A rare treat of Classical Dance

Vasundharotsava-2021 is celebrating the 75th year of India’s Independence. The long-awaited 36th edition of Vasundharotsava, the seven-day classical cultural extravaganza — a National Festival of Classical Dance — showcasing different formats of Indian Classical Dances like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Kathak, will be presented by young and upcoming artistes from different parts of India and abroad.

The Festival, which will be inaugurated at Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha on JLB Road in city on Nov. 23 at 6 pm by Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, is dedicated to former President of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre (VPAC), Sarvashresta Kala Poshaka late K.V. Murthy.

Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works-Mysuru Managing Partner Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoi and MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev will be the chief guests. Rotary North President Rtn. L. Channabasavaraju will be the guest of honour. Keynes Technology India Pvt. Ltd. Director and VPAC President Savitha Ramesh will preside.

The inaugural programme will be by Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, Director, VPAC —                                                                    a solo thematic presentation titled ‘Kittur Rani Chennamma – A tale of freedom fighter of Karnataka.’ Script and lyrics by Vidu. Dr. Jyoti Shankar and music by Vid. Srivatsa.

The other artistes participating from Nov. 24 onwards are Pre-rana Harsha, Hubballi, Ayana Perla, Mangaluru, B. Vibha Diwakar and Maithreyye Guru-raja, Dr. Sanjay Shantaram, Bengaluru, U.K. Vidya Rani Ujwal (Bharatanatyam), Bharati Vittal and Bhuvana G. Prasad (Kathak Duet), Dr. Rekha Raju (Mohiniyattam), Chandraprabha and Chetan Gangatkar (Kuchi-pudi), Bengaluru.

‘Chiguru Sanje’ on Nov. 28

The participating tiny-tots are Gowri B. Rajendra, Apeksha G. Devanur, Chaithanya Shadakshari, S. Chinmayee and Sanvi Udupa, disciples of Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, Director, VPAC, Mysuru.

Mahika Niranjen, Dyuthi Venkatraghavan, B. Krishna Nair, B. Nilanjana Nair, Kriti Kidambi, V. Divyagna, L.G. Mitramalya, Neha Manjunath and Sanjana Menon, disciples of Vidu. Yamini Muthanna, Artistic Director of KYAAT (Kalasinchanam Yogasthala Ancient Arts Trust), Bengaluru.

P.G. Sanvi, D. Medhini, Yashaswini V. Bhat, M.P. Anagha, Ananya Sriram, Shanashree, A. Manisha, P.G. Pranavi, N. Sihi, B.S. Shreedevi Rao, Lalithya and Janyashree, disciples of Vidu. Premita Govind, Director, Kalandika Academy of Arts, Mysuru.

Valedictory on Nov. 29

Valedictory of the Festival will be held on Nov. 29. ‘Navavidha Bhakti,’ a Bharatanatyam recital by senior disciples of Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy — Vidu. Dr. Sparsha Shenoy, Tanushree Shivaraj, Padmashri Kote, Deepthi Ganesh, Srilaxshmi Thejas, Vidya Rani Ujwal, Dr. Bhuvaneshwari, Pooja Srinivasan, Namrata S. Jois, N. Anusha Raj, Soundarya Durga, Krithi, Prakrathi, Sujay Shanbhog and Harish Kumar. The majority of the Bharatanatyam presentations are in Vasundhara Bani.

Accompanying artistes are Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy (natuvanga); Vidu. Deepthi Srinath (vocal); Vid. Dr. Hanumantharaju (mridanga), Vid. Rakesh Sudhir (flute).

The Festival is cosponsored by Savitha Ramesh, Rotary North, Kalandika Academy of Arts and a host of well-wishers.

The admission to the festival is by invitation and free for art lovers.