Bhubaneswar, Sept 10: The concluding evening of 22nd Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Award Festival started with the customary award giving ceremony by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha. The Award was instituted in the year 1995 with a view to generating a feeling of cultural amity amongst the performing arts fraternity and acknowledging the excellence and contribution of great artists in the field of dance, music, theatre and cinema. Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra the leading torch-bearer of his father and Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra’s legacy is committed to reach out the nook and corner of the Globe with all its pristine glory and purity. Srjan (Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Nrutyabasa) founded in 1993 by Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra has pioneered the cause of recognizing the talents and achievements of individual artists in different art forms.
This year Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2016 for Lifetime achievement was awarded to Smt. Jharana Das (Cinema) and Guru Kishore Kumar Mohanty (Odissi-Dance). Guru Kelucharan Mohaptra Yuva Prativa Samman 2016 for exceptional diligence and accomplishment was awarded to Shri Rajib Bhattacharya (Odissi-Dance), Smt Madhusmita Mohanty (Odissi-Dance), Shri P. Praveen Kumar (Bharatnatyam-Dance) and Sri Rupak Kumar Parida (Odissi-Vocal). Guru Kelucharan Mohaptra Nrutya Kala Samman 2016 for exemplary commitment to the practice and performance of Odissi Dance was awarded to Madhubrata Satapathy. Sincerity, self confidence and perseverance have sometimes conquered poverty and all hurdles for which Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra has set an example to be emulated by others.
The artistes of Srjan presented a dance drama “Tyaga”. It was the story of Anusuya, her leper husband Bishnu Das and Lakhyaheera. How Anusuya sacrificing her life, the students of the Srjan beautifully presented before the audience. The choreography of this flawless presentation was by Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra, the music was composed by Lakshmikant Palit, the script written by Jaydev Das, Music arrangement by Tarakanta Panda and Narration by Aditya Mahapatra. Music Accompaniment on Mardala by Ratikant Mohapatra, on Vocal by Lakshmikant Palit, Rupak Kumar Parida, Mitali Chinara, Khitiprakash Mohapatra, Bandish Pait, Tapu Mishra, and Ira Mohanty, on Violin by Prabir Sarkar, Soumitra Byapari & Agnimitra Behera, on Flute by Srinibas Satpathy, on Flute & Clarionate by M. Simadri, on Surmandal by Bhabtosh Mohanty, on Sitar by Rabishankar Pradhan and on Keyboard by Bibhuprasad Tripathy. Dancers are Smt. Rajashri Praharaj, Sipra Swain, Aishwariya Singhdev, Riyanka Chakrabarty, Pragna Parimita Das, Preetisha Mohapatra, Ritu Sengupta & Sanjay Kumar Behera, and Light by Jaydev Das & Debiprasad Mishra and Costume by Odissi Tailor & Baikuntha Das
The dignitaries who graced the occasion were Shri Naveen Pattnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha; Shri Debiprasad Mishra, Hon’ble Minister, Industries, School & Mass Education; Shri Ashok Kumar Tripathy, Former Member, Board of Revenue; Shri Manoranjan Panigrahy, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Culture and I & PR Department and Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra, Director, Srjan. The programme was compared by Er. Srinivas Ghatuari and Najia Allam.
