Natyasutra Online

Gita Govinda Journey with Kathak

Pali Chandra first encountered the Gita Govinda at the age of 14 and has been exploring this masterpiece for over four decades. She witnessed her Guru Smt. Kapila Raj rehearse prabandh number three, “Lalita Lavanga Lata Pariseelana…”. The rich nuances of the work immediately enchanted her, and her desire to learn more about the creation grew over the years. She realised, however, that all the 24 prabandhas had never been performed together. Different sources and interpretations from various sources spread over centuries greeted her. She had to unite the fragments scattered across the world to present the masterpiece in total. Such a journey was impossible without other like-minded individuals. This persuaded her to join hands with Natyasutra online, that has been curating Indian culture and heritage with passion. Their earlier collaborations made the partnership a comfortable decision for both sides, and the potential of the project was to their liking.

This project involved members from different walks of life, brought together by the common motive of making this endeavour a resounding success. The stage for performing the 12th-century classic is a unique creation. This digital Kathak edition of the Gita Govinda, was shot in the backdrop of a canopy created. This Miyawaki forest, named after its Japanese inventor, adds to the project’s charm. The stage is a 120 sq. m. platform at Puliyarakonam in Thiruvananthapuram, with over 400 native species of creepers, climbers, shrubs, small and big trees, decorating an entire area of around 8000 sq. m. Incidentally, Jayadeva’s original work mentions 40 plants, many of which were brought to this location. The project demanded human resources at an unprecedented level. Guru Pali’s students also flew in from worldwide to support this monumental effort.