The mythological hero Karna’s story is retold through Mayurbhanj Chhau.
Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra organised a visual treat for theatre lovers recently in the form of Karna – a ballet dance performance organised by Sanjivini -- society for mental health at Kamani Auditorium.
The auditorium was fully packed and the crowd just couldn’t stop clapping after every performance.
The dance was choreographed by late guru Krishna Chandra Naik and Shahidharan Nair. The music of the dance was given by Barun Gupta and was produced and directed by Shobha Deepak Singh who also handled the costumes and sets for the act.
Titled Karna, the dance was based on the righteous hero who was one of the most inspiring characters in Mahabharata and faced hostile circumstances throughout his life. The ballet in Mayurbhanj Chhau saw the journey of Karna from the beginning of his life till his end. The dance drama unfolded with the birth of Karna to his mother Kunti, who had been granted a blessing by the saint Durvasa, enabling her to invoke a God’s desire to produce a child. Kunti chooses to bear a child out of a union with the Sun God, Surya. The dance drama progressed to depict the circumstances under which Karna’s life comes to an end.
Shobha said, “I feel extremely joyous and happy after the performance. It was wonderful to perform in front of such a receptive audience. I feel really proud of what we showcased.”
The dance drama was performed by nearly 27 members of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. After the performance Shiburam Mahanta who played the character of Karna said, “The sound of clapping keeps us going. This is what an artiste wants. I felt so good to see the auditorium packed with art enthusiasts.” He added, “We should all try to be like Karna.
Try to be a son, a friend, a brother like him... in today’s times, a brother can kill his own brother over petty and selfish issues.” The dance drama was organised by Sanjivini, a registered non-profit voluntary organisation that has been addressing the mental health needs of the community since 1976.
It provides free and confidential counselling to anyone faced with a situation that causes emotional and mental distress. Over the years it has grown into a sizable institution helping a large number of people with a range of problems other than suicide.