Meeting Gurudev

The festival kicked off on Monday with a powerful performance of the classic Chandalika by Kolkata-based Usha Ganguli’s group,Rangkarmee. Presented in Hindi,the story revolves around an untouchable girl and her constant struggle to find an equal place in society.

The women in Tagore’s works have intrigued and interested many critics. Chandigarh-based Bharatnatyam dancer Suchitra Mitra,for instance,will stage a dance titled Rabindra Srishta Naari on Tuesday evening,exploring the various ways in which Tagore presented women.

Also on Tuesday,Rajashree Shirke from Mumbai brings the dance theatre,Khata (Exercise Book). Based on a short story by Tagore,set in the 19th century,the performance probes the social dictates which strangle the individualism of a nine-year-old bride,Uma. The exercise book,which is the embodiment of her extended self,represents not only her scribblings,but also the free will and creativity of women. Shirke says that she feels it’s her duty and responsibility to express the essence and emotion of this story through her chosen idiom of dance theatre.

Purna Chandra Das,the renowned baul performer of Bengal,is also a part of the festival and will perform on February 22. Das’s voice has travelled beyond the lanes and trains of rural Bengal,the traditional haunt of baul performers,and he has been feted at concerts worldwide. “Lend an ear to his music,and it will take you to another level,” says Kamal Tewari,Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Natyanjali will also feature Rabindra Sangeet (songs by Tagore) by Srabani Sen and Agnibha Bandyopadhyay from Kolkata and Ira Mukherjee and Shekhar Kanti Kar Gupta from Delhi on Wednesday.

A dogri performance of Dakghar by Mushtaq Kak of Amateur Theatre Group,a Kathakali representation of Tagore’s poem Kacha-O-Devyani titled Yatra Shapam,and Vasanta Jagrata,a dance recital by Chandigarh-based Shobha Koser are among the other highlights. Spend some moments with Tagore.

Natyanjali is on at Tagore Theatre till February 23