of preserving India’s time-honoured cultural traditions,’ Mansingh said.
Day one saw the audience enjoying performances of Kalamandalam Gopi and Kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas. With an experience spanning 30 years, Kalamandalam Gopi has established himself as an outstanding Kathakali actor. He has played all major Kathakali roles, excelling as Bhima, Arjuna and Nala. For his eminence in dance and his contribution to its enrichment Kalamandalam Gopi received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.
He has also acted in a couple of Malayalam feature films like Vanaprastham, directed by Shaji N. Karun and Shantham by Jayaraj. A documentary film has also been made by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan on him, called Kalamandalam Gopi, which was shown at the International Film Festival of India in 2000.
Mangaldas is a leading dancer and choreographer in both the classical Indian dance forms of Kathak and the contemporary idiom. With extensive training under the leading exponents of Kathak, Kumudini Lakhia and Pandit Birju Maharaj, Mangaldas is recognised for her artistry, technique, eloquence and characteristic energy that mark every performance.
In the past years, the Centre has brought unique programmes where the likes of Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shashwati Sen, Kum Kum Mohanty, Surupa Sen, Bijayini Sathpathy, Vidya Shah have paid tribute through their dance and music.
Attractive make-up, elaborate costume, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements of veteran Gopi and Mangaldas kept the audience spell bound.
On the second and concluding day, there were performances by Dwi-Varnaa (Jugalbandi of Odissi and Bharatnatyam) by Pallavi Saran Gujral and Vilasini Natyam (Andhra Pradesh) by Swapana Sundari, a recipient of Padma Bhushan award.
In a two-day festival at the Capital, she attempted to rekindle the memory of Jivan Pani, an eminent scholar-poet of modern India. Pakhawaj Guru Banamali Maharana was given the Jivan-Ratna Samman at the festival, acknowledging his contribution in popularising the Indian classical dance form in India and abroad.
The festival was organised by the Centre for Indian Classical Dances of which Mansingh is founder-president. The festival commemorated Jivan Pani’s contribution to the Indian visual and performing arts. ‘As an expression of our eternal gratitude, we started the Jivan Pani Memorial Festival. It’s a tribute to Jivan Pani, who was my guru, mentor and guide. We hope this festival will help in fulfilling our mission of preserving India’s time-honoured cultural traditions,’ Mansingh said.
Day one saw the audience enjoying performances of Kalamandalam Gopi and Kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas. With an experience spanning 30 years, Kalamandalam Gopi has established himself as an outstanding Kathakali actor. He has played all major Kathakali roles, excelling as Bhima, Arjuna and Nala. For his eminence in dance and his contribution to its enrichment Kalamandalam Gopi received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.
He has also acted in a couple of Malayalam feature films like Vanaprastham, directed by Shaji N. Karun and Shantham by Jayaraj. A documentary film has also been made by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan on him, called Kalamandalam Gopi, which was shown at the International Film Festival of India in 2000.
Mangaldas is a leading dancer and choreographer in both the classical Indian dance forms of Kathak and the contemporary idiom. With extensive training under the leading exponents of Kathak, Kumudini Lakhia and Pandit Birju Maharaj, Mangaldas is recognised for her artistry, technique, eloquence and characteristic energy that mark every performance.
In the past years, the Centre has brought unique programmes where the likes of Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shashwati Sen, Kum Kum Mohanty, Surupa Sen, Bijayini Sathpathy, Vidya Shah have paid tribute through their dance and music.
Attractive make-up, elaborate costume, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements of veteran Gopi and Mangaldas kept the audience spell bound.
On the second and concluding day, there were performances by Dwi-Varnaa (Jugalbandi of Odissi and Bharatnatyam) by Pallavi Saran Gujral and Vilasini Natyam (Andhra Pradesh) by Swapana Sundari, a recipient of Padma Bhushan award.
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