Indian classical dancers enthrall audience at IFFI
Panaji | Monday, Nov 23 2009 IST
 

A fusion show of Indian classical dances, integrating the country's rich cultural heritage, enthralled the audience at the star-studded inaugural session of the 40th International Film Festival of India at Kala Academy here today.

The dance show with mythological ''Kalindi Mardanam'', symbolising lord Krishna dancing on the seven-hooded serpent at Kalindi river in different Indian classical dance styles received thunderous applause from even the international audience who thronged the film festival, waiting to witness the opening Chinese film ''Wheat'' this evening.

Compered by world renowned Bharata Natyam exponent Leela Samson, the dance show started with seven men in their attractive costumes dancing to the rythm enacting the Kalindi Mardanam.

It was followed by yet another thrilling performance of artists of North-East in ''Manipuri Style'' with aerobatics using swords, sticks and parambulations around.

Bewitching ''Kathakali'' style performance of Mohiniattam by a team of Kerala's artists and then a typical folk dance of Gujarati artists in gay abandon followed suit, all in a row, took the audience by surprise with claps renting roof of the airconditioned auditorium.

Another highlight was veteran actress and chief guest Waheeda Rahman calling onto the stage noted actor Nana Patekar for lighting the traditional lamp to mark the inauguration of the film festival.

Apart from five-member international jury, the famous film personalities present on the occasion included Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh, Sarika, Umashri, south indian film actress Asin, who helped light the lamp, Divya Dutta, who also compered the session, besides I&B ministry secretary Raghu Menon and Film Federation of India president Jitendra Jain.

At one point of time, photographers thronged near the podium to capture precious moments of the film personalities when they arrived, and were later booed as they blocked the view of the audience behind.

The dignitaries, who were called on the stage, however, complied with the request of the photographers to go near the podium for a better catch of their shot, with compere Kabir Bedi himself directing them to go nearer to the photographers' line of sight.

-- (UNI) -- 23BY31.xml

 

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