Bhubaneswar: With every country on the brink of war, be it against terrorism or political conflicts, the poem ‘Pakaana Boma’ takes us back to the horrors that our older generation had to face. It gives a blood curling description of the killings that took place, the crimes against humanity, most of them in the name of religion. It has a unique similarity with the problem we are facing in today’s Century .The poem originally penned by eminent Odia poet Dr Prasanna Kumar Mishra in 1982, gives us a strong and stern message to spread love and peace.
The poem has been beautifully portrayed through visual narration. Each dance step in sync with the powerful voice is a combination that will give the viewers goose bumps. Although the poem has been written on the bombings in Hiroshima, it is all the more relevant today taking in the war scene that we are experiencing now.
“It is an anti war poem contradicting every reason that the politicians give for a war and thus implying the pointlessness of war. It also tells us a description of the war in the view of a child whose thought has not been corrupted yet. The world is going through a rough phase of political instability in many countries including border tensions brewing between us and our neighbours. So we felt perhaps this is the right time to release the project and send this message of love, peace and non-violence”, says Journalist-Anchor-Storyteller Prachitara. This is the first ever duet of recitation and dance in Odia. “The dance has been beautifully choreographed by one of the finest Kathak dancer Anindita. Each word has been portrayed with immense emotion and facial expression. I had sent her the recitation of the poem and the English translation for her reference”, says Prachitara.
“I met Prachi during my visit to Odisha for a show and while we were discussing on various issues and how a classical dancer needs to tell a story away from mythology and epics to connect the younger audience, she came up with the proposal of doing something artistic with a poem penned by her father. It was a poem which encapsulated the feeling of helplessness and tragedies war comes with. Everyone pays a heavy price and there is no winner in this man-made catastrophe for power carefully executed by few ruling politicians”, says US-based Kathak danseuse Anindita Neogy Anaam.
“Working with Prachi was a great experience. Though we were geographically apart but we strived to make this work happen. She worked on translation, explained the kind of emotions I need to portray as a dancer, the costume and the facial expressions. Just like me, she is visual storyteller, so we are kind of birds of feather flock together”, says Anindita.
The video will be released in You Tube on the occasion of International Women’s Day, on March 8.
Produced under the banner of Prachitarafilms, the camera has been handled by Suvendu Ghadai and Shaaz Anaam while post production has been done at Phoenix Films Lab.
Comments are closed.