Amidst the lingering chill of a Kolkata winter day, South Kolkata Nrityangan brought a touch of warmth to Rabindra Sadan on the evening of 10 January. Under their direction, their nineteenth annual dance performance was held, featuring 190 students. The distinguished presence of guests Guru Thankamani Kutty, Visva-Bharati’s Kathakali Professor T. Shankaranarayanan, Molly Roy, Urmila Bhowmik, and Somnath Ji Kutty added to the beauty of the performances.
The program was anchored by Sritama Gupta. The organisation’s head, Jhinook Mukherjee Sinha, said with pride, “Today’s programme features students from three and a half years old to 50 years old. We have a programme of almost three hours exclusively performing Bharatnatyam. Today, there is a dire need for classical performers, where everyone is mixing up the classical forms with contemporary ones. We as an organisation always try to keep the classic form pure and honest.”
Thankamani Kutti, a maestro, and Jhinook Mukherjee’s teacher said, “She calls me aunty. And she is my little girl. The little girl has spread her wings and has both nationally and internationally performed, making me very proud as her teacher. I give her all the blessings to shine even brighter.”
South Kolkata Nrityangan is a dance institute for Bharatnatyam, established in 2005. The school was established by the founder Jhinook Mukherjee Sinha with the aim to re-establish the fading glory of Indian classical dance. The aim of the institute is to offer an equal opportunity to all age groups and financial backgrounds.
The programme was no short of a spectacle, with children to adults all performing their hearts out. Productions like Gajananayudam, perfomed by the youngest participants to Todiyam, Baro Krishnayya, River, Bho Shambo, and Amar Mukti all showcased exuberant energies, and care that has gone behind each performance.
The school has performed all over India, including the G20 summit in 2023 in Kolkata and Siliguri.