MUMBAI: The ongoing Pranganga Swarotsov Sangeet Parampara celebrated in memory of Late Pt. Kishan Maharaj and Late Pt. Narayan Chakravarthy saw one of the highly revered Padma Shree award winner Smt. Sitara Devi perform on October 10, 2008. Though the danseuse was not in best of her health, Sitara Devi displayed such zest for life that audience stood up applauding for the courage she displayed at the age of 86. She entered the venue with a walker and was assisted by two people to climb the stage. But the moment Dr Soma Ghosh began to sing, she became the face of Dr. Soma Ghosh's vocal expression. Sitara Devi 'the performer' took charge and from a body of an 86-year-old, a 16-year-old danseuse emerged.

As soon as the legendary dancer walked up the stage Sitara Devi questioned, "Why is there no light on the audience, throw some lights on the audience, I want to see my audience". By now, the audience where simply hooked by her presence. In a candid conversation from the stage, Sitara Devi expressed her concern about today's Dancers lacking the grace that dance as an art form demands. Dr Soma Ghosh also aired similar views "Since the festival is happening at a college venue I was expecting some young crowd, but I can't see any – today's youths are absorbed in reality shows, but are ironically going away from it"

Before starting the performance Sitara Devi gracefully bowed down and silently prayed, after which, she said "I don't know what I am going to do here today. Soma insisted that I come, I am here because of her." The young at heart dancer said "I was not planning to come, my son (Ranjit Barot) was skeptical because of my health as I am recovering form a heart ailment".

Smt. Sitara Devi shared a rather interesting anecdote with the audience "Over the phone, she (Soma Gosh) softly uttered the word 'Pran' but confidently emphasized on the word 'Ganga' and I mistook it for 'Ban'ganga and willingly agreed to come since I stay close to Banganga. Later I realised, she meant Pranganga and not Banganga, thats how Soma fooled me" the audience burst into a hearty laughter. During the performance, Smt. Sitara Devi played an array of beautiful characters – from playing Ram's mother Kaushalya, to a lover pining for her beloved, to a young woman who gets her chunari wet in the first rains. The woman who was sitting on a chair in the first few moments forgot everything except the moment she lived and the character she essayed. Sitara Devi seemed to get more energetic with time – her performance was perceptibly spontaneous!

Violinist Smt. Sangeeta Shankar, who opened the concert, displayed a brilliant control over the instrument. Teamed with tabla player Mukund Raje, they both gave the connoisseurs of classical music taste of beautiful Raaga's and Marathi Natya Sangeet. Watching all this, under a clear moonlight sky was a heavenly experience in itself.

The classical music scene demands attention as many legendary classical musicians believe its not being encouraged enough. The truth is, the ancient timeless art of classical music and raagas form a strong base for other genre's of music apart from a scientifically proven effective stress buster.

India's peppy-beat music era might have taken over the classical music 'superficially' but performers like Sitara Devi proved how profound the art form is in its true essence, no wonder she danced with such enthusiasm and passion that it made me think about the current trend of 'packaged- 360 deal signing' culture which is slowly killing the essence and the value attached with our traditional-timeless art form. However, there's nothing to worry – the existence of imitation gold does not decrease the value of pure gold.

Pics by Mitesh Bhuvad