A Melodious Evening of Classical Music… Audience Sways to “Nritya Pravah”

Udaipur: The three-day ‘Ritu Vasant’ festival, organized by the West Zone Cultural Centre at Shilpgram, concluded on Sunday with mesmerizing performances. Renowned classical vocalist Jayateerth Mevundi captivated the audience with his soulful renditions, while the grand finale presentation ‘Nritya Pravah’ infused fresh energy into the spectators, drawing thunderous applause. The artists were welcomed by Centre Director Furkan Khan and distinguished guests during the program.

Spellbinding Classical Renditions

Jayateerth Mevundi commenced the evening with a bandish in Raag Yaman Kalyan set to Jhaptaal, “Piya Bin Ratiya…,” instantly mesmerizing listeners. Through expansive improvisation and structured alaap, he beautifully conveyed the depth and sweetness of the raga.

His rendition of the Teentaal bandish “Shyam Bajaye Aaj Muraliya…” created a divine Krishna-like ambiance. The perfect balance of melody and rhythm, along with his powerful taans, left the audience deeply moved. He further won hearts with a tarana in Raag Sohni, “Rang Na Daro Shyamji…”

Mevundi then presented a thumri in Raag Mishra Tilang, “Naino Mein Jadoo…,” filling Shilpgram with an atmosphere of romantic elegance. His devotional offerings, including the bhajan “Thumak Thumak Pag…” and “Ketaki Gulab…” in Raag Vasant, created a sublime blend of devotion and melody. He was accompanied by Pandit Abhishek Mishra on tabla and Tarun Joshi on harmonium.

The Magic of ‘Nritya Pravah’

As the grand finale of the festival, ‘Nritya Pravah’, directed by renowned choreographer Santosh Nair, energized the audience with a vibrant confluence of classical dance forms. The presentation began with a traditional welcome followed by Ganesh Vandana performed by dancers from various classical disciplines.

The Kerala classical dance form Mohiniyattam, dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s Mohini incarnation, received enthusiastic appreciation. A graceful Manipuri dance depicting the love of Radha and Krishna filled the atmosphere with devotion and romance. Odissi enthralled viewers with its expressive blend of devotion, rhythm, and abhinaya (expressive storytelling).

The Kathak performance earned loud applause from classical dance enthusiasts. Bharatanatyam, rooted in Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra, showcased a beautiful fusion of expression, melody, and rhythm, mesmerizing the audience. When all these classical forms converged in the concluding sequence of ‘Nritya Pravah,’ it created a unique and harmonious ensemble. The grand, high-energy finale left the audience swaying, and the venue echoed with prolonged applause.

The festival’s stage proceedings over all three days were conducted by Mohita Dixit.

Gratitude for a Successful Festival

Director Furkan Khan of the West Zone Cultural Centre expressed heartfelt gratitude to the music and dance lovers of Udaipur, as well as all departments and officials who contributed to making the ‘Ritu Vasant’ festival a grand success.