Interview with Odissi Exponent Sharmila Mukerjee, May 2016 - By Shubha Nagarajan
A brief introduction
Sharmila Mukerjee is the Founder and Artisitc Director of Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance established in Bengaluru in 2004.
After completing her schooling in Loretto House and graduating from Presidency College in Kolkata,she followed her one and only passion-dance.
Initiated into the Uday Shankar style of dance,she caught the attention of critics who wrote about her inborn grace and stage presence after watching her playing the main role of Chandalika in Tagore's dance drama ,"Chandalika",at the young age of sixteen.
Thereafter,in 1984,Sharmila started her rigorous training under the legendary Odissi master,Sri Kelucharan Mohapatra in Kolkata and continued the intensive training at her Guru's residence in Cuttack and Bhuwaneshwar.She performed her rangapravesh in 1988,where Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra himself accompanied her on the mardala.
Sharmila started performing as a solo artist and in Guruji's productions.
She took abhinaya lessons from Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan and attended workshops conducted by Smt.Sanjukta Panigrahi.
Sharmila initally taught Odissi at the Calcutta School of Music,and was the Secretary of the Indian music department.
She has worked very closely with children with hearing impairment as she taught dance and movement therapy at The Oral School for Deaf Children in Kolkata and choreographed a full length production of Ramayan with more than 50 children participating in the dance.After moving to Bengaluru,she continued to teach at the Sheila Kothwala Institute for the Deaf.
*She won a scholarship to the University of Michigan where she studied dance movement and composition.
*An A Grade artist of Doordarshan and an established artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations,Sharmila has performed at various prestigious festivals and conferences in India and abroad.
*She has received the Singar Mani award from the Sur Singar Sansad (Mumbai),and has been recently conferred the prestigious Mahari Award in 2016 from the Guru Pankaj Charan Das Foundation(Odisha).
*Sharmila has choreographed various productions and dance pieces in Odissi.
*Having made Bengaluru her home,and as one of the pioneers of Odissi in South India ,she continues to spread this dance form through her teaching and performances.
You are a performer, a teacher, and a successful choreographer, madam, please let us know about the journey through the stages.
My growing up years in Kolkata gave me exposure to Western ballet.As a child I used to watch a lot of Western ballet, and plays and was very interested in reading about ballet dancers and later contemporary dancers- Western and Indian.During my years of schooling in Kolkata, I was learning the Uday Shankar stye of dance which also taught me a lot about choreography and ballets. Being a student of dance and later teaching at the Calcutta School of Music and The Oral School for Deaf Children I was interested in participating in workshops and attending seminars conducted in the U.S Consulate British Council who would bring down choreographers and dancers from Laban Centre, U,K , and Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham Dance companies.Of course Guruji was a fascinating and brilliant choreographer,.Participating in his productions helped a lot.
I used to learn with Padathik which was into Kathak,Odissi,and theater.I used to watch Hindi,and Marathi theater too.
-- How I started getting into choreography was that I was hugely inspired by Guruji.Watching how he went about choreographing a dance piece.Its not always necessary that you have to perform in every dance to understand it. Observing when others are doing is very helpful.I started getting interested in not just the choreography but also lighting and other factors involved in a dance production.Guruji also used to give us small pieces of music and have us choreograph our own dance and he always encouraged us to be creative.
I did not start choreographing very early, but I started in small ways ,a few fifteen minute programs, and then I choreographed a full length "Ramayana" with school children who had hearing impairment.That gave me an idea of how to work on ballets and dance dramas going scene by scene,the lighting,the music,editing, and all that.
After I started my dance School I have been doing my own pieces,like Ganga,Chitrangadha,Vande Mataram,and others.
Dancers need inspiration to create. What types of themes you like to work on and how do you go about the subjects?
Firstly, I always think of aesthetics when I consider choreographing a dance piece.It has to look appealing .It has to suit Odissi and should be able to adapt to the Odissi form.
Secondly,the theme has to have a good story,it has to stay with the audience even after they leave,it has to arouse the emotions and curiosity of the audience.It has to definitely be socially relevant.These days I like to choose topics that have a message and makes people think.
Please let us know something about the making of your latest production "Sookshma". The very word sounds mystic.
I was very keen to do something from Karnataka and give back to the place I have called home for more than a dozen years now. I read many stories and when I read a flowering tree by A.K.Ramanujan, I felt it was a very lovely and simple story and it touched me,and I felt I could do this in Odissi .
Its about a girl who was given the boon to turn into a flowering tree.It is a story that talks about the similarity of a tree and a woman,such as nurturing,delicate,beautiful,and resilient.The story involves joy and pathos.I knew a movie was made based on this same story,but I am glad I did not see the movie as it was a clean slate for me and I had my own ideas without being influenced.
Then I sat down and drew a detailed scene by scene script ,and keeping in mind that its a dance drama,we had to make a few changes in characters.I also added a new character of the ethereal spirit Sookshma which I played.
The name Sookshma ,whose origin is Sanskrit was suggested by my student Shubha,which means delicate,intangible,spirit and it suited our story so beautifully.
Music was the most important element.It was composed in Kolkata.We have used several instruments like Sarod,Sitar,Mardala,and given effects of Nadaswaram and Dholak. The music is traditional Odissi music with a sprinkling of Kannada folk just to add an element of surprise and interest.
An artist faces Criticism and Appreciation. How do you look at them and respond
I think I am open to criticism . If somebody tells me some thing abut my dance was not up to the mark,or it could have been done differently,I will definitely consider it and if its from someone I trust and know and they give me constructive criticism,I will sure work on it.I am open to suggestions.I am very open to any suggestions from my students too. I think that's the best way we can work on a choreography.We can't say everything is me and I will do this alone. It doesn't work.It's a team work.I am self critical about my work too.There is always scope for improvement.
Appreciation,of course.. who does not like appreciation. I don't let it go to my head though because appreciation also means that we have to work harder to keep it up and get better .
How do you see the Future, Your vision and goals?
Oh God!I have so many goals.To do many more socially relevant productions,many more items.
Odissi is already becoming huge in Bengaluru. So I would like to take it further.I am always happy when South Indians come to learn from me because it means this dance form is gaining more access and interest.
I would like to see my dance school Sanjali become bigger and better.To see my students do well,to have many of them become solo dancers.I wish to have them establish their own Odissi schools and to spread Guruji's style far and wide and to keep his choreographies alive.
I am proud to say that Sanjali is one school in Bengaluru that keeps Guruji's style intact.
with his blessings,I would like to see Sanjali become very successful nationally and internationally.
Introduction of Contributor- Shubha Nagarajan
She started learning Odissi with Niharika Mohanty and is now learning from Sharmila Mukerjee.
She is part of the Sanjali ensemble. Peforming in various dance festivals and is Graded Artist of Doordarshan.
She Volunteers her time in teaching converstional English,life skills at a local government school.
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