Over the last 25 years, what started as a one‐day celebration of the classical Arts is now considered one of the finest classical dance and music festivals in India’s cultural calendar. The OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival has always been organised with one specific aim—to create and sustain awareness of our classical traditions in dance and music. Last year, Srjan celebrated 25 years of the festival, a milestone in their journey of Art.
Srjan, as a premier cultural institution of the nation, recognizes the need to sustain creative energy and artistic endeavour while fulfilling its social responsibility to the public and the members of the Art fraternity. In line with this, Srjan is organizing the 26th OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival from September 5th to 9th, 2020 on a digital platform, premiered on Facebook Live and YouTube, owing to the exigencies of the ongoing pandemic. The event will be Inaugurated by the eminent cine actress Smt. Hema Malini and attended virtually by several dignitaries, influential citizens, and luminaries from the world of Art. The Award Festival will be conducted with strict adherence to all the government mandated COVID‐19 safety guidelines, while maintaining the required social
distancing norms.
The aim of instituting and presenting the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award, which carries a respectable allocation of Rs. 1,00,000/‐ and a citation, is to confer recognition upon individuals for their outstanding contribution to the fields of Dance, Music, Cinema, and Theatre. Over 25 years, Srjan has presented 60 such awards to luminaries from these
fields. Additionally, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman, with a cash prize of Rs. 25,000/‐ and a citation is presented to exceptionally talented performing artistes under the age of 40 years in the field of classical dance and Odissi music to acknowledge their outstanding performances.
The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2020 will be presented to Shri Raj Gopal Mishra, veteran cinematographer for his invaluable contribution and lifetime achievements to the world of Odia Cinema. The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman will be presented to Shri Pravat Kumar Swain for Odissi dance and to Shri Himansu Sekhar Swain for Odissi music acknowledging their dedication to their art forms. The Awards will be given by His Excellency Prof.Ganeshi Lal, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha.
Srjan has dedicated this year’s festival in memory of the late Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, whose shared a special and close association with Guruji for many decades. The festival has been designed with an eye on the most suitable combination of artistes and genre, with presentations by world renowned artistes. The dance presentations include Odissi by Smt. Madhusmita Mohanty, Bharatanatyam by Shri Praveen Kumar, Kathak by Smt. Gauri Diwakar, and Vilasini Natyam by Smt. Purvadhanashree. The inaugural evening will feature eminent Hindustani musician, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Guru Dhaneswar
Swain, distinguished Mardala guru and performer, and Shri Abhishek Raghuram, acclaimed Carnatic vocalist will perform on the second and third evenings respectively, while Shri Tarun Bhattacharya, the renowned Santoor player, will perform on the fourth evening.
The concluding evening will feature the prestigious Award ceremony, followed by the much‐awaited finale by the Srjan ensemble. This year, Srjan will present Anweshanaa—A bouquet of neo‐classical choreographs in Odissi dance, conceptualized and choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. Beginning with an invocation to Lord Rama, Antara Rama, Anweshanaa the explores the intricacies of neo‐classical Odissi compositions with dances such as Tarana, and Rase Harim Eha. These presentations are followed by an obeisance to Lord Rama, with Sant Tulsidas’ bhajan, Shri Ramachandra Krupalu Bhajamana and conclude with the premiere of Chandrachooda Shiva Shankara, in veneration to Lord Shiva.
The entire festival has been curated and designed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with the programme execution by Shri Debiprasad Mishra. The festival is supported by the title sponsor Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC), gold sponsor, Odisha Tourism, Government of Odisha, and festival sponsors, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Dept. of Odia Literature Language and Culture, Govt of Odisha, and the MGM Group, Bhubaneswar. The media partners are Dharitri and Orissa Post, and web partner is Narthaki.com.
