Dear Friends,
The launch of ANINI, the painting exhibition by artist Mandakini and her daughter Aradhya, was a resounding success. Attended by Smt Subashini Narayanan, Deputy High Commissioner of India and Colonel Praveen Sukumaran, Defense Attache from Indian High Commission, Mandakini rallied her illustrious entourage of family members, colourful friends and admirers. Many have never been to Sutra and admitted that they had been transformed by the night’s experience.
Mandakini, who is from a proud Rajput lineage, paid homage to her family and husband, Ravi, who had encouraged her in her creative exploration, a plunge which she took rather late in life.
ANINI was dedicated to her elegant mother, Mrs Neena Chauhan who was present together with her father Mr Chauhan, a retired army personnel.
Mandakini recalled that her mother had the courage to sail in a boat alone to explore her creative talent, unheard of during her time, to be apprenticed to Mdme Tussaud’s Institute.
Mandakini shared the exhibition with her talented daughter, Aradhya, who also exhibited a few of her compelling paintings.
ANINI, the painting exhibition, celebrated the Woman, in all her multifarious manifestations and glorious presence. The Woman is not only Mother but Sustainer of Life, endowed with positive Energy. She is the vessel in which the drama of Life is enacted.
The audience was also treated with a magnificent performance by Sutra dancers. They performed highlights from Sutra’s contemporary, Odissi & Bharatanatyam repertoire.
Datuk Ramli Ibrahim made a rare appearance in a classic Odissi dance together with senior dancers, Geethika Sree, Harenthiran, Tan Mei Mei & Vickneshwaran.
Harenthiren and Jyotsnaa danced Ananda Natamaduvar, a powerful dance describing Siva’s Ananda (Joy) Tandava. This was a composition of Ramli’s late Bharatanatyam guru, Shri Adyar K Lakshman.
There were several new dancers and, already, audience would be able to pick up new faces, rising dance-stars who would emerge in time from the ranks, as favourites.
Odissi dancer Jagyandatta Pradhan from Rudrakshya Foundation (Bhubaneswar) was impressive in Kali Stute, a dance composed by his guru, Bichitrananda Swain.
Indeed, the launch was spectacular, in many ways. It brought out the combined and integrated powers of ‘Rasa’ of both the visual arts with that of dance. When experienced together, the impact of both is amplified, and at times – instantaneously, as it was that night for some guests. It has the ability to inspire and transform the rasika forever!
Sutra.