Ananda Chandrika’s new dance production VARSHA by Amita Dutt & Troupe was presented at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The concept, choreography & direction were by Guru Amita Dutt and the music direction by Chandrachur Bhattacharjee. More than fifty dancers including Amita Dutt and her senior and junior disciples performed.
The production was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, La Opala and K.C.Das.
Varsha, the monsoon, season of rejuvenation, brings with it a symphony of nature’s wonders, both alluring and awe inspiring – dark billowing clouds enveloping the skies, gusty winds rushing with wild abandon, drum beats of thunder and flashes of lightning with their mesmerizing effect, and musical cadences created by incessant rain. The dance presentation VARSHA was an attempt to capture the diverse all encompassing grandeur of this magnificent monsoon season.
The dance items presented were all anchored on recreations of timeless Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali lyrics composed by legends, which were set to Kathak employing both the abstract and expressive aspects of this dance form.
The first item portrayed the grandeur and magnificence of the Monsoons and was set to the Shloka Sashikara ambhodhara matta kunjaras from Mahakavi Kalidas’s ‘Ritu Samhara’. Presented in Raaga Mian ki Malhar and portrayed through sweeping powerful dance enactments, the spirit of Varsha was established. The second dance brought alive the Varsha abhisarika nayika with the help of graceful evocative dance and was anchored on Shawana gagane ghora ghanaghataa, a Rabindra Sangeet in the Kirtana style from Tagore’s ‘Bhanusingher Padavali’ in Raaga Piloo, Taala: Kaharwa. The third and fourth items brought forth the force and power of the monsoons through Rabindra Sangeet in Raaga Malhar. The ever popular bandish Garajata barasata Sawana ayo re in Raaga: Gour Malhar, Taala: Tritaal depicted the virahini nayika and this was followed by a portrayal of Ram’s viraha through Ghana ghamanda nabha garajata ghora: Verses from Tulsidas’s ‘Ram Charit Manas’ (Kishkinda Kanda), Raaga: Mian ki Malhar, Taala: Tritaal. The folk touch which is so popular in Kathak came alive through the Kaajri Barsana laagi badaria jhum jhum ke in Raaga: Mishra Desh, Taal: Dadra. And this was followed by abstract and expressive dance with the help of Sitar Jugalbandi in Raaga: Desh, Taala: Tritaal and the lyric Rimjhim rimjhim jhim by Kaji Nazrul Islam, Raaga: Mishra Piloo, Taala: Kaharwa.
Outstanding creativity in choreography, splendid dance presentations, evocative music, artistic costumes and lucid introductions to the dance items given by Guru Amita Dutt made the evening’s presentation captivating and memorable. The audience was mesmerized by the array of splendid presentations that brought alive both the monsoons and our Indian cultural traditions.