Historic Launch of “Nrityachitram” at Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar witnessed a significant cultural moment with the inauguration of the book Nrityachitram, authored by renowned artist and visual storyteller Debabrata Pal, at the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi.

The book was formally inaugurated by Shri Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Secretary of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture (LLC), Government of Odisha, in the presence of Dr. Chandrashekhar Hota, Secretary of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, along with eminent scholars, artists, and cultural personalities.

Nrityachitram introduces a unique performance system that unites classical dance with live painting, sculpture, and visual storytelling. Rooted in the aesthetic principles of ancient Indian treatises such as the Nāṭyaśāstra, Abhinaya Darpana, Śilpa Śāstra, and Vishnudharmottara Purana, the book presents a modern interpretation of classical concepts like rasa, bhāva, mudrā, and varna (colour) within contemporary performance practice.

In Nrityachitram, the dancer’s body becomes both performer and creator, transforming rhythmic gestures and movements into painterly expressions on canvas. Drawing inspiration from temple sculpture, ritual iconography, and classical choreography, the work explores the dialogue between ephemeral body movements and their lasting visual records.

The book has been written by Debabrata Pal under the academic guidance of Dr. Sandhya Purecha, with advisory support from Sikata Das. It has been edited by Buddhadeb Dash and published by the Dashi Foundation, with affiliation to the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi.

The launch of Nrityachitram marks an important contribution to contemporary artistic discourse, bridging India’s classical knowledge systems with modern interdisciplinary performance practices.

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