On 7th July, 2010 we got the opportunity to
experience dancing of famous singer Swagatalaxmi Dasgupto with another
legendary dancer, BBC award winner Anurekha Ghosh at Rabindrasadan,
Kolkata.
Every year,
in memory of her father; Classical Legend Late Shri Pabitro Dasgupto,
Swagatalaxmi arranges the annual function of her institution Ashokrenu.
Ashokrenu has completed its journey of one era as it is 12 years old
now.
Anchored by
elocutionist Alok Roy Ghatak, the program had three major parts; -
Dance drama Chitrangada by Rabindranath Tagore, felicitation of another
famous singer Lopamudra Mitro and solo program of Swagatalaxmi
compromising songs of her own composition.
The sound was very
good that day.
The
conception of set and the lighting for Chitrangada was awesome specially
presence of bow and arrow in front of a tree and a idol of a girl
dressed partly as boy as and partly as girl indicates the story of
Chitrangada very clearly.
Rabindranath
conceptualized story of Chitrangada from Mahabharata where Manipur
princess Chitrangada, who always dressed as boy as per her father’s
wish, met Pandav Arjun at the time of his 14 years of absconding at the
time of hunting in forest. She felt in love with him so prayed to God of
Love, Madan to become feminine and beautiful and she became with his
blessings. Then she went to Arjun, who was in sainthood but felt in love
with her but after listening to everybody felt his love for Chitrangada
as she was before getting blessings from Madan. Then Chitrangada
realized the actual essence of love and went to Madan to get her actual
look. She got and came to Arjun who accepted her and they married.
The dance drama used voices of Ashokrenu disciples as well as
Swagatalaxmi for songs and interpretation of Chitrangada even the
performers on stage were none but students of Ashokrenu along with
Swagatalaxmi and Anurekha, who is eventually taking her singing lessons
from Swagata by the side of her dancing.
The singing part was
very good but they might use male voice for male characters in stead of
female voices. After her performance as mother in Chandalika, Swagata
was more matured in her second attempt as dancer as Kurupa Chitrangada
(Chitrangada in male dress) but her steps were slower than expectation
as per the character demanded. The dancer as Arjun has to improve as
lot. We thought sometimes that he was dancing forcibly!! Madan was good
but excellent was Anurekha as Surupa Chitrangada ( feminine Chitrangada
). We really appreciated her dancing skills and she truly ruled the
stage as long as she was present on stage.
The
middle part was felicitation of Lopamudra Mitro by Swagatalaxmi on
behalf of Ashokrenu. Every year Ashokrenu, in memory of Late Pabitro
Dasgupto, felicitates one young legend for his or her contribution in
cultural field. Lopa was very cordial through out her speech.
The
last part was solo presentation of Swagata where she excelled with
every presentation and showed her command to sing hymns (slokas) with
proper pronunciation and music as well as lyricist and composer. We hope
to listen more songs of her own lyric and music again and again.
Many
eminent personalities including actor-cum-singer Arjun Chakraborty were
present at auditorium that day.