Renowned actress and Bharatanatyam exponent Hema Malini was presented the prestigious Bharat Muni Samman for this year for her outstanding contribution to the field of art and culture. The award, named after the author of ancient ‘Natya Shastra’ and instituted by Bhubaneswar-based organisation Kalingayana Touryatrikam, was presented to the dancer-actress by Odisha Governor M C Bhandare during the third annual edition of the Bharat Muni Festival of Dance and Music here on Wednesday evening.
She was the fifth recipient of the award, the earlier recipients being Thankamani Kutty (Bharatanatyam), Pandit Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Pandit Jasraj (vocalist) and thespian Ratan Thiyam.
A host of distinguished dancers, singers and musicians performed at this year’s Bharat Muni Festival that was inaugurated on December 16.
Festival coordinator and Odissi dancer Puspita Mishra said the inaugural evening featured Odissi dancer Kiran Sehgal and Carola Grey on Drums - one of best known modern drummers from Germany. This was followed by Sehnai recital by Ill Allah Khan.
The main attraction of the event however, was Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty who presented a solo recital. The ‘Abhinaya’ of Mohanty, revolved around ‘Bhumi Suta’, portraying the perseverance of Sita. Depicting episodes from Sita’s life, the recital laid emphasis on her abduction by demon king Ravana, her life in the forests and rejection by her husband Ram and the society. Later, Mohanty presented an invocatory piece Shakti - Bahu Roopa, dedicated to the feminine aspect of divinity on the famous ancient shloka ‘Aigiri Nandini’.
The festival also saw Vadiyanathan Suresh, a known ‘Ghatam’ and multi-percussion artiste, besides Sukanta Kumar Kundu and Nimakanta Routray on Odissi Vocals and various compositions of Hindustani vocalist Kumud Diwan.
Bharatnatyam artiste Padmashree Geeta Chandran also performed during the three-day festival, presenting ‘Chokkanathar Kavuthvam’ that traced the folk and rural images of Lord Shiv and illustrated the different facets of the deity.