Shyamhari Chakra
As Odias are celebrating Odisha Government’s special Heritage Cabinet resolution demanding the elusive ‘classical’ status for Odissi music by the Central Government, Odissi Mardal, Odisha’s indigenous percussion instrument – the inseparable accompanying instrument for Odissi music and dance – is set to steal headlines today.
World’s first and exclusive Indian music television channel – Insync – will air a special programme on Mardal today at 8 pm – the first of its kind in the history of the ancient instrument.
The half-an-hour concert will be presented by Bhubaneswar-based Central Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Mardal Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Four of his brilliant disciples from his Vadya Vani Gurukul – Sitakant Jena, Rashmi Ranjan Mishra, Rohit Pradhan and Bibhuti Bhusan Champati – will perform the group recital set to Adi taal in 16 beats. Muralidhar Swain has accompanied the concert on Harmonoum.
“It’s a day of victory for our whole Mardal family around the world. Since decades, we have been striving hard to establish Mardal as an instrument that can be presented individually like tabla, sitar or flute. Unfortunately, it was always construed as an accompanying instrument to Odissi dance,” remarked Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
“I was pleasantly surprised when I got a call from Insync Channel asking for some sample videos of our concerts. I was thrilled to get confirmation from the Channel this week regarding the concert slated for today. Such telecast over internationally popular channels will gain international recognition for our very own Mardal tradition”, he added.
The absolute development of the Odissi Mardal as an individual instrument has been possible only because of the pioneering efforts of Guru Dhaneswar Swain, a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Watch him perform magic with Mardal,” Insync Music TV promo stated.
Stalwarts of Indian music such as Santoor maestro Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, veteran vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, flute wizard Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, eminent vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan, Tabla exponent Pt. Vijay Ghate, popular vocalist brothers Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra have been advisors to the Insync Channel.
