Odissi dancer Madhavi Mudgal performs at the function at NIFFT in Ranchi. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, April 9: It was a special day for the students of the National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT) who got an opportunity to appreciate the cultural heritage of India at a Odissi dance programme.

For a change the students, who on any other day, are engrossed in technical studies, carefully watched different mudras as well-known Odissi danseuse Madhavi Mudgal performed at a concert organised by SpicMacay (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth).

“It was amazing to closely watch an Odissi dance performance. I was not aware that our traditional dance forms are so powerful. For a while I was completely spellbound. Today’s concert has generated an interest to know more about Indian dances,” said a student who watched the concert till the end.

According to another student, watching classical concerts was an entirely different experience. “I used to watch Kathak, Bharat Natyam or Odissi on television. But that looked boring. I would switch over to some other channel after a while. But seeing a live performance is an unique experience. I wish the organisers would come with more such programmes in future,” he added.

Chairperson of the organisation’s Ranchi chapter Binay Sarawagi said Spic Macay aims at sensitising the young generation about Indian classical music and culture.

“These days the young generation is getting easily attracted towards western culture and is gradually losing interest in Indian culture,” Sarawgi said.

“Lack of exposure is one of the main reasons behind this trend. We want to change the attitude of the young generation by generating an interest among the youths towards Indian culture using music and dance as the medium,” Sarawagi said.

Today’s concert was the part of the ongoing series of classical dance programmes in the state.

Besides Ranchi, these programmes are also being held in Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Bokaro.

During the second phase of the programme well-known Manipuri dance exponents — Guru Singhjit Singh and his wife Charu Sija Mathur — would perform at these places next week.

Madhavi Mudgal is scheduled to perform at St Anthony’s School, Doranda, tomorrow. The programme would start from 11 am.

One of the leading classical dancers of India, Madhavi Mudgal is known both as a solo performer and her choreography.

She has been associated with the making of several films and audio-visuals on Odissi. She has also organised some of the most widely appreciated specialised dance festivals in India.

Born in 1951 in a family devoted to Indian classical music, Madhavi initially studied Bharat Natyam and Kathak under well-known gurus.

She, however, chose Odissi as her medium of expression.

Her father Pandit Vinay Chandra Maudgal founded the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi, in 1939.

Madhavi has won numerous awards and honours, including the Sanskriti Award (1984), Padma Shree (1990), the Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996) and the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000).

She has also conducted workshops in the dance form all over the world.

Madhavi’s commitment to the continuation and improvement of her chosen art form has made her one of the leading Odissi teachers of her generation.

Beginners as well as senior students come to her for guidance about the finer nuances of Odissi at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.