The auspicious day of 6th October 2019, witnessed a confluence of two organisations with their objective. K.M. Munshiji’s mission to spread the great Indian thoughts and its culture through its Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) and the vision of Mysore B. Nagaraj of Articulate Trust for Arts in promoting Indian Classical Dances and the practicing artistes, saw Articulate Festival’s series 41 unfold on the hallowed stage of Prof. Y.T. Thathachari Auditorium at BVB in Vijayanagar in Mysuru. This is the first of its series of joint effort that will happen religiously on the first Sunday of every month.

Dance curator, Mysore B. Nagaraj proceeded to present four Classical dance artistes, two in Bharatanatyam style, one in Odissi form and one in Kathak art.

Siri Chandrashekar, disciple of Guru Praveen Kumar,  set the mood of the evening brilliantly with her first presentation ‘Shiva Pada,’ a Pallavi penned by Doreswamy, set in Pharaz raag and in Aadi tala. She performed a Haridasa composition ‘Jagadoddarana’ of Sri Purandaradasa, set in Raga Kapi and Tala Aadi before she concluded with a Thillana composed by M. Balamuralikrishna in Raga Brindavani set to Aadi tala.  

Yasomati Mishra took the stage in the second segment of the festival to present her Odissi performance. Shiva Panchakshari Stotra in Raga Mishra Bairaagi, Khempta Taal, choreographed by Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra, was her opening number followed by a Pallavi in Raag Kalyan and concluded with a Maha Kali Stuthi choreographed by Guru Bichitrananda Swain to music by Binod                                          Bihari Panda.

Vaideghi Samikannu, Bharatanatyam artiste, disciple of Guru Abayakaram Krishnan and Guru Jayashree Narayanan, in the third segment of the festival chose to present a Daru Varna ‘Mate Malayadhwaje,’ Kamaj Raaga, Aadi Tala, penned by Hari Kesanallur Muttaiyya Bhagavatar, a Padam in Raga Saveri set to Aadi Tala, penned by Vaideeshwaran Koyil Subbarama Iyer and a thillana in raga Hindola, tala Kanda Ekam penned by Thiru Kokarnam Subbaramiyer.

Dr. Prarthana, a Kathak artiste, disciple of Guru Mysore B. Nagaraj, showcased in her two acts complete essence of Kathak, the classical dance of north India. A traditional rendition of a Taal, 16 beats cycle Teen Taal, to establish the technical aspect of the dance form and a Sri Bindadin Maharaj’s Thumri, ‘Piya ke aavan ki,’ to prove that Kathak has unbeatable scope for abhinaya. 

Mysore B. Nagaraj, on behalf of BVB and Articulate Trust for Arts, made a pledge of bringing more artistes and more forms in the forth coming, every 1st Sunday of the month dance festivals to enthral the rasikas of Mysuru at the Bhavans auditorium. Indeed each rasika received a bouquet of  awesome performances.