As Ranjana Gauhar takes you through the story of Tagore's Chitrangada with her moves today
As Ranjana Gauhar takes you through the story of Tagore's Chitrangada with her moves today
For many, Rabindranath Tagore remains the writer of our national anthem (and neighbour Bangladesh's too). But few outside West Bengal have cared to remember that the Nobel laureate is so much more than a poet.
The story of Chitrangada reminds one of that. Tagore picked up the Manipuri princess' story from The Mahabharata. It is the story of acceptance, of heartbreak, of truth that elucidates that love is timeless. It is a story of love to its truest meanings. And Tagore turned it into a dance drama where the characters act out the parts in the form of dance. 
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Going beyond literature
Few know that the Tagore family's contribution in the field of fashion, too, is immense. Says Suresh K Goel, Director General of ICCR, which is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore: "When we talk about Tagore, we have a one dimensional view of him as a Nobel Laureate only. But there are many dimensions to him. We have recently done a fashion show on the sartorial fashion sense of the Tagore family," he says. It's a little-known fact that the sari that we wear today has evolved from the experiments by the ladies of the Tagore family.
It's the story of today
"I was inspired by the vision and sensitivity of Tagore, the way he portrayed Chitrangada as 'the complete woman' was beautiful. This is not just a story written in The Mahabharata but a story of today," says Ranjana Gauhar, director and choreographer of the dance drama that will be staged in the Capital today. Gauhar feels Chitrangada is as relevant today as she was at the time of Tagore. "She did what she had to and not what others wanted her to. Every modern woman will relate to her. The true essence of a woman lies beyond her external beauty. A woman of substance believes in her independence and freedom of expression," adds Gauhar.
Dancing through the layers
Through the dance production, Gauhar will recount the tale of the Manipuri princess whou00a0-- through her passion for Arjunau00a0-- came to realise that her true power and potential as a woman lay in her duty towards the society.
"She is one woman who personifies love, courage and substance and I am highly inspired by her," says the Odissi exponent. As the story goes, Chitrangada is in awe of Arjun and vows to win his love. And when he rejects her, she is shattered and insulted.
But even though Chitrangada is madly in love with Arjun, she doesn't let go of her dignity. She then goes and seeks the blessings of Lord Madana, the God of Love, to grant her 'beauty' for one year. When Arjun looks at the transformed Chitrangada, he is completely besotted and they start living together. Soon she realises that she doesn't want a life of duplicity and goes back to normal. In the end Arjuna accepts her on her own terms and they get married. We just got reminded of what the Bard wrote: "Love is not love/Which alters when it alteration finds.."
When: todaY
At: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg
Timings: 7 pm onwards
For passes,
Ring: 9811423444
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