Dear Friends,
Thankfully, our last performance on 5th Nov 2023, in Japan featuring ‘Invitation to Odissi’ at Nara (one of the oldest cities of Japan), went rather well. We drove to the Nara Prefectural Convention Centre where the Japan-Indo Cultural Festival was being held. The event had already started and it was unthinkable to expect any chance to even attempt the minimum of space blocking.
As the dancers prepared, Siva and I enjoyed an elegant luncheon with Consul General Shri Nikhilesh Giri. We were joined by two other Padma Shri awardees: Mr Mizokami, the Japanese Hindi Professor who received his Padma Shri in the same year as I did (2018) and the well known Odiyan film director, Shri Nila Madhab Panda whose film would be screened after lunch.
Madhab Ji’s feature film ‘Kadvi Hawa’ was an intense work, aesthetically stunning and deeply moving. The film examined the challenging Indian rural life with all its tribulations. There was a discussion after the screening whereby Madhab Ji fielded the questions thrown at him with succinct and intelligent answers.
Sutra dancers, performed their ‘Invitation to Odissi’ with panache and confidence. They subsequently won the hearts of the audience who clapped along when they performed the infectious Moksha, the last piece.
We had our last dinner at Kerala Indian Restaurant where we had our meals in Kyoto.
As much as we enjoyed our stay in Japan, there was a palpable relief that we will soon be home. Three weeks away from home was a bit too long for the dancers…
Sutra