Guru Smt. Sharmila Mukherjee’s Sanjali Odissi dance ensemble.

The Dancer's Worship

August 3, 2023

Reviving Rabindranath Tagore's Natir Puja on the Odissi Stage

In the lyrical world of Odissi, a transcendent performance titled "A Dancer's Worship" took center stage, featuring Guru Smt. Sharmila Mukherjee's awe-inspiring interpretation of Rabindranath Tagore's Natir Puja. This masterful production revolves around the captivating tale of Srimati, a court dancer, or Rajnartika, who becomes the focal point of profound devotion in Natir Puja - the Devotion of the Court Dancer. Srimati's untainted spirit and profound humility embody a fundamental principle of Buddhism, drawing the devout followers of Buddha to recognize her unwavering dedication and implore her to conduct sacred poojas before Buddha's altar. This blog post delves into the heart of "A Dancer's Worship," exploring its intricate themes of injustice, devotion, and spiritual freedom.

At the core of "A Dancer's Worship" lies the poignant narrative of Srimati, the humble court dancer who perceives herself as undeserving even to be in the presence of Buddha's teachings. Her profound modesty resonates with the fundamental principles of Buddhism, showcasing the innate beauty of a devoted heart. As the devotees of Buddha witness her genuine devotion, they entrust her with the role of a priestess to conduct sacred ceremonies before Buddha's altar. Srimati's unwavering dedication transcends even the offerings made by royal princesses, inadvertently causing some of them to feel offended. The multifaceted story of Srimati touches upon themes of humility, sacrifice, devotion, and the transformative power of genuine worship.

Guru Smt. Sharmila Mukherjee, the visionary choreographer and performer, presents "A Dancer's Worship" as a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of genuine devotion. Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's timeless masterpiece, Natir Puja, Sharmila ji gracefully weaves the intricate themes of devotion, sacrifice, and spirituality into her choreography. Her interpretation breathes new life into the story of Srimati, immersing the audience in a profound experience that sparks introspection and reverence.

"Natir Puja" stands as an enduring masterpiece of Bengali literature and culture, and Sharmila's rendition in the Odissi style pays homage to the rich artistic heritage of India. By blending the traditional Odissi dance form with the poetic essence of Tagore's work, "A Dancer's Worship" becomes a captivating fusion of art and spirituality. The performance celebrates the confluence of diverse artistic expressions, bridging the gap between time-honored traditions and contemporary interpretations.

"A Dancer's Worship" was graced with stunning new choreographies that seamlessly blend the classical essence of Odissi with a contemporary flair. The innovative choreographic elements breathed fresh life into the traditional dance form, resonating with the audience, both seasoned patrons and newcomers (like me) alike.

What truly set "A Dancer's Worship" apart was its exceptional soundscape. The accompanying music, composed specifically for the performance, brought a youthful and vibrant energy to the stage. The fusion of traditional Odissi rhythms with modern beats and melodies provided a refreshing and delightful experience. This was further enhanced by the ensemble themselves getting into the act with their rhythmic thumping of their feet and the synchronised tinkling of their anklets. The music's youthful spirit resonated with the audience, making the entire performance feel both invigorating and profound.

A vital component of any dance performance is the interplay of lights, and B. Charles's expertise lent a magical touch to "A Dancer's Worship." The carefully orchestrated play of lights illuminated the stage like celestial constellations, casting a surreal ambiance that heightened the dancers' movements and expressions. B. Charles' craftsmanship accentuated the storytelling, drawing the spectators deeper into the world of Srimati.

Photography is by yours truly. I had a blast trying to keep pace with both the dancers and the light technician to ensure I get my settings and frames right to freeze the marvelous spectacle unfolding onstage.

"A Dancer's Worship" is a testament to the enduring legacy of Rabindranath Tagore's Natir Puja, brought to life through the brilliance of Guru Smt. Sharmila Mukherjee and her ensemble - Sanjali Odissi. This soul-stirring performance weaves a tale of devotion, sacrifice, and spiritual freedom, resonating deeply with the audience. The enchanting odyssey of Srimati, the court dancer, illuminates the transformative power of genuine worship, leaving spectators in awe of the human spirit's resilience. As the heartwarming production unfolds, it inspires introspection and appreciation for the profound connections between art, spirituality, and the human experience. "A Dancer's Worship" captivated the audiences of Bengaluru, transporting them to a realm of divine devotion and timeless beauty.

**ARTISTS**

Choreography **Sharmila Mukherjee**
Music Direction and Script by **Srijan Chatterjee**
Rhythm Composition by **Guru Dhaneswar Swain**
Vocal Rendering for the Bols by **Dr. Nazia Alam**
Lights **B Charles**
Photography **Joseph S Kumar**

Disclaimer: The above is purely my take on the performance as I saw it through my camera’s viewfinder and my interpretation as a rasika of the art form.

Bondla, Betalbatim, Curtorim

November 16, 2021

It‘s Rhea, again. Today I am going to talk to you about the amazing photography trips. First Betalbatim, then Curtorim, and finally Bondla.

Betalbatim

So Betalbatim was an amazing experience, and I enjoyed it. We first went to a busy road. It was a narrow road, where on one side it was a jungle/paddy field, and on the other a large paddy field with cows and egrets surrounding them.

Then as we got out of the car we saw Jeff, [a kingfisher]. He first gave us a nice visual of his beak and back then he flew down and caught a fish. He ate it with joy. After seventeen clicks he flew down and caught a crab. It was a small orange crab, still alive.

There we were taking the picture of the sun. It was beautiful and I also took a pic of the sun with a black kite in front of it. Then we walked and saw a small chapel. We went inside and saw a field as it was an open chapel. then we saw some people parasailing as there was a beach on the other side, the “Betalbatim beach”. Then we saw a lapwing drinking water. I couldn’t take it in focus and couldn't see it. Next to it were 2 Purple Herons. they were completely camouflaged, but I took ‘em.

Then we got in the car and I heard some pigs snorting then I told Dadda to stop as I wanted to see the pigs I saw some pigs and a hen.

Then we went to a beach and were greeted with 2 swallows sitting on the electric lines. They were very cute, at least for me. Walking in an alley I saw a red crab, then a Bee-eater with a dragonfly in its mouth.

We then saw a dog and a plane in the sky.

Curtorim

So this was an amazing experience with an amazing lifer. Curtorim was an experience none could top off. Even though it was an experience that was short it had a package full of birds and flowers etc. So first we stopped in a peaceful lane just after the grand Cortorim lake ended. It was a jungle with a few huts and houses. so first i saw a small spider; very shiny but not scary. Then Dadda had seen quite a large bird and saw that it was not only large it was the APFC [ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER]. I took the picture but unfortunately it was very blurry. The looking at the coconut tree on the other side, we saw some movement on the tree below it. it was a Rufous tree pie. it was a lifer. It looked like a bent brand the beak was black and the wing was brown, white and a stripe of white. It looked very majestic so by that time I was feeling a little tiered so I went and drank some water and looked to see that it was full of Red whiskered bulbul. I could also hear some Barbits but could not take them as they camouflage themselves.

Then we went walking down a lane nothing much just a simple walk and then went into the car. Even though it was a short experience, I still enjoyed it..

bondla

so i woalked out of the car when we saw some ducks in the like always. we saw them and went closer to take them but they all flew away. then we saw some egrets on both sides of the read and the ii saw my firt lifer of the trip which was the sally brested munia. thn i went the other side and woled backwards. taking pictures of some touch me not flower, DDadda had noticed some movement in the branch in front of us. it was a purple rumped sunbird and after sometime it flew of and was soon replaced with a common iora.. so to say it was the best bird i have ever taken a picture of. then i went and saw jeff as soon as i was going ot click he flew the exact time i clicked the photo and i caught jeff in flight. then we got in the car and stopped at the bridge there i was gretted with a flamebak woodpecker. ussaly we get hornbills there but this time we did not. walking thenn we came across a usnbird a very beautiful pic then some more flower.

Guest Post: Rhea's Photo Walk in Hessarghatta

November 25, 2020

Hi everybody. I am on my Dadda’s blog. Yay! it is amazing. So I am Rhea (RHEA JOSEPH). I went to Hessarghatta with my Dadda and my Dadda’s friend Arvind. So we packed our breakfast went out the door. As soon as we reached, we were greeted by a family of Crows, Black Kites and most important of them all is the Brahmini Kite. As we went deeper we were greeted with more exciting birds like: Bee eater, Kingfisher in flight, Woodpecker, 2 Babblers, one sitting on a pole and the other one in flight and the picture of the day the best bird I have taken in focus “THE HOOPOE”. Please have a Look at the photos of the birds.

So now let me tell you about the Black-Throated Blue Warbler. The pic of the bird on the third line first one. My Dadda saw this bird and mistook it as a Indian robin and did not take a pic of it. When we were about to go to sleep we sat down and rated half of the pics and saw the pic and zoomed in and saw the blue on the bird and said what bird is it because an Indian Robin is normally black so we googled for a blue and white bird and it came as Ultramarine Flycatcher and I was so excited and happy, but after hours and hours of research I finally saw it was a BLack-Throated Blue Warbler. But I was still happy as it was a bird Dadda did not see, did not take it, Dadda did not know about it and mistook it as an other bird. And before coming back home we saw some Egrets, Pipits, Swallows and a pair of male and female Bushchats.

THAT IS IT. THANK YOU AND ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU DADDA FOR PUTTING ME ON YOUR BLOG.

Shutter Therapy with Rhea

October 10, 2020

It’s a dream come true when your little girl picks up something dear to you and makes it her own. She has been intrigued by what I’ve been doing over the years and she has been interested in knowing about birds and has been adept at picking up the names and behaviour of some of the species. So it was natural that she asked me if she could come with me to photograph birds. Boy! was I glad to say yes.

We visited Lalbagh and she was particular about what she wanted to see. Her list included her favorites - Black Kites, parrots and mynas. I topped that list with spotted owlets for her. She brought along my trusted Point & Shoot Canon SX 100 IS from ten years ago and had fun clicking away to her heart’s content. She got all she wanted and more, and we wound up within the hour when her little legs were about to give up on her after the hour-long trudge across Lalbagh and her hunger pangs set in. I had planned ahead to show only so much to ensure that we cover a small part of Lalbagh and not to tire her out on her first outing. We quickly head back home to make our usual Sunday breakfast and enjoy the rest of the day ticking off her weekend task list filled with games and activities (Yes, she makes them religiously every week).

After a couple of weeks, I asked her if she would like to go for another birding trip and she promptly agreed. This time I planned to take her to Hoskote as the Baya Weavers were out and about in full swing making the place their own and giving countless opportunities for birders to watch them and click to their heart’s content. I rented a Nikon D5200 for her this time and thought she could borrow my trusted 70-210 to pair it with. When I got the body, I realized that the 5200s cannot autofocus with the 70-210. I quickly improvised and handed her my D750 and I used the 5200 with the Tamron G2.

We started with the Weavers on entring the Hoskote driveway, and slowly strolled down to the lake where we were greeted by the Herons, Moorhens and Pelicans. We had great fun till the hour ran out again and with it her energy. Can’t blame her. Birding is taxing especially the waiting and the slow trudging can take a toll on anybody, especially a 9-year-old. All it took was a hearty breakfast back at the car to recharge her batteries.

Some pictures from our trip to Hoskote.

The third time, was another trip to Lalbagh and again, a wonderful outing for the two of us where she was delighted to spot and photograph a pair of Brahminy Kites at a close enough perch giving her all the opportunity to admire those magnificent birds and photograph them. Plus, there were tons of Cormorants, darters and even a pair of tortoises who came to welcome her to the beautiful world of wildlife photography.

“That’s all Follks !”

Shutter Therapy with the D300

October 3, 2020

So I got a new old camera to play around, the venerable Nikon D300. I wanted to check how it would perform today for my birding needs. It’s couple of decades down the line. It’s not the latest and greatest, but if you know the basics and are willing to work the camera and the subject, it is a great tool in the camera bag for a birder. It’s also a great tool to learn the hard way. It’s 3D focus tracking for birds in flight is pretty good. Even better than my D750 if I may say so. It is definitely not a camera to work with in low light situations, so hunting under trees are a no go. Yeah right. I might go slow on the shutter (my new favourite thing). Pushing the ISO beyond 1000 is out of the question for any serious image quality for birds. I might have no qualms to do so on documentary portraits and street work. Ergonomics is great with the grip and it feels amazing in the hand. Being used to my D750, this is a rock, in a good way.

So, on to the images. Not too much of a story. The usual spot - Lalbagh. Was hoping for a bit of activity at the far end of the lake with the sun slightly behind me at an angle(works). Was not disappointed. So here go the images…

That’s all folks.

Shutter Therapy with the Tamron 150-600 G2

June 16, 2020

Trying out a new lens this weekend and here are a few photographs made with this lens. It’s well built and sharp. A bit of a hit and miss (more miss) with BIFs. Might need a bit more practice with BIFs and that should (hopefully) sort the issue out. Why? Because I’m hopeful of picking this lens up for my 40th :)

Happy Birthday to me.

The next day was a short, but eventful thanks to me not having a charged battery. I had two and both of them were near drained. So long story short, it was a beautiful day teeming with a lot of activity and I could not document it thanks to me. Still, I managed to score three owlets in an all new location, a darter and a little grebe. And missed a pair of white throated kingfishers, a pair of Brahminy Kites sitting for a great portrait opportunity in excellent lighting conditions, a pair of cormorants showing me what it means to not charge my batteries by fling in synchronisation and thereafter diving around again in synchronisation this time joined by a third. To top it all, a little Egret was going nuts in the water chasing fish and giving some brilliant opportunities. Well, a lesson learned indeed. And, I didn’t get to test the lens on BIFs yet. Maybe this evening.

“Long story short... I got Tammy.”

Purple Moorhen. Print available on request.

Shutter Therapy to end the Lockdown

June 12, 2020

So, after many many months of lockdown and self quarantine, I finally stepped out to my favourite hunting ground - Lalbagh. Armed with the massive 70-210 for birding! I’m sure I’m the only clown in 2020 walking with this Compsognathus (google it) of a lens and that too for birding. Though not ideal, it’s the most beautiful lens in that focal range. It’s light, it’s got a zoom ring that turns at the slightest touch and it’s an F4. I usually use this lens for my dance outings. Since that has become scarce and I didn’t want to rent a lens yet. I made do with the longest focal range I own. I could always crop to my heart’s content.

As usual, Jeff was there to welcome me. This time, he had his girlfriend along with him. He gave me a welcome flyby and a nice silhouette before I moved on shooting some leaves. Leaves and flowers are not my usual thing, but I was inspired by a Youtube video by Liesl Huddleston and that got me seeing things around that I never would have otherwise. Plus her videos are calming in some strange way. I usually don’t spend 15 minutes on a youtube video.

As I walked on, I spotted a snail crossing a step and out came my trusty Olympus OMD EM5 with its kickass Kit Lens that does double duty as a Macro lens. I took some shots of the snail with my phone flashlight lighting it up from the sides. This was followed by a caterpillar, spider, bees and droplets on a flower. I need to do a complete session on Macro one of these days. The Olympus colours are to die for and the kit being so light, they take the pain of holding it for long hours trying to get these tiny beings in all their glory. You still have to squat a lot, but I dont think Olympus can do much here. The 5-axis IBIS helps too. But the colours…. can’s stop raving. I’m eyeing the Olympus 60mm Macro for a 1:1 view of these beauties.

Let’s get back to the business of birds and maybe a squirrel or two.

I’ve saved the best for the last. Moorhens are not the birder’s most favourite birds. They are found everywhere around a waterbody and they are rather dull looking birds that keep darting around awkwardly on their long gangly legs. The lockdown caused the usually shy Purple Moorhens to grow a pair and they are now strutting around near the fence and even taking a chance to come out of the fence to grab a bite. Looks like they have started walking on the wild side. I got an opportunity to sit very close to them to make almost full frame (no crop) portraits of these two Moorhens. The highlight of my day. Yep, no spotted owlets or APFCs or even a decent portrait of Jeff. But hey, I’m happy to be out doing what I love most - making photographs.

Shutter Therapy with Sarita Mishra

March 11, 2020

A lovely evening at the Ganapathi Seva Samithi to witness the Navvarsh Mahotsav. Blissful performances by Vani Bhalla Pahwa (Mohiniyattam), Sarita Mishra (Odissi) and Anitha Sharma (Sattriya).

In one of her performances, she highlights the Navaras.

Here are some more glimpses from Sarita Mishra’s performance. Brilliant expressions. She speaks a thousand words with just her eyes and her exquisite movements are like poetry. I will let the Sarita speak to you through these images.

Shutter Therapy at Valley School

March 10, 2020

Continuing from the eventful evening at Jakkur Lake, we headed out to Valley School, considered to be the paradise of the Asian Paradise Flycatchers (APFCs). We started a little late thanks to a little do at Aravind’s the previous evening. So battling a hangover and lack of sleep, we started at 5:45 from Sahakarnagar to Valley School. Ma Nature was kind and she held back the light a bit so we don’t feel too bad about getting up late.

We made it to Valley School by 6:45 and having signed in at the entry (there were four cars already before us), we headed up the path to glimpse the elusive APFCs - we had made up our mind to see tons of them. That doesn’t always work. Going forward, we plan to enjoy every single bird out there and give them all the attention they rightfully deserve. Enroute, Aravind took the path less trodden and was gifted with a Goshawk (lifer) while I stayed on the path and shot some Red-whiskered Bulbuls. Nothing against them. They sing so well and they aren’t too shy either. I like them. So here’s a mugshot of the colorful and beautiful Red-Whiskered Bulbul.

Valley School seemed to be devoid of birds from there till the abandoned house. Not even the babblers were interested to come out and annoy us. Just before taking the turn to the house, we saw some activity on the tree leading to the house. A few warblers, an Ashy Prinia and a newbie hanging out having a nice time gorging on the berries. Another lifer for me. A Black-headed Cuckooshrike.

The area after the house was again devoid of APFCs. Just the swallows going about their business making multiple trips to their nests on the roof of the abandoned house. We hung around that spot before deciding to move along a path that we hadn’t ventured before. It was a winding road that took us down to the bamboo grove and since that path was not too frequented by others (I am assuming) the ground was covered in dried bamboo leaves making the entire path yellow. It was surreal to look at. It was also a little scary as it was just the three of us - Oh! we were joined by a fellow birder and surgeon. If it was up to lazy me, I would have turned around and come back empty-handed. Thankfully I decided to follow Aravind moving ahead and dove deep into the bamboo forest. We hit what must have been a large stream. Only it was completely dried up and covered in, you guessed it right, dried bamboo leaves. Aravind piqued our interest by spotting a female APFC. There were even places where the water might have fallen as tiny waterfalls once. One area was completely burnt up making the ground black. It was such a contrast to the yellow of the leaves on the other side. While Aravind and the surgeon started climbing up a path on the other side of the stream, I hung around walking down the stream and chanced upon a Puff-throated Babbler (lifer) creating a beautiful composition. Go ahead… see if you can spot him in the pic below.

While the Puff-throated was doing his thing, the most beautiful thing happened. An APFC (rufous morph) and a male at that with the longest tail I’ve ever seen came flitting down and settled on a branch just a few feet from me. I was too stunned to even lift the camera to my eyes lest he fly away. Lost a few precious seconds before I got to my senses and lifted the camera and managed a measly two shots!!! It was the most beautiful setting with the background so ethereal and the elusive and beautiful bird right in front of you. It all happened in a few seconds and he vanished after hopping a couple of trees. Sigh.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher (rufous morph)

I joined the others after this and went up the path only to spot another lifer - a Short Toed Snake Eagle soaring above us in the clearing. Now I took the lead and started running after him, trying to catch another glimpse and shot of the beauty. In the chase, we ventured too far and eventually lost our way, shot a few sunbirds and after some trudging along, we thankfully saw some sign of human life. Back to humanity and completely drained and hungry, we closed the day at Valley School. Hey, hey, while we were done for the day, the day was not done with us yet. Just before the end of the path back to the car, we spotted a Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher who was sportingly posing for us in a rather dark undergrowth. A few tired shots before the last few steps back to the car. Until the next time, here are some more images from the day.

Shutter Therapy at Jakkur Lake

March 8, 2020

Visiting Jakkur Lake for the second time. This time around in the evening. Armed with a Prime lens for a change. A first for me. I usually shoot with the 150-600 or 200-500 telephoto zooms primarily because they are light to carry and cheap to rent. Since we decided to go birding at short notice, all zooms were taken and I was left with a Nikkor 500 PF lens to choose from. Though this was double the rent, it made up by being super light even compared to the zooms and SHARP. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with this lens and look forward to more outings with this beauty.

It was a lovely outing with a few lifers - a Jungle Cat! and a Jacobin Cuckoo. I was greeted by my dear friend Jeff (love him to bits) and thereafter it was full of pelicans, herons for some time. Took a nice long walk down Jakkur Lake and for a bit there was brief lull which i filled by shooting some flitting butterflies and dragon flies. The 500 PF handled these tiny beauties with equal aplomb and it was a delight indeed in terms of focussing and sharpness. After this I made some beautiful moody portraits of the pelican.