Lucknow – The second day of the centenary celebrations at Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya was a vibrant showcase of India’s rich traditions in music, dance, and theatre. The evening programme enthralled audiences with soul-stirring performances, leaving the auditorium steeped in emotion, beauty, and artistic excellence.
Padma Shri Malini Awasthi’s Enchanting Performance
The cultural evening featured a spellbinding recital by Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi, renowned for her folk and semi-classical renditions. She began her performance with a devotional invocation to Maheshwaray Mahadev, followed by captivating compositions including the thumri “Sanwariya Dekhe Bina Na Chain”, dadra “Gujri Gayi Ratiya Saiyan Na Aaye”, “Sautan Ghar Na Ja Ab More Saiyan”, and “Tohe Leke Sanwariya Nikal Chali Be”.
Awasthi’s powerful, sensitive, and emotive singing beautifully merged the simplicity of folk with the discipline of classical music. Her renditions reflected the nuances of everyday life, the pains and joys of women, devotion, and romance—leaving a deep impression on the audience. The evening session proved unforgettable for connoisseurs of music and art.
Theatrical Presentation ‘Mohe Piya’
Following the musical segment, celebrated theatre director Prof. Vaman Kendre staged a compelling theatrical performance, “Mohe Piya”, based on Mahakavi Bhasa’s Sanskrit play Madhyam Vyayog. The production seamlessly combined classical Indian theatre techniques with contemporary sensibilities, vivid performances, evocative stage design, and powerful music and expression.
Key Roles and Technical Crew
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Ghatotkach: Ritwik Kendre
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Bhim: Suhas Suryavanshi
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Hidimba: Karishma Desle
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Nati: Samprati Patil
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Brahmin Woman: Vaidehi Wagle
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Keshavdas: Mandar Pandit
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Elder Son: Sumit Bhalerao
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Middle Son: Amol Jadhav
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Youngest Son: Shreyas Joshi
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Karna: Sumit Bhalerao
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Warriors: Raju Shinde, Mandar Pandit, Swapnil Kamble, Amod Bhide, Yash Kamble, Amol Jadhav, Vishal Dongre, Shyaml Rokde, Vaidehi Wagle
Technical Team: Adaptation, Music & Direction: Prof. Vaman Kendre | Dance Composition: Anil Sutar & C. Gopalakrishnan | Costume: Sandhya Salve | Set Design: Ulhes Khandare | Lighting: Anoop Joshi | Sound: Mangesh Shinde | Backstage: Shivdas Ghodke, Nabid Inamdar | Music Coordination: Prashant Kadam | Producer: Mrs. Gauri Kendre | Stage Management: Samprati Patil
“Mohe Piya” explored love, separation, politics, and human relationships through the Mahabharata narrative of Ghatotkach and the Kurukshetra war, highlighting the conflict between duty and familial love, culminating in the tragic sacrifice of Ghatotkach.
The audience, comprising art enthusiasts, students, scholars, and general spectators, responded with enthusiastic appreciation, calling the evening a dignified, thought-provoking, and memorable highlight of the centenary celebrations.
The cultural evening stood as a powerful testament to the preservation and promotion of Indian music and theatre, marking the centenary year of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya as a moment of historic and cultural pride.
