Friends,
Sutra has just completed its first performance of Radhe! Radhe! (Odissi) at Baansera Park (New Delhi), as part of the 11th International Dance & Music Festival, presented by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
It was attended by HE Dato’ Muzafar Shah (High Commissioner of Malaysia, Smt Nandini Singla (DG of ICCR), the Ambassadors of Bufkina Faso & Krgyzstan, Ms Shamilah Perumal (Minister of Economic Affairs, MITI) and many others.
We were astounded by the sheer number of audience who came in droves to partake in the festival, in spite of the cold winter weather.
As we entered the main archway where the events were held, we were greeted and awed by the magnificent street stilt-performers in astonishing costumes, animated folk musicians belting their songs and infectious rhythm, various food and craft stalls which added to the exuberance and festive atmosphere.
It was an amazing feeling that was uplifting to connect with such a huge crowd of audience.
Sutra’s performance was the third and last after Burkina Faso and Krgyzstan. Both countries gave brilliant renditions of their indigenous dance & music.
Sutra on the other hand brought something different – a production that represented a collaborative work between Malaysia and India which celebrated the ancient cultural link that had prospered long ago between both countries.
Radhe! Radhe! a collaboration in Odissi with Guru Gajendra Panda of Tridhara (Bhubaneswar), explores the dance, music and painting art (Patachitra) of Ganjam (South Odisha), specifically, through the indigenous Odia folk form of Radha Prem Leela.
Radhe! Radhe! is the living example of the people to people connect which have transcended mere touristic or economic agenda. It still is a dynamic phenomenon that had prospered millennia ago before man-made national boundaries, passport and visa were created.
Then and now, the connect had culturally enriched both regions. It is still alive and surviving. The people connect continues to add new dimensions and colours to every aspects of the way of life of the people through the soft cultural diplomacy espoused by nation such as India.
Can we measure the human development index of people without taking into consideration the involvement and civilising factor of arts & culture on the people themselves?
Ramli