PunarIKSaNa

Pradosham Performance Review – Kathak by Shubhatrayee DilIp Saree

On the evening of 6th August at 6:30 pm, the sacred premises of Mallikeshwarar Temple, Ashok Nagar, came alive with rhythm and devotion as Nirvikalpa presented yet another memorable Pradosham. This month, we had the privilege of hosting Shubhatrayee Dilip Satwe (disciple of Smt. Rutuja Soman), a Kathak artiste who travelled from Pune to share her art with us. It was a performance that beautifully bridged cultures—bringing a North Indian classical dance form to a South Indian audience, set to compositions in Sanskrit and Hindi, and yet transcending all language barriers through the universal appeal of bhakti.

Shubhatrayee began with Adi Shankaracharya’s Ardhanarishwar Stotra, set to Jhaptal, choreographed by Guru Pt. Dr. Rohini Bhate. Through graceful abhinaya and sharp footwork, she evoked the image of Shiva and Shakti as one—the seamless blending of Purusha and Prakriti, the masculine and feminine principles that form the womb of creation. This set the tone for the evening: a celebration of divinity in its most profound and balanced form.

The narrative then shifted to the poignant tale of Dakshayadnya, where Shubhatrayee enacted the story of Sati’s self-immolation and Shiva’s fury, eventually calmed by Lord Vishnu. Portraying multiple characters in the storytelling tradition of Kathak, she brought alive the drama of the episode with fluid transitions, embodying the intensity of both grief and cosmic rage.

From this intensity arose Srujan, a depiction of the journey from destruction to creation. Here, the burning of Kamadeva, Parvati’s devotion, and her eventual union with Shiva were expressed through a Chaturang culminating in a Tarana in Raag Des, set to Ektaal. The performance highlighted how Shakti is inseparable from Shiva—the force without which he remains incomplete. The joy of their union was conveyed not only through intricate nritta but also through a radiance that seemed to fill the temple courtyard.

The recital gained vibrancy with Deem Deem Damru Baaje, a lively bandish composed by Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. With each beat of the Teentaal, Shubhatrayee evoked the image of Shiva’s damaru as the primordial sound of creation. The rhythmic energy, blending pure dance with evocative storytelling, had the audience captivated by the cosmic pulse it represented.

To close the evening, she offered the much-loved bhajan Bho Shambho, soulfully sung by Pt. Jaiteerth Mevundi. The hall resonated with devotion as the performance dissolved into stillness, leaving the audience in quiet reverence and deep joy.

What made this Pradosham performance unforgettable was not just the finesse of Shubhatrayee’s artistry, but her ability to transcend geography and language. Dancing Kathak—rooted in the north—on Tamil soil, without knowing the local tongue, she reminded us that art needs no translation. It is devotion, rhythm, and rasa that become the true language of connection.

At Nirvikalpa, Pradosham is our offering to preserve and celebrate the timeless stories of our tradition. Through Shubhatrayee’s performance, we were reminded once again that the divine speaks to us in many tongues and many forms—but always with the same essence of oneness.