Bhubaneswar: The five-day 31st Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival 2025 got off, here on Friday, with enthralling jugalbandi by eminent danseuse Ms. Sujata Mohapatra and her daughter Sushree Pritisha Mohapatra.
The Festival was inaugurated by veteran thespian Ananta Mohapatra, former member Board of Revenue, Odisha, Ashok Tripathy, vice-chairman of Utkal Manufacturing & Services Ltd., Ms. Paramita Panda, and Bhubaneswar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh. Director, Srjan and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Communication and Indic Studies (FACIS), Sri Sri University, Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra, welcomed the guests.
The inaugural evening opened with a performance by Ms. Sujata Mohapatra and Ms. Sushree Preetisha Mohapatra, representing a magnificent mother-daughter duo that embodies the rich legacy of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s gharana. While Sujata Mohapatra stands among the most distinguished exponents of Odissi dance as the disciple of the father-architect of Odissi Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Preetisha Mohapatra represents the third generation of this illustrious Odissi legacy.
They commenced with Guru Vandana, a reverent invocation to the Almighty, the Guru, and the Parabrahman following the sacred verse “Gururbrahmā gururvisnuh gururdevo maheśvarah, Guruh sākşāt parabrahma tasmai śrT gurave namah.” Set to Raga Malika (Bhairav, Bairagi, Darbari & Bhairavi) in Adi Tala, this piece is choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra with music composition by Shri Sempagodu S. Vighnaraja. This was followed by their central piece for the evening, Satyakāma Jābāla, a profound tale from the Chhandogyopanisad that celebrates truth and dedication in an individual’s journey toward self-realisation.
This story of a young boy raised by his single mother Jabāla highlights the deep moral values that guide us in our quest for ultimate reality – the knowledge of Brahman, the eternal truth. When Satyakāma (portrayed by Preetisha) expresses his desire to join a Gurukul, his mother’s (Ms. Sujata Mohapatra’s) honest counsel – “You are Jābāla, the son of Jabālā. Always speak the truth and never be ashamed of it”- becomes the foundation of his character. Set to Raga Malika and Tala Malika, with Odia script by Pt. Nityananda Misra, music composition by Guru Lakshmikanta Palit, and choreography and rhythm composition by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. Satyakāma Jabala struck a particularly resonant chord – the story of a mother teaching her son that honesty is not something to be ashamed of, felt deeply personal when performed by an actual mother and daughter. Their relationship demonstrated how traditional guru-shishya and family lineages pass down not just technique, but values across generations.
Commemorating over three resplendent decades in its pursuit of artistic excellence, Srjan – Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa is hosting their 31st Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival 2025 from September 5″ – 9″, 2025 at Rabindra Mandap at 7 pm each day. The Award Festival has remained steadfast in adhering to its founding vision by the late maestro and Padma Vibhushan Guru Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra to nurture and perpetuate profound appreciation for our invaluable heritage by celebrating the performing Arts at their best.
