Sharmistha Mukherjee during a performance. File picture

April 11: Come April 28, the city residents will get to see a cultural evening graced by classical exponents like Sharmistha Mukherjee and K. Adarsh.

Besides Sarmistha’s performance, art lovers will also be able to see paintings of Rabin Bar at the cultural evening, Bharatiyam 2012, organised by Byatikram Mass Awareness and Social Development Organisation, a city-based NGO at ITA Cultural Complex, Machkhowa.

The programme will be organised in collaboration with the department of cultural affairs of the Assam government.

Sharmistha, an accomplished Kathak dancer and daughter of Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, has many years of performing experience. She has received training in Kathak from three of the most prominent Kathak gurus — Pandit Durgalal, Uma Sharma and Rajendra Gangani. Over the years, she has developed a unique personal style which is natural and spontaneous. She has performed extensively in India and abroad including the US, Europe, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, West Asia, Jordan and Indonesia.

A keen choreographer, Sharmistha has created a number of compositions — experimenting with space and movements, different sounds of ankle bells, contemporary themes using different kinds of music. She is constantly trying to outreach the traditional boundaries of Kathak.

Sharmistha conceptualised and directed a six-episode tele serial Taal Mel reflecting on various components of dance which are universal. She was the executive producer of the film Children of the Pyre made by director Rajesh Jala. She has been trying to spread awareness about art through her writings in different newspapers and magazines.

On the other hand, K. Adarsh, who will perform Mohiniyattam, is known for his compulsive appeal with his look, articulation and sophistry. Besides Adarsh and Sharmistha, two other artistes from Assam, Pratiksha Pathak and Debabrata Barua, will perform Odissi at the same function.

Saumen Bharatiya, an organiser, today said this is the first effort of their NGO to bring the artistes of the Northeast with those from other parts of the country. “This is the first time our NGO will organise such a cultural programme where three forms of classical dance — Kathak, Odissi and Mohiniyattam — will be performed at the same function,” he said.

Bharatiya said they were also contacting some Xattriya dance exponents to perform at the same event so that people can enjoy this classical dance form from Assam.

“We think that the artistes of the Northeast should perform with the artistes of other parts of the country. If we succeed, we will organise similar functions in every state capital in the Northeast in the future,” Bharatiya said.