Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre Trust, Mysuru, has been conducting Four Main Festivals in a year for the last 35 years. Pallavothsava is being conducted to encourage young and upcoming artistes from different parts of India between the age group of 15 and 35 years. This Festival is open for all forms from different parts of India for Classical Dance and Music. This year’s fest will be held from Sept. 22 to 26 at Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha, JLB Road, from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Sept.22: A thematic presentation “Panchmahabhuta” by the senior disciples of Dr. Vasundhara Doreswamy portraying the five elements of nature — Sky, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

A representation of the 5 elements in the form of dance is a visual extravaganza. Starting with space the initiator, air the sole element for existence of life, fire the symbol of creation and destruction, water the representation of flow life, and earth the home of millions of species. With Sundara Natarajan, a kruthi showcasing shiva, the almighty and the existence of 5 elements in Him.

Sept. 23: Natyasammohini  awardee Vidushi Kumari Sharika  hails from the illustrious family of Karnataka Kalashree the late  T. N. Somashekar. Training from her mother and Guru Vidushi Sreelakshmi Kumar, she is the recipient of CCRT Scholarship and a Doordarshan B Grade artiste. She has participated in Guinness World Record for Kuchupudi Tarrangam.

Singarmani awardee Dr. Madhuri Apte trained under the guidance of renowned Guru Maneesha Sathe. A recipient of  National Scholarship, Dr. Madhuri Apte is also Guru as well as visiting faculty at Centre of Performing Arts Department at Pune University along with Tilak Maharashtra Vidya Peeth since 2011. She has given more than 500 performances and workshops on various national as well as international stages.

Nritya Shukla Jyoti Sumedha Sengupta took training under the veteran Odissi Guru Giri Dhari Nayak. She has attended  Guru Giri Dhari Nayak and Guru Sujata Mohapatra; represented India in Japan in an International Summer Festival organised by Suzuki Company; recipient of Senior National Scholarship and also B Grade artiste of DD. Served as Project Assistant at Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre; presently working as the Programme Assistant at IGNCA, Ranchi.

Sept. 24: Rohita Pradhan is a well-known percussionist among the youngsters in the field of Odissi and Mrudanga (Kholo). Learnt Mrudanga from Guru Souri Bisoi. Within the short period of time Rohita was able to carve a niche for himself. He has performed in prestigious festivals across the country.  Sitakant Jena, a successful alumni of UUC completed his M.Phil in Department of Odissi mardal with first class distinction. He is an able torch bearer of Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Sitakant has innumerable performance to his credit both of solo and an accompanist for Odissi dance.

Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Performer Awardee Dr. (Er.) Srinibas Ghatuary (Milan) is an accomplished Odissi dancer. Till date the only 2nd Ph.D holder in State of Odisha, he has undergone training from Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra (Odissi Dance), Guru Ranjan Nathsharma (Odissi Dance), Padmashree Guru Dr. Iliana Chitaristy (chhau), Padmashree Guru Rani Karma. He has served as Guest Lecturer and Demonstrator in various Music Colleges of Odisha and Universities abroad.

Radhika Iyengar, a very accomplished and dedicated Bharathanatyam artiste is the disciple of Guru Karnataka Kalathilaka Nandini Eswer and Dr. Rohitha Eswer, known in classical dance circles for their purism, austerity and dedication to our rich dance form. She is currently undergoing training under Guru Vidushi B. Bhanumati. An A Graded artiste of ‘Doordarshan’, she was the winner of ETV’s “Minuguthaare”, ‘Singar Mani’, Baala Natya Mayuri and Aralu Mallige. Radhika was invited to perform by the International Association for Asian Heritage- IIAH Sri Lanka, Switzerland and France.

Sept. 25: Vidushi Vijayavani Navilooru, a  talented Karnatak vocal music artiste, had initial training from her father and brother, then from Hosahalli Ananth, Srimadhur, P. Balakrishna, Ballary Raghavendra and Rajeshwari. She  runs a School Ragamalika Kala Shale in Mysore and trains hundreds of students in music. She is a B Grade artiste of Akashavani, both Mysore and Mangalore.

Dr. Srishti Gupta is a promising young dancer and belongs to ‘Raigarh Gharana’ of Kathak. Training from Guru Vidushi Alpana Vajpeyi, she has performed in many prestigious festivals. A Ph.D holder from  ‘Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh’ her book ‘Raigarh Kathak me Taal’ was recently published. A recipient of fellowship in Kathak from Ministry of Culture, Delhi, at present she is working as Assistant Guru in Chakradhar Nritya Kendra, Ustad Alauddin Khan Sangeet Academy.

Rakhi Kamani has been learning Kuchipudi from Guru Vinayachandran and Guru V. Mythili and is currently associated Guru Deepa Narayanan. A recipient of scholarship from CCRT, she has three decades of performing experience. She has received the titles like “Kalathilakam” and  “Nritya Kala Vidushi”. Currently she is training in Kuchipudi at Nritta Nritya Natya in Bangalore.

Sept. 26:  A young talented Hindustani vocalist, Nayan Yavagal, is the disciple of Pandit Parmeshwar Bhat. He is the recipient of CCRT Scholarship and has  performed extensively across India in prestigious festivals.

Mysore Ratna awardee  C.S. Pooja is a talented Bharathanatyam dancer. She has undergone intense training under the guidance of  renowned artiste and guru Dr. Vasundhara Doreswamy. A recipient of “Bala Prathibe” title, has received CCRT Scholarship, participated in cultural festival held in Malaysia. Women and Child Welfare Department has felicitated Pooja  with “Achievement Award” .

Anusha Kalluri, an accomplished Kuchipudi dancer known for her technique and command of the field, is enthusiastic and passionate about art. She thrives not only in classroom settings as a teacher but also on stage as a performer. Master in Performing Arts in Kuchipudi from University of Hyderabad, she had Kuchipudi dance training from Guru Geetha Madhuri and presently undergoing  training under Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda. She is also a part of dance resource centre — Natyamitram.

Entry is free for the festival.

—  Devanampriya