It was the perfect communion of beauty, grace, melody, emotions and expressions at Kerala Fine Arts Hall when the noted Odissi dancer from Bengaluru, Madhulita Mohapatra and her acclaimed Nrityantar Dance Ensemble breathed life to the eternal love story of Mirza and Sahiba in Odissi dance style.
The dance musical titled Satyam Prema Amaram (True Love Never Dies) was a riveting dance ballet adapted from the popular tragic tale of the immortal love of Mirza and Sahiba. “It talks about the immortality of love,” says Madhulita who has found a way to appeal to the millennial with her new age works in Odissi dance.
“The story, one of the three very popular tragic love stories from the folklores of Punjab region is of the unfazed lovers who defied the norms and structure of the society, rebelled against class and restrictions and loved each other till their mortal end. Lovers die but their love stories live on. Their tales are retold by each generation. Along with captivating moves and powerful imagery, this visually rich dance musical, is an engaging tale of love, longing and heartbreak," the dancer adds.
Even though the dance movements looked fresh and innovative, each and every aspect of the performance strictly adhered to the foundations of classical Odissi dance. The lyrics for Satyam Prema Amaram had been penned by noted Odia poet, Shri Kedar Mishra with inputs from Sanskrit scholar Pandit Nityananda Mishra. Rhythm for the musical has been composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain whereas the music was by Shri Sukanta Kundu. Madhulita adds that the dance choreography and direction wouldn't have been on spot without the lyrics and the music which transported the audiences to the mood they wanted to create.
A recipient of many prestigious awards, Madhulita is known for her inventive choreographic skills and her adeptness to keep her audiences engaged with imaginative use of movements and space. She had given multiple performances in Kerala and hopes to come back often as she feels that Malayalis have deep knowledge about art forms and are avid art lovers.
