Celebrating Tagore

Shyama
Odissi by Debamitra Sengupta & Troupe
Robi O Raag
Kathak & Rabindra Nritya by Kalapi Centre for Performing Arts and Keka Sinha
Select Works of Tagore
Bharatanatyam by Dr. Chitra Vishwanathan & Troupe

Step into the soulful world of the Bard of Bengal with Celebrating Tagore. Watch the melodies of Rabindra Sangeet come alive in the fluid grace of Indian classical dance. Whether it’s the stirring depth of Tagore’s poetry or the vivid storytelling of his prose, the evening captures the raw, universal emotions—love, longing and spiritual freedom—that one of India’s greatest visionaries mastered so effortlessly.

Debamitra Sengupta is an internationally acclaimed Odissi dancer and choreographer with over three decades of contribution to Indian classical dance. A senior disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra and Sutapa Talukdar, she is known for her soulful and innovative performances. She is a ‘Top Grade’ Doordarshan artiste and is empanelled with the ICCR, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and SPIC MACAY. She has also been honoured with the title of Aasthana Vidushi by the 33rd Acharya of Shakatapuram, Karnataka. She is the founder-director of Kolkata Mayur Lalit Dance Academy and has contributed to social outreach as a dance teacher and counsellor at Alipore Correctional Home, Kolkata. Her acclaimed choreographies draw from Padabali Kirtan, Sanskrit epics and Bengali literature, with major productions supported by grants from the Ministry of Culture. Her notable productions, such as Meghnad Badh, Chitrangada, Shapmochan, Shakti Roop, Hridi Brindabaney among others, have received widespread acclaim. She has also been awarded production grants by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for her dance ballets Raas Lila, Draupadi and Shyama, all innovatively composed in the Odissi style.

Shyama is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice and moral conflict centered on a beautiful royal courtesan who falls instantly in love with a noble foreign merchant, Bajrasen. When he is unjustly arrested, Shyama orchestrates his escape by persuading her devoted admirer, Uttiyo, to falsely confess to the crime—ultimately leading to his death. Though Shyama and Bajrasen flee together, the truth surfaces, leaving Bajrasen devastated by the cost of his freedom. Torn between love and guilt, he rejects Shyama, who departs heartbroken. Set against an ancient backdrop, Shyama explores timeless themes of passion, betrayal and the ethical dilemmas entwined with love.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote Shyama in 1939, a couple of years before his death. Depicting the dilemmas of arrogance, selfishness, love, remorse and jealousy as a common human weakness, Tagore speaks about the need to overcome life’s impermanence and fragility through an understanding of the real meaning of life.

Keka Sinha is an established Kathak danseuse and disciple of  Bandana Sen and Reba Vidyarthi, both of whom are direct disciples of Shambhu Maharaj of the Lucknow gharana. She holds the Sangeet Prabhakar degree in Kathak from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Prayagraj, and is a recipient of the Singar Mani award from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai. She is a member of the regional selection committee of CCRT (Centre for Cultural Resources & Training, Govt. of India) and panellist for EZCC (East Zone Cultural Centre). She is a graded artiste of Doordarshan? and imparts training to young aspirants through her institute Kalapi Centre for Performing Arts.

Robi O Raag is a bouquet of three songs by Tagore blended with Hindustani classical compositions rendered through Kathak dance and Rabindra Nritya.

Dr. Chitra Vishwanathan is a distinguished exponent of Bharatanatyam with over 26 years of experience in performance and pedagogy. Trained from the age of four under Geeta Mahadevan, she holds an MFA from Dr. Sandhya Purecha’s Bharata College of Fine Arts, Mumbai. She has been honoured with an international doctorate for her contributions to classical dance. Dr. Vishwanathan is renowned for her landmark Brahma Samhita choreography, extensive thematic ballets and for training over 2,000 students. She has represented India internationally through her work, and she has pioneered the introduction of Manipuri dance in Palghar and Mumbai, and is also trained in Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi and Indian folk traditions. Dr. Vishwanathan has been awarded the status of Research Scholar in Bhaktivedanta Academy (USA) among others. She is the founder of the Abhinayaa Institute of Research and Fine Arts (AIRF) and organiser of the Shivanjali Classical Dance Festival since 2014.

It is a privilege to present this artistic offering inspired by the works of Rabindranath Tagore—a visionary who united poetry, music, and movement into a single expressive form. We begin with “Basonti He Bhuvana Mohini,” a vibrant ode to spring. This piece captures the awakening of nature—the blossoming of flowers, the gentle breeze, and the spirit of renewal. Interpreted through the refined vocabulary of Bharatanatyam, the choreography highlights lasya, grace, and expressive abhinaya, bringing alive the joyous essence of the season. The presentation then transitions to “Pinakite,” a powerful invocation of Lord Shiva, the cosmic dancer. Here, the mood intensifies, exploring the dynamic energy of tandava—symbolizing creation, preservation, and dissolution. The dancer embodies strength, rhythm, and divine force. Set within the framework of Carnatic music, this performance reflects a harmonious confluence of Tagore’s literary brilliance and South Indian classical aesthetics.

An NCPA Presentation

Age Limit: 6+

Late entry will not be permitted. 

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Event Navigator