Shantilata Barik performs at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: Artistes who have passed out from the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya over the past 50 years got together to showcase their talent here today.

At the first annual festival of the institute’s ex-students’ welfare society, Odissi musician Ramahari Das, instrumentalist Dhaneswar Swain, vocalist Keshab Rout and several other alumni were seen busy organising and performing at the event.

The event began at 10am with individual and group performances by the artistes. Later, faculty members of the institute were felicitated and then former students rendered vocal and musical repertoires.

“It is a matter of pride that my students not only remember and love me, but are also well-placed. Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya has produced several renowned names in the field of music, dance and drama and I am lucky that many senior and veteran artistes were my students,” smiled actor Sarat Pujari, the present president of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Those felicitated included veteran actor Bijay Mohanty, tabla maestro Umesh Chandra Kar, Sunil Singh Mohanta, Nabin Parida, Maya Das, Gopal Panda and Banamali Moharana.

Among the former students, Shantilata Barik regaled the audience with devotional songs, while the younger artistes also gave solo renditions.

The chief attraction was, however, in the second session of the programme.

In presenting Odissi dance drama Anweshana, students of different generations took part. “We presented an analysis of the different shades of man and woman. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the old and young dancers,” said Odissi dancer Naba Kishore Mishra.

One of the most fascinating items of the evening was an instrumental symphony comprising mostly of percussion instruments such as tabla and mardala. The sound waves reverberated in the auditorium as classical and fusion merged to create an enthralling and grand sonata.

“Over 500 artistes performed throughout the day. Apart from the performances, we tried to bring up issues such as creating teaching jobs for the pass-outs in government schools and colleges. The event also focused on creating a link for mutual help between past and present students,” said Dhaneswar Swain, vice-president of the society.