NCPA’s ‘Celebrating Tagore’ Brings the Bard of Bengal’s Poetry, Music and Movement to the NCPA Stage
Marking the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the NCPA presents the annual festival, Celebrating Tagore. The evening of Indian classical dance revisits the artistic legacy of the Bard of Bengal through Odissi, Kathak, Rabindra Nritya and Bharatanatyam. Bringing together acclaimed artistes Debamitra Sengupta, Keka Sinha and Dr. Chitra Vishwanathan, the presentation explores the emotional, philosophical and theatrical depth of Tagore’s works through three distinct choreographic interpretations.
Long before artistic collaboration across disciplines became widely embraced, Tagore envisioned performance as a seamless dialogue between poetry, music and movement. Drawing from diverse dance vocabularies and challenging rigid classical boundaries, he reshaped modern Indian performance through his dance-dramas and Rabindra Sangeet compositions. Celebrating Tagore reflects this spirit of artistic openness, presenting works that move fluidly between lyricism, storytelling and emotional introspection while remaining rooted in classical traditions.
The evening opens with Shyama, Tagore’s celebrated 1939 dance-drama interpreted in the Odissi idiom by internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Debamitra Sengupta and troupe. A senior disciple of gurus Kelucharan Mohapatra and Sutapa Talukdar, Debamitra Sengupta has spent decades exploring Bengali literature, Sanskrit epics and devotional traditions through choreography. A ‘Top Grade’ Doordarshan artiste, she is empanelled with the ICCR, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and SPIC MACAY, and has been honoured with the title of Aasthana Vidushi by the 33rd Acharya of Shakatapuram, Karnataka. Her deeply layered interpretation of Shyama examines the morally ambiguous inner world of Tagore’s protagonist—a royal courtesan whose desperate love for the foreign merchant Bajrasen compels her to orchestrate the sacrifice of her admirer Uttiyo. Rooted primarily in the movement vocabulary of Odissi while drawing subtle inspiration from Tagore’s own interdisciplinary experiments, the production combines expressive abhinaya with theatrical grandeur, elaborate characterisation and Rabindra Sangeet rendered through a classical dance lens.
The programme also features Robi O Raag by Mumbai-based Kathak artiste Keka Sinha and the Kalapi Centre for Performing Arts. A disciple of Bandana Sen and Reba Vidyarthi of the Lucknow gharana lineage, Keka Sinha holds the Sangeet Prabhakar degree in Kathak from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Prayagraj, and is a recipient of the Singar Mani award from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai. Through Robi O Raag, Sinha presents a bouquet of three of Tagore’s songs interwoven with Hindustani classical compositions through Kathak and Rabindra Nritya. Her interpretation reflects the lyrical sensitivity and philosophical depth embedded within Rabindra Sangeet, allowing rhythm, melody and poetry to converse through movement.
Completing the evening is a Dokkine Robindranath, a Bharatanatyam presentation by Dr. Chitra Vishwanathan and troupe, featuring select works inspired by Tagore’s compositions. With over 26 years of experience as a performer, choreographer and pedagogue, Dr. Vishwanathan was trained under Geeta Mahadevan from the age of four and holds an MFA from Dr. Sandhya Purecha’s Bharata College of Fine Arts, Mumbai. Renowned for her thematic choreographies and extensive work in classical dance pedagogy, she is also the founder of the Abhinayaa Institute of Research and Fine Arts (AIRF). Drawing from her training across Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi traditions, her presentation interprets Tagore’s poetry through intricate footwork, graceful movement and expressive abhinaya. Set within the framework of Carnatic music, this performance reflects a harmonious confluence of Tagore’s literary brilliance and South Indian classical aesthetics.
Together, these performances offer a nuanced portrait of Tagore not merely as a literary figure but as a visionary who transformed the possibilities of performance in India. Through themes of love, spiritual freedom, sacrifice and human vulnerability, Celebrating Tagore brings audiences into conversation with a body of work that continues to feel profoundly relevant across generations. Join us to experience this evocative tribute to one of India’s most influential cultural voices.
Age Recommendation: 6+ | Late entry not permitted
Duration: 2 Hours
Tickets
Members: ₹270 & ₹180
Non-Members: ₹300 & ₹200
