Kathakali at Dance Theatre Godrej: NCPA

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Probal Gupta is the disciple of the legendary Guru and Research Scholar Sadanam Balakrishnan.

His performance commences with Purappad, a pure dance number, similar to the Jatiswaram of a Bharatanatyam repertoire. Purappad literally means commencement of the programme. Set in four different talas namely Chempada, Tripuda, Panchari and Jhampa, the item pays obeisance to Lord Rama and through Purappad theKathakali pays tribute to its immediate progenitor the “Ramanattam”. The item is characterized by circular, semi-circular and swinging body movements. It starts in slow tempo and gradually attains a faster tempo. Towards the end “Manjuthara kunjatala kaeli sadanae” an Astapadi is sung and through this, the Kathakali pays its tribute to the influence of Astapadi in the dance form.

A graded artiste of Doordarshan, Probal was awarded the “Swara Kala Gaurav Award” from Bangalore for his untiring efforts to establish Kathakali in Karnataka. Probal is also the recipient of the “Nritya Shiromani” recognized by UNESCO and the Department of Culture, Orissa for the year 2011-2012.