(Top) Danseuse Kumkum Mohanty and (above) students of Odissi Research Centre perform on the 67th birth anniversary of the late Sanjukta Panigrahi at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 24: Sanjukta Panigrahi’s perfect moves and efforts to revive Odissi and promote it among female dancers have made her an immortal name in the world of Indian classical dance.

Her absence was deeply felt when veteran dancers and youngsters came together to observe her 67th birth anniversary at a concert organised by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre on Tuesday evening.

The auditorium of Rabindra Mandap came alive as danseuse Kumkum Mohanty paid tribute to the legendary Panigrahi by performing timeless compositions.

Following a synchronised sequence of mangalacharan by her disciples from Gita Govinda, Mohanty herself came on stage to perform a solo pallavi item in memory of her dance partner.

“Sanjukta and I would always play a couple on stage during our Odissi recitals. She used to enact Lord Krishna while I would be the heroine. In her absence, I’m performing without the Odissi costume or traditional make-up since my rendition is incomplete without her,” said Mohanty, who stunned the viewers with her grace and poise despite her age as she presented the Kalabati pallavi.

In her 60s, the dancer went on to perform an abhinaya on the Gita Govinda verse Yahi Madhava, Yahi Keshava. She captivated the audience with her effortless expressions playing a hurt, love-struck woman and then transforming into Lord Krishna trying to explain his innocence to his beloved. The viewers seemed immersed in the performance. The voice of Sangita Gosain accompanied the performance.

“How can one describe such a wonderful performance? It was simply magical to see such a senior dancer enacting the childish expressions of Lord Krishna and the elegance of a young lovelorn female with ease,” said Gourikanta Tripathy, a member in the audience.

Young dancers also presented interesting sequences. Artistes of the Radhagobinda group performed Nachanti range srihari that depicted Lord Krishna’s association with the gopis. While Loma Mishra played the perfect Krishna with her agile feet and charming facial expressions, dancers such as Tulika and Debashree also gave a remarkable performance playing the gopis.

The concluding recital was an item by the students of the Odissi Research Centre. Titled Mokshya, the sequence aimed at spirituality and world peace. The young artistes performed the intricate movements brilliantly.

The audience included Sanjukta Panigrahi’s famous husband, eminent musician Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi. Dancers Sujata Mohapatra, Illeana Citaristi and musician Ramahari Das were also present.