Kelucharan Keerti Shatakam — Birth Centenary of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra

There could not be a more evocative title than Kelucharan Keerti Shatakam - for the birth centenary celebrations of guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the architect of modern Odissi and one of India’s greatest dance visionaries.  The year-long celebrations that commenced on 8 January 2026 in his home state of Odisha, the land that nurtured him and which he, in turn, placed firmly on the global cultural map.

Conceptualised and curated by his son and disciple, guru Ratikant Mohapatra, the centenary celebrations are planned across 100 venues and Odissi dance institutions worldwide. A Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee and an internationally acclaimed Odissi exponent, Ratikant Mohapatra has for decades been a quite but resolute custodian of his father’s legacy, most visibly through the annual Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra  festival in Bhubaneswar.

As a befitting honour for the legend whose name has been synonymous with Odissi dance, the three-day inaugural event, was inaugurated by  Odisha Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, the celebrations were jointly presented by the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre of the state government and   Srjan Odissi Nrityabasa.The thee-days  featured special sessions of reminiscences, performances, photo exhibitions and film screenings on the life and times of the guru.

Remembering Guruji

The three special sessions of reminiscences were the most moving and meaningful segments of the festival. Eminent disciples from across India and abroad shared memories that revealed guru Kelucharan not only as a master choreographer and performer, but as a deeply compassionate teacher. Sonal Mansingh, described him simply as, “one of the greatest gurus India has ever seen,” while Kumkum Mohanty recalled his astonishing performative alchemy — the ability to transform, in an instant, from a 70-year-old man into a 16-year-old Radha.

Madhavi Mudgal likened his simplicity and affection to that of her Kathak guru Birju Maharaj, and Sharon Lowen reflected on his extraordinary pedagogical gift — the capacity to teach many at once while making each disciple feel individually nurtured. For Professor Rohini Dandavate, his teaching transcended form and technique, entering the realm of lived philosophy.

The Maestro’s Masterpieces

Re-reading the maestro’s master pieces remained at the heart of the festival. Of the large number of choreographies, 20 compositions were staged in solo, duet and group formats, offering a panoramic view of his compositional genius. Pallavis (pure dance numbers) in Sankarabharanam, Behag, Kirwani were presented by Madhavi Mudgal, Rina Jana, Sujata Mohapatra respectively. Pallavi in Bilahari remained a duet presentation by Leena Nanda-Munmun Chakraborty followed by a group presentation in Hamsadhwani.

Yet another group presentation Vande Mataram that followed. It was staged by Srjan, the institution that was started by guru Kelucharan.

One of his most celebrated works, Ardhanareeswara, was presented as a duet by the dancer-couple Manoranjan Pradhan and Minati Pradhan.

The festival also featured several of the maestro’s choreographies in expressional dance set to compositions in Sanskrit and Odia. The Sanskrit segment drew from the Geet Govind of Odisha’s 12^th century saint-poet Jayadeva and included ashtapadis such as Pasyati Dishi Dishi by Sharon Lowen, Kuru Yadunandana by Kumkum Lal, Dhira Samire Yamuna Tire by Ileana Citaristi, Kishalaya Shayanatale by Daksha Mashruwala, Sakhi He Keshi Madana Mudaram by Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Yahi Madhava by Kasturi Pattanaik, Nindati Chandanam by Sharmila Mukherjee, and Priye Charushile by Jhelum Paranjpe.

The Odia  segment featured abhinaya numbers rooted in regional poetic traditions. These included He Banagiri, He Latagiri by Kumkum Mohanty, Patha Chhadide Mnu Jibi Phulatoli by Aloka Kanungo), Dine Nadakibu Radhikabolire Murali in a solo presentations by Sikata Das and Vishnu Tattwa Das, Brajaku Chora Asichhi by Sharmila Biswas, and Bibhusan Puspe Jakanti Jana by Meera Das.

It was a special treat for the audience to watch the archival screening of the maestro performing Kuru Yadu Nandana, the concluding ashtapadi from the Geet Govind, which has immortalised him as a performer extraordinaire. The rare film from Srjan Archives revealed why the guru is often remembered as one of the most beautiful Radhas ever seen in dance.

Famed Frames

A photograph speaks a thousand words. The special exhibition of carefully preserved and meticulously curated images on the life and times of guru Kelucharan Mohapatra offered a rare  opportunity to  read, almost frame by frame, a visual essay on his multifaceted personality.

The frames with famed artists showed how dear guru Kelucharan was  to such luminous personalities as Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Jasraj, Kumar Gandharva, V.G. Jog, Birju Maharaj, Vyjayanthimala Bali, Hema Malini, Kapila Vatsyayna, among several others and Kumar Shahani, who made the film Bhavantarana on him, along with Aparna Sen, Smita Patil and Satrughna Singha from cinema.

Photographs of his duet performances with Kalanidhi Narayan, Birju Maharaj, Hema Malini, Sanjukta Panigrahi and Girija Devi reflected the deep regard he enjoyed among eminent performers. Images with Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and P.V.  Narasimha Rao further revealed the recognition and admiration he received at the highest levels.

At the state-owned Odissi Research Centre, named after guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the inaugural ceremony was steeped in devotion. Following the garlanding of the guru’s statue, members of the Odissi family came together to offer 100 diyas, filling the space with a quiet,
prayerful glow.

At Rabindra Mandap, the sprawling venue at the heart of the city, tributes took another evocative form. Odisha’s 700-year-old unique sand art tradition was used to create glowing visual offerings to the guru. Adding a deeply personal note were poems penned by four individuals who shared an intimate personal bond with him—Sanskrit scholar Manmohan Acharya, Ratikant Mohapatra, theatre personality Ashok Lal from Delhi (husband of Odissi exponent Kumkum Lal) and singer Bunckim from Mumbai (son of Odissi exponent Jhelum Paranjpe). These were presented during the celebrations that spoke volumes of the legend’s impact on the family members of his disciples.

If the life and legacy of guru Kelucharan Mohapatra have been carefully documented, preserved and celebrated worldwide during his birth centenary year, much of the credit goes to his son, Ratikant Mohapatra. Through his vision and commitment, he has made guru Kelucharan’s Srjan the epicentre of this legacy, ensuring that it endures well beyond the centenary year.

Shyamhari Chakra 
(Arts journalist and writer)

Photos: Manas Babu