Mohd Yaseen
The ultimate attraction of G20 Srinagar was the mega presentation of ‘Colors of Jammu & Kashmir’- a presentation of J&K Academy of Art Culture & Languages, Department of Culture, Government of Jammu & Kashmir by Natrang Jammu conceived, designed and directed by internationally acclaimed theatre director Padamshree Balwant Thakur. Popularly known as the biggest showman of the times, having worked in over 100 international cities as designer/director, Balwant Thakur devised the presentation of ‘Colors of Jammu & Kashmir’ using the latest developed methodologies and finally made it a world class show. The electrifying effect of this spectacular presentation was visible from the fact that Oscar winning Naatu Naatu actor Ram Charan gave a standing ovation saluting the most outstanding artistic magic on stage by Balwant Thakur and his team Natrang. The most noteworthy feature of this unique show was the collaboration of a top ranking creative team which included Three Padamshree Awardees, Two Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees, top grade musicians, singers and many accomplished State Awardees. Prominent amongst those included Kamalni, Nalnani (Padama Awardees), Raghav Prakash (Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee), Jatinder Singh (ICCR empanelled music director) Chander Shekhar (International graphic designer), Maansi Rattan (NIFT alumni) and Babla Kochhar (International Voice Over artist). The show featured an effort of 120 artists on stage supported by a team of 30 top off stage experts which included Aakash Dogra, (Choreography Jammu segment) Sunny Mujoo (Kashmir Segment), Uttpal Kumar Jha (Light Design), Neeraj Kant (Chief Assistant), Devmitra Thakur (Sound Design), Sahil Nath (Composer), Sumit Sharma (Content Cordinator) Rahul Singh (Costumes), Mohd. Yaseen (Chief Coordinator), Sartaj Singh (Chief Production Controller) Mahikshit Singh (Stage Manager), Shivam Singh (Properties), Jaswinder Singh (Motif Designer), Maloop Singh (Documentation) and Ritu Chopra (Set Designer)
Concept
Balwant Thakur envisioned ‘Colors of Jammu and Kashmir’ as a unique cultural album of Jammu and Kashmir showcasing the variegated variety of different colours, rhythms, costumes, design patterns and artistic expressions, expressed through the diverse dances of J&K. The amazing bouquet of rarest dance traditions unfolded the mesmerizing artistic traditions of the crown of incredible India. Each dance presentation despite being different from the other in rhythm and pace was artistically and aesthetically blended with each other so as to present their harmony and wonderful correlation.
Jammu Kashmir has a diverse blend of many cultures. It has a composite culture created by people from different religions. The presentation ‘Colors of Jammu & Kashmir’ expressed the true essence of the cultural ethos of this part of the world before global audiences.
items featured
Rouf: Kashmir possesses a lavish and colourful cultural repository, out of which, Rouf, the most famous folk and traditional dance of Kashmir depicts celebration beautifully. Marriages, religious and social celebrations get liveliness through this delightful dance which is no less than a mystical poetry. Intricate yet smooth footwork of Rouf where women swinging like waves of water in the rows of blooming tulips, attired in colourful, hand embroidered Phiren is simply mesmerizing. The opening performance of Rouf enthralled the audiences.
Jagarna: Jammu holds a wholesome bouquet of diversified cultural expressions through singing, dancing, theatre and fine arts. Jagarna, one of the most popular dance of Jammu region carries many shades in it. It expresses joy, celebration, flamboyance and much more. Jagarna is performed by women when men have gone to bring home the bride. Teasing each other, impersonating as men of the family, giggling, joking, and dancing to Boliyan and Dholak in wee hours of the night, women get ready to receive the newly wedded couple with joy and blessings. Other than providing entertainment and personal time to women, a lot of wisdom also flows from generation to generation during this celebration.
Gojri: The nomadic tribe, Gujjars who alongwith their cattle, shift to plains in winters and move towards the mountains in summers provide a wonderful flavor to the cultural co-existence of this region. Their bonding with the cattle, pastures and woods in intrinsically intertwined in their lifestyles to the extent, their cultural expression also exhibits this devoted bond. A popular Gojri dance, ‘Koonjadiye’ showcased the conversation between a Gujjar lady and a wild bird of hills where she is shown making requests to Koonjadiye to fly far above hills to look for her soul mate.
Pahadi: The Pahadi Dance featured in the show depicted several anecdotes related to tthe day to day life of Pahari community but expressed in a creative and imaginative manner. The Pahadi dance featured in the show was based on a Pahadi folk song describing the fascination of a Pahadi lady about her bracelet ‘Kangana’ which she acquired striving at every precious moment of life.
Chakkri: Chakkari is one of the most popular singing & dance form of Kashmir. It is popular to the extent that Marriage functions in Kashmir are considered incomplete without performance of Chakkri. Its rhythm, tune, notes and movements are simply fascinating. It is a narrative and responsorial song form and the instruments played in it like harmonium, Rabab, Sarangi, Nout, Tumbeknar etc. give it a distinctive texture. The effervescent energy which Chakri performers generated in their performance was a treat to experience. The Kashmiri Chakkri performance featured was a tribute to the beauty of Kashmir famous for its meadows and mesmerizing colors.
Bhaderwahi: Bhaderwah, the land of Vasuki Naag, is blessed with the beauty of nature to the extent that it is fondly called as Mini Kashmir of Jammu region. Bhaderwahi Dances, are performed in large groups as community activity has many socio-cultural aspects to it. The Bhadarwahi presentation was based on a popular folk song ‘Mero Rumaal’ depicting the fascination of a young Bhadarwahi boy for his unique scarf (Rumaal). Over engrossed with it, he was shown glorifying this as metaphorical reference to his worldly possessions.
Kud: Usually performed by villagers in Jammu hills after harvesting the crop, the vigorous yet effortless looking Dance depicted the village milieu along with the cultural beliefs and social aspirations of Dogras. Obeisance to Local Deity for protecting the crop, cattle and people is the pivotal purpose of Kud dance and this feeling of gratitude and praying for the peace and prosperity for all adds a metaphysical dimension and makes Kud much more than a Folk Dance. It is spread over Reasi, Kathua, Udhampur and Doda districts of Jammu region and its origin can be traced in pre-Aryan era around 1500 B.C.
Culmination
This out of the world cultural presentation culminated with the mega showcasing of putting all colors together to make it the most mind-blowing bouquet which mesmerized the delegates of G 20. Depicting the cultural co-existence and the amazing harmony of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, this presentation won the hearts of everyone representing the globe. Few media persons who witnessed all the G20 cultural presentations across India heard saying that ‘Colors of Jammu & Kashmir’ was the best amongst all. Fact remains that J&K has never witnessed a show of this magnitude; this show created a history, the team Natrang and its Director Padamshree Balwant Thakur will be remembered for this unique cultural gift for centuries to come.
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