Magical Kathak Praveen Kumar and hypnotic Sitar Niladri Kumar performances engross the Air

Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival 2023, found its pièce de résistance of performances in Shri P. Praveen Kumar’s Bharatanatyam presentation, followed by the tantalising Sitar recital of Shri Niladri Kumar.

Shri P. Praveen Kumar is no stranger to audiences across India. An accomplished performer, Nattuvanar and choreographer, commenced his recital with a Muruga Kavutuvam, invoking the divine and extolling the great virtue of Lord Muruga. His commanding stage presence and nuanced presentation in this brief but befitting invocation set the tone for the evening, with his versatile choreography and dancing finesse.

The second recital in the evening of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award, was the Sitar performance of Shri Niladri Kumar, accompanied by Shri Yashwant Vaishnav on the Tabla. Melding the contemporary world music space with the classical through his creative and masterful performances and compositions. He explored the beautiful nuances of the electrifying stringed instrument in his recital.

The inauguration was conducted elegantly and briefly, with the esteemed guest Guru Smt. Aruna Mohanty lighting the lamp. Shri Subodh Chandra Acharya and Shri Ratikant Mohapatra, the Festival Director, were also present along with the President of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Secretary of Orissa Dance Academy.