Meet the Team: Krishna and Bhaskar Ganguly

Hello Readers! Rehearsal season is back with a bang! The team worked on army formations this week (choreographed by Alisha). Chitra (Alisha) and Arjun (Ken) also worked on the fight sequences under Alwynn, our assistant fight choreographer. The fight sequences looked so real and convincingly painful!! Each of the movements was choreographed to perfection with attention to every detail. We’ll be talking to our fight choreographers Kristen and Alwynn for next week’s blog and I am so excited!

This week, we spoke to two other amazing artists from the Portland Bengali American Community, Bhaskar Ganguly and Krishna Ganguly. We are so glad that Bhaskar and Krishna are a part of team Chitra. Bhaskar worked with us through various iterations of the script. We are extremely thankful for his inputs. There’s so much to say about Krishna Ganguly! A master artist, it was blessing to learn the dances from her. We are so fortunate that she was there to guide us through the various nuances of East Indian dance forms.

Born into an illustrious family of Dhrupad singers and music lovers, Krishna showed a natural flair for music and dance from an early age. Later, as a student of Rabindra Bharati University at Kolkata, India, Krishna received direct tutelage from stalwarts and revered gurus in various Indian dance forms, underwent in depth training in Bharatanatyam - from Guru Marutthappa Pillai, Kathakali - from Guru Kalamandalam Govindan Kutty, Manipuri - from Guru Nadia Singh and Rabindra Nritya - from Guru Balakrishna Menon. In the early years of her career, Krishna toured extensively and performed nationally and internationally in lead roles of various Rabindranath’s dance dramas. In time, Krishna created her own dance school in Kolkata and guided numerous students to the zenith of their own personal achievements. She has been Principal of “Prangan" music academy in Kolkata, an empaneled examiner of esteemed music institution "Bangiya Sangeet Parishad” and external examiner of the same institution she graduated from - "Rabindra Bharati University". Since retired, she continues to mentor her daughter's Dance institute in Kolkata and dole her valuable expertise to interested practitioners of Dance.

Bhaskar Ganguly, born into the same family, is an exceptional musician. One cannot escape music when you are born in a family where both parents are professional musicians - music composer and choreographer (Father) and Classical dancer (Mother). Growing up - he tried to resist structured and rigorous training of music in favor of his first love - the game called Cricket. Yet, the gene took over and he started enjoying music from both sides of the stage. Founding member of a Portland based fusion band “Aarohan" - he is still learning the tricks with various kinds of drums he plays…

It was an absolute pleasure talking to them. We spoke at length about Chitra and this is what they had to say.

Ritu: How did you come to collaborate with Anita and Sarah? How was your experience collaborating with NWCT?

Bhaskar: I have been in Portland for a number of years now. I have heard a lot about Anita and the Anjali School of Dance. I have always appreciated her work. So when she reached out and started talking about reinventing Chitrangada, I was immediately interested. She has an incredible cast and crew. She wanted to include some traditional Rabindra Sangeet and a couple of dances which could showcase East India better. I read the script, made a copy and gave it to Maa. You could totally relate to the script, though Maa was really apprehensive at first, about Chitrangada. Anita wanted us to choose a song for the dance. We decided to do a fast paced song in keeping with the script. Rabindra Sangeet is usually mid-tempo. We finally zeroed in on “Swapno Modir Neshay Mesha”

Krishna: Yes, Bhaskar explained to me what was required. I loved Anita’s work. She is so nice. At first, I was a little apprehensive. Adapting Chitrangada is really difficult. But Anita explained that she wanted to adapt Chitra to suit audiences here, especially children. Chitra is not a traditional heroine. She is strong and independent. She is an equal counterpart to Arjun. The playwright, Avantika, adapted the dance drama, so that audiences here could relate to Chitra. Anita wanted us to choose a song that participants from the play could dance to. The song was not decided yet. We finally decided to do “Swapno Modir Neshay Mesha”. As the music was not final yet, I did several versions of the dance to suit variations of the song. I taught the dance to 2 dancers from the cast. It was wonderful working with Anita and Sarah Jane and their vision of Chitrangada.

Ritu: How different was it from other projects that you have undertaken?

Bhaskar: I have never been involved in a dance drama before. This is my first. The interaction is totally different. It was so different from what I have done before. I was totally new to the subject. I loved Anita and Sarah Jane’s vision of Chitra. I suggested a couple of improvements after reading the first draft of the script. I asked that the final phrase from the original Chitrangada be included. It is such a powerful message. It epitomizes who Chitra/ Chitrangada really is. The character of Madan was split into parts. I advised changing some other parts of the script. Sarah Jane and Anita graciously incorporated those changes. I was pleasantly surprised at the caliber of the cast and the crew. The kids performing for Chitra are so mature! What a talented bunch! And the professional support – so amazing! I have not read the final script, but I have heard good things about it. It has morphed into a really powerful play. The entire journey was awesome. It was so interactive. I loved Anita and Sarah’s method of working and I am sure Chitra will do great.

Krishna: The story is completely different. It has been changed for audiences here, especially children. The subject of the dance drama is really good. Adapting a work of Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore is usually very daunting. The story of Chitrangada is really powerful and so relevant, especially today. Chitra defines the role of a woman. She is not an ordinary human being. She is strong and at ease with whatever life throws at her. She is not a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued. I am glad that Sarah Jane & Anita chose this subject. Adapting it for audiences here - sure is different. I have never done something like that.

Ritu: Can you tell me a little bit about your perspective on Anita and Sarah’s adaptation of Tagore’s Chitrangada?

Bhaskar: The subject matter was a wonderful choice, in tune with the need for women empowerment now. What I loved most about the project was the fusion. I love fusion – fusion of ideas, genres, music, presentations and so on. Even “Aarohan”, which I am a part of, does fusion music. It is a prime example of mixing things. Chitra adapted from Chitrangada – something which is so hardcore Bengali from the eastern region of India is being presented through a Western thought process and social structure; it is truly a wonderful thing. I knew of Anita’s work from before and it was wonderful to be a part of Chitra.

Krishna: Working on Chitra was a wonderful experience. I love Chitra’s character. She is strong, intelligent and independent. She is Arjun’s equal. She signifies the woman of today, who is educated, a successful working woman, a mother, a daughter, a wife. She is juggling so many roles and doing it so well. She walks hand in hand with her partner, an equal, as important to the well-being of the family as to society. I loved the fact that Anita & Sarah Jane chose Chitrangada. They could have picked something else but they chose Chitra. It is such a powerful message for the youth of today. It was wonderful being a part of Chitra. Anita and Sarah are wonderful human beings and I am glad to have worked with them.

Ritu: Thank you so much Bhaskar da and Krishna mashi. Any other thoughts that you would like to share with our readers?

Bhaskar: I would like to wish everybody well. It is not easy to put forward a show like this. Best of luck for the show! We will all help in any which we can. Thank you

Krishna: Chitra is a wonderful story. It highlights such an important message. Equality is really important now, and I am glad that Anita has chosen this story. This is an important lesson to learn and Chitra will surely tug at your heartstrings. I am sure Chitra will do great. I wish Anita and Sarah Jane all the best in this endeavor. I am sure it will be very successful.

It was a pleasure getting to know Bhaskar da’s and Krishna mashi’s thoughts on the production. Stay tuned for more updates on all our Chitra artists.