Today the youngsters and children are very much influenced by western atmosphere and lifestyle, hence they are drifting away from India’s rich cultural heritage, which is acclaimed internationally. It was quite gratifying and exciting to watch 12 year old child prodigy Pradyota Rama dancing Kathak brilliantly, as part of the Bachpan Festival, organised by Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre at the Cube auditorium in Mumbai on 20th July.
The audience was shocked to see the child prodigy dancing with professional expertise and confidence, which is really amazing. To dance on the recorded music is not easy, as you cannot afford to miss a single minute, as rhythm forms the quintessence of classical dance. Pradyota developed a fancy for dance at the age of two and was encouraged by his parents and at the age of five was enrolled as a student at the renowned Abhinava Dance Academy in Bangalore, headed by famous dancers, Gurus Nirupama Rajendra and T D Rajendra. Paradyota has completed seven years of intensive training and has already performed for some prestigious festivals like Chinna Kala Nadam, Madonotsava, Kala Arpan by Art of Living, Indian Institute of World Culture, etc and has also participated the dance drama Rama Katha Vismaya, produced by Abhinava Dance Academy.
Pradyota commenced his one an half hour performance with Ganesh Vandana in Vilambit laya, followed with another number on Lord Shiva- “Shiva Bada Netra”portraying the glory and the majesty of the Lord, who is also known as Nataraja. Surdas composition “nachata sudang” describes joyous dance of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan along with the Gopis, this number also incorporated the childhood pranks of little Krishna when he steals butter and is caught by mother Yashoda and he tries to get away with lot of silly excuses.
Pradyota also performed Tulsidas rendering “ Shree Rama Chandra Krupalu” that described the “Maryada Purusham” who is duty bound to his country men and the episode of the breaking of the Shiva Dhanush to get married to Sita. Pradyota concluded his performance with drut laya teen taal, the Darbari Tarana and the recitation of the shloka from Krishna Karnamrutham for peace and well being of everyone. The compere for the evening was Pradyota’s mentor,famous dancer Nirupama.
The Bachpan festival is organised by Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, mainly to encourage children to participate in different events, thereby enhancing their aptitude and children. Pardyota is a student of Carmel school in Padbanabha Nagar in Bangalore and is stydying in the 7th standard. Kudos to the parents for encouraging children to learn and practise classical arts of India.
