Questioning the myth

Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 30

Dancing straight to the hearts of the audience, the celebrated Bharatnatyam and Odissi dance guru, recipient of prestigious Padma Vibhushan and Rashtriya Sangeet Natak Akademi honours, Dr Sonal Mansingh sent all in a scintillating reverie as 

she presented a classical dance drama 'Panchakanya' in the ongoing Theatre Olympics at Tagore Theatre, here on Friday.

In the sleek presentation of 'Panchakanya' for the Centre for Indian Classical Dances, New Delhi, Guru Sonal Mansingh brought alive the  trauma, anguish and  dilemma in the life episodes of five mythological characters - Ahalya, Tara, Kunti, Mandodari before elaborating the  sordid tale of woes of Draupadi in the dance drama interspersed with shlokas and narratives.

The play mainly centred on the character of Draupadi who was seen through Vyasa's eyes and described through the prismatic perceptions of the Pandavas, the Kauravas and Krishna.

Except Krishna, all men saw her in parts, not in totality. She is Prakriti, she is Kali and she is karma incarnate. The 'woman' had been extolled as an angle in our old epics and scriptures but sadly subjugated by the male chauvinism in all ages and segments of society.

Sonal Mansingh embellished her performance with suggestive mudras, nimble footwork, facial and body gestures to perfection.