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When inner beauty dazzles

Chhayanaut's"Chitrangada" attracts audience

Zahangir Alom
There was a long queue at the entrance of Chhayanaut auditorium on January 24 when the organisation premiered Tagore dance drama "Chitrangada". At one point, the crowd widened all around and the Chhayanaut authorities were compelled to set up another projector on the second floor of Chhayanaut Shangskriti Bhaban.
Noted dancer-choreographer and head of the Department of Classical Dance of the organisation Sharmila Bandopadhyay has choreographed and directed the dance drama with a fresh approach. She has also designed the sets, costumes and lights for the production.
Written against the backdrop of Hindu mythology, Tagore wrote the lyrical play “Chitrangada” in 1892 while the bard wrote its dance drama version in 1936. The dance drama depicts the inner conflict of the human mind. Mythical hero Arjun comes to Manipur for spiritual contemplation; meanwhile the princess of
Manipur, Chitrangada falls in love with the warrior. However, Arjun who does not find the princess attractive enough, rejects her love, creating a conflict in the plot. "Chitrangada” upholds a common human trait-the emphasis on inner beauty rather than external.
What made the Chhayanaut production stand out was the accompaniment of live music by noted artistes Aditi Mohsin, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Bulbul Islam and ATM Jahangir of Rabindra Sangeet Department of the organisation.
They rendered songs including "Dheu Diyechhe Jol-e", "Rodon Bhora e Boshonto", "Amar-i Rikto Dali", "Amar Ange Ange Ke Bajaye Banshi” and Bodhu Kon Alo Laglo" for the characters Surupa (donned by Arna Kamolika), Kurupa (enacted by Sudeshna Swayamprabha), Arjun (played by Abul Hasan Tapan) and Madan (donned by Mehraj Haq Tushar).
The production set off with the recitation of lyrical drama of Chitrangada. Two leading characters Kurupa and Surupa were
represented in a mature and an emboldened way. Dance enthusiasts were delighted to see the character duo getting face-to-face in a mirror to realise each-other's self and soul. Novelty was there too with regard to choreography and costumes.
The lead characters with the supporting ones created several dazzling moments in superbly showcasing the dance drama. Their colourful costumes, floral decorative motifs, grace and grandeur reminded us ofTagore's love for nature and her vibrant colours. A touch of Bangaliana prevailed all through the production.
A display of sword dance by Arjun and his followers with the song “Shongkor-er Bihbolota" received audience accolades while the portrayal of a famous song “Trishnar Shanti" was mingled with Sri Lankan candy dance styles and Manipuri mandira dance. The light, movement of dance, song and the sound of ghungur slowly came to an end and depleted into darkness symbolically depicting the continuity of the occurrences of the dance drama.