ALOK MURALI FESTIVAL 2025

Posted on 5 July 2025:

Alok Murali Festival 2025: A Tribute to Tradition and Young Talent in Indian Classical Dance

Held on June 24th at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata, Alok Murali Festival 2025 lit up the stage with grace, rhythm and heartfelt homage. 

Organised by  renowned artist Sriparna Bose, a gifted performer, thoughtful choreographer and gentle teacher who began her artistic journey under the guidance of Guru Muralidhar Majhi, and today, as a senior disciple of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Guru Aloka Kanungo, the event stands as a beautiful tribute to legendary Gurus Muralidhar Majhi and Smt. Aloka Kanungo. 

Beyond its glowing performances, the festival has become a nurturing ground for young talent—offering a solo classical dance competition for artists up to 16 years of age. With inspiring initiatives, vibrant showcases, and a commitment to preserving Odissi and all Indian classical dance forms, Sriparna Bose’s Ahban continues to shape the future of tradition. 

Starting at 5:10 PM, the evening resonated with energy, excellence and the enduring spirit of cultural celebration.

A Blessed Gathering of Gurus and Grace 

At Alok Murali Festival 2025, the presence of esteemed gurus filled the air with reverence and warmth. With blessings from Guru Aloka Kanungo, Smt. Annapurna Majhi, Guru Purnima Ghosh, Guru Polly Guha, Prof. Amita Dutta, Guru Sutapa Talukdar, Guru Ashimbandhu Bhattacharya, Guru Tapash Debnath, Smt. Tapati Chowdhury and Guru Somnath Kutty, the event radiated deep respect for tradition.

A touching moment unfolded as Guru Aloka Kanungo lovingly gifted Sriparna a Tasar Dupatta, delicately hand-stitched in Kantha from Shantiniketan—a symbol of affection, heritage, and heartfelt blessings.

Highlights from the Alok Murali Festival

A vibrant showcase of classical dance and cultural expression, the Alok Murali Festival presented a series of soul-stirring performances that celebrated tradition, talent and artistic spirit.

Sringar Pallavi: A Journey of Grace and Devotion

Meerashrita Das, a senior Odissi dancer with deep roots in Santiniketan and Bhubaneswar, brings to stage Sringar Pallavi in Raag Bageshri and Ek Taal —choreographed by Guru Rout, with music by Guru Sarat Kumar Sahoo and rhythm by Guru Sachitananda Das—offering a graceful tribute to tradition.

Trained under revered Gurus including Smt. Jyoti Rout, her performance blossoms with expressive beauty, soulful vocals by Guru Sarat Kumar Sahoo, and rhythmic finesse on the Mardala by Guru Sachitananda Das.

Debanjali Bandyopadhyay: A Young Voice of Mohiniyattam 

A devoted student of Mohiniyattam, Debanjali Bandyopadhyay trains under Smt. Priyadarshini Ghosh and Smt. Mohana Iyer at Natyanova. At the festival, she performed the graceful Jatiswaram, weaving pure dance into flowing music composed by Guru Kala Vijayan and brought to life by a stellar ensemble of artists.

Roopsa Kahali: Nurturing Legacy Through Graceful Expression 

A devoted disciple of Dr. Jyotsna Rani Sahoo, Roopsa Kahali is a passionate Odissi dancer pursuing her Master’s from Rabindra Bharati University. In the festival, she performed Leela Nidhi He—an evocative Odia Abhinaya choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra—blending tradition, poetry and poise in every graceful move.

Dr. Soumya Bhowmick: A Torchbearer of Gaudiya Nritya 

Renowned for his mastery in Gaudiya Nritya, Dr. Soumya Bhowmick blends deep scholarship with vibrant expression. With a Ph.D. guided by Guru Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, he presented Krishna Rūpa Barṇan—a lyrical Mahājanapada Nritya set in Rāga Kora and Tāla Ektālī, gracefully brought to life with vocals by Pandit Amitabha Mukherjee.

Swapna Dutta: A Devotee’s Tale Told Through Dance 

A senior disciple of Guru Meera Das and a dedicated Odissi dancer, Swapna Dutta balances tradition with modern life as a data scientist. At the festival, she portrayed Shabari, the humble devotee of Lord Ram, in a moving abhinaya choreographed by her guru—where bhakti and simplicity shone through every gesture.

Grace in Monsoon: Rajveer Rana’s Odissi Tribute to Nature

Rajveer Rana, a promising Odissi dancer and disciple of Guru Smt. Nandini Ghosal, enchants audiences with his soulful performance of Mare Bano Dhara—a timeless Odia composition by Sri Danay Das. This evocative piece, set to music by Prafulla Kar and choreographed by the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, celebrates the serene beauty of the monsoon through graceful expression and refined artistry.

Kuchipudi Offering to the Cosmic Dancer

Sandip Kundu, a dedicated Kuchipudi artist from Kolkata and disciple of Sri Biraj Roy, brings divine energy to the stage with Natesha Kauthuvam. Through precise movements and expressive grace, he portrays Lord Shiva as Nataraja—the cosmic dancer adorned with trident, damru, tiger skin and celestial ornaments. Set to rhythmic sollukattu and lyrical praise, his performance is a vibrant tribute to the eternal spirit of dance. His spirited presence and heartfelt energy drew resounding applause, leaving the audience truly uplifted.

Kamodi Pallavi: Echoes of Odisha’s Sculpted Grace

Paulami Chakraborty, a devoted disciple of Guru Smt. Aloka Kanungo and recipient of the Junior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, presents a soulful Odissi piece set in Raag Kamodi. With choreography by her Guru, she brings alive the gentle rhythm of Ek Taal and Khemta, weaving tradition and poise into every movement.

Inspired by the varied styles of Odisha temple art, Kamodi Pallavi blooms under the graceful choreography of Guru Alok Kanungo. Its timeless beauty, paired with melodious music, leaves a lingering warmth—etched in movement and humming in memory.

Rhythms of Devotion in Ragam Kamas

Aratrika Das, a passionate Bharatanatyam dancer who began her journey at the age of three, presents a heartfelt Javeli set to Ragam Kamas and Adi Talam. Trained under esteemed gurus and now guided by Smt. Sangeeta Aich Bhowmick, her performance reflects years of dedication shaped into elegant expression and rhythmic grace.

Bhava that Echoes in Memory

Sayani Mandal, an acclaimed Kathak dancer from Bihar and disciple of Guru Madhumita Roy, brings grace and precision to the stage with Bageshree Tarana set to Teentaal. Her performance flows with rhythmic brilliance, capturing the soul of Kathak through swift footwork and expressive elegance. Her mastery of Bhava—the emotional essence—left a vivid mark on the audience, making the moment linger long after the final beat.

A Delicate Dialogue in Raga Kalyan

Tamal Das, a young and gifted Odissi dancer from Kolkata, trained under Guru Sri Ratikant Mahapatra and Smt. Rajashree Prahraj, enchants with his rendition of Pallavi in Raga Kalyan and Joti Taal. With choreography by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and music by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra, his performance blooms with lyrical grace and rhythmic depth. Tamal Das, with years of devoted training, brought remarkable finesse to his Odissi performance.

Unveiling Emotions through Krishna Kaali

Debanjana Roy, nurtured by a creatively rich lineage and trained under esteemed Gurus, presents Krishna Kaali—a bold exploration of love, secrecy and suspicion. Co-founder of Mitradheya, she choreographed this poignant work where Radha’s hidden bond with Krishna stirs Ayan’s doubts, brought to life through evocative music and layered storytelling.

Elegance in Rageshree

Paromita Banerjee, an empanelled artist of ICCR and Doordarshan (B High grade), and disciple of Guru Smt. Rina Jana and Guru Smt. Lipsa Satapathy, presents Rageshree Pallavi. Choreographed by Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, the piece unfolds in Raag Rageshree and Ektaali, radiating pure Odissi grace through lyrical movement and rhythmic subtlety.

Tandava: The Eternal Pulse of Shiva

Shramana Chattopadhyay, a National Scholarship holder and CCRT Junior under the Ministry of Culture, presents a powerful piece on Shiva as Nataraja—the cosmic dancer. Guided by Prof. Amita Dutt, she brings to life the Tandava through traditional Patiala gharana music, enriched with rhythmic bols, stirring vocals, and vibrant tabla, evoking divine energy with each movement. Sramana Chatterjee’s Kathak performance mesmerized with each precise footwork, striking a chord in every heart.

Naba Durga: A Tribute to Mahari Grace

Atrayee Dutta, an Odissi dancer shaped by the guidance of Late Guru Muralidhar Majhi and Late Guru Poushali Mukherjee, continues her journey under Guru Smt. Suhag Nalini Das and Guru Shri Sarat Das. In Naba Durga, a classic Mahari-inspired choreography by Adi Guru Padmashree Pankaj Charan Das, she embodies divine strength through Raag Bhairav and Jaati Taal with serene intensity and elegance.

Chandi Stuti: A Sacred Invocation in Gaudiya Nritya

Smt. Banani Chakraborty, a senior Gaudiya Nritya exponent with over three decades of dedication, presents Chandi Stuti—a powerful piece drawn from the Mundamala Tantra and Kalika Puran, honoring Goddess Chandi. Choreographed by Prof. Mahua Mukherjee with music by Subhadip and Ayan Mukherjee, the performance features Anindita Chakraborty, Nabanita Naskar, Jenia Naskar, Riya Paul, and Shreemoye Chakraborty under Banani Chakraborty’s direction, radiating devotional grace and dynamic ensemble artistry.

Chandan Yatra: A Fragrant Offering in Dance

Sourav Samanta, a gifted Odissi dancer and choreographer, and disciple of Guru Sutapa Talukdar and Guru Jhelum Paranjape, presents Mani Bimane Gobinda with his ensemble from Saaranga Institute of Odissi Dance. Inspired by the sacred Chandan Yatra of Sri Mandir and dedicated to Lord Madanmohan, the piece—composed by Sri Chinmoy Kumar Mala and set to Taal Khemta—blossoms with temple tradition, devotional music, and graceful storytelling.

Amritavarshini: A Flow of Artistic Grace

Bhumisuta Welfare Foundation of Performing Arts, founded by Dr. Debasmita Biswas, has been nurturing creativity since 2018. With roots in deep classical training, the Foundation presents Amritavarshini—a thematic dance production flowing with expression and tradition. Performed by Arunima Das, Indrani Pal, Lipika Sarkar, Moumita Gupta, Poulami Sarkar, Shreya Pramanick, and Sraya Ghosh, the piece celebrates collective artistry in motion.

Honouring Grace: A Celebration of Art and Dedication 

At Alok Murali Festival 2025, heartfelt tributes flowed as Sriparna Bose honored the shining stars of the evening. The Aalok Murali Samman was bestowed upon artists  Atratee Dutta, Swapna  Dutta, Sandip Kundu, Rajveer Rana, Aratrika Das, Roopsa Kahali,Shramana Chattopadhyay, Debanjali Bandyopadhyay and Meerashrita Das  for their captivating performances. 

The Anugata Samman celebrated dedicated contributors including Sayani Mandal, Debanjana Roy, Tamal Das, Dr. Soumya Bhowmick, Paulami Chakraborty, Paromita Banerjee.

With special recognition through the Kandari Samman, institutions led by Sourav Samanta(Saaranga Institute Of Odissi Dance), Banani Chakraborty (Mitrayan Institute Of Dance & Research), and Debasmita Biswas (Bhumisuta Welfare Foundation of Performing Arts) were applauded for shaping the future of classical dance. 

Anchored gracefully by Smt. Jyoti Dutta, the entire event was a reflection of Sriparna’s passion, precision and deep reverence for the arts.