Mayadhar Raut: The Dancer Who Codified Odissi for the Modern Stage

When appreciating an art, we often forget to achnowledge the contribution of that who strived hard to draw the world’s Attention by giving it a form and structure. Odissi Owes its existence to the now-fading Gotipua Tradition, which is Considered a Precusor to the Classical Dance Form. Most of Odissi’s celebrated gurus was once Gotipua Performs. And Guru Mayadhar Raut, Who Passed Away Recently at the age of 92 in delhi, was no exception. In fact, he was the first to present Gotipua on Stage in the 1940s.

Mayadhar, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Debaprasad Das and Pankaj Charan Das Are Referred to as the Architects of Modern Odissi. They are redefined and codified the dance for the prosenium. Jayantika, The Association they formed along with Well-Known Dance Researchers, Intellectuals and Art Lovers, COULD BE TERMED As A Revolutionary Step. DURING Its Meetings, The Dance Form’s Technique, Repertoire, Costume and Music Were Discussed in Detail. Litterateur and theater personality kalicharan patnaiik gave it the name odissi. In 1966, all their efforts resulted in the dance form being recognized as a classical style by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Kamani Auditorium in Delhi was inaugurated in 1971 with Mayadhar Raut’s Performance. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mayadhar Raut Moved to delhi in the Late 1960s to Teach Odissi at Nritya Niketan, A Dance School, Before Joining Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Where He Taugt for 25 years. Thought not many then was aware about the dance form, he trained several students. Thus, He Managed to Popularize Odissi Outside Its Home State.

Delhi’s Famous Kamani Auditorium was inaurated in 1971 with his performance. With his expertise on ancient tretises such as Natyashastra, Abhinaya darpana and Abhinaya chandrika, Mayadhar Raut Drew Immensely from Them to Enhance the appeal of the dance form, He is credited with introducing sanchari bhava in odissi and choreography Gita govinda Ashtapadis for performances, highlighting the sringara rasa in them.

Ranjana Gauhar, One of the foremost disciple of Mayadhar Raut | Photo Credit: Inni Singh

Ranjana gauhar, an odissi exponent and one of mayadhar raut’s foremost disciples, Remembers Him as an affectionate person who is allied his sishyas with a small. “That image of guruji with a childlike smile will remove etched in my memory.”

Ranjana, Who Began Learning from Mayadhar Raut in 1977, Trained under Him for Almost 13 years. “He was so Scholarly and Creative That You Cold Not Merely Stop With Learning – You observed and imbibed. He was extramely spontaneous and versatile. Dimension to his approach. He was trained in kathakali and bharatanatyam too. Abhinaya Expositions By Analyssing The Characters was unimaginable. Explaining to me the emotions in the Ashtapadi ‘Nindati Chandana’, He Remembered the line ‘Jal Bin Machali’ (Fish out of Water) from Meera’s Poetry and Used It as Sanchari to Depict Radha’s Desolate. Young Learners, We We We We WARE OFTEN Awe-STRUCK BYANSED and Refined Choroegraphy. “

VP and Shanta Dhananjayan with Mayadhar and His Daughter Madhumita

Natyacharya VP Dhananjayan, Paying Tribute to His Mayadhar annaSays, “I Knew Him from The Day He Joined Kalakshetra in 1955. While Teaching at the Kala Vikas Kendra in Cuttack as the first Teacher of Odissi, He Got A SCHOLARSHIP to Pursue Bharatanatyam and Kathakalai Att Kalakshetra. Anna Used to share his expertise in odissi with us while we taught He was part of the kalakshetra productions such as the ramayana series. The kalakshetra training enabled Tapaswini, Meghdoot, Brij leela, Singhala Kumari, Krishna charitamand Gita govindam,

Mayadhar Raut Had a Wholesome Approach to Dance | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

According to Kiran Seth, The Founder of Spic Macay (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst youth); “The one aspect I will never forget about guru mayadhar raut was simplicity and the honesty he brieft to his craft. His Sessions for Spic Macay Were Were Were In the Guru In the Real Sens, He eager to share. The odissi we see on stage is thanks to gurus like