The lockdown and social-distancing gave a new dimension to the way arts are used and promoted. Covid Kartavyam, a classical dance rendition by dancers from three different continents coming together on social media platform recently portrayed integration of thought, emotion, and purposefulness of dance. Conceived and executed by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence, the initiative brought together dancers from the United Kingdom, the USA, the Netherlands and India, who through Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam enacted on the song featuring nine different Indian languages including Hindi, Bhojpuri, Kannada, Konkani, Saurashtra, Kashmiri, Magahi, Maithili and Assamese. The content of the piece highlighted the importance of maintaining social-distance, sanitisation, personal hygiene and introspection.
The song, tuned by Ragasudha Vinjamuri, composed by Abhi SY and beautifully sung by Musical Yogis Geetika and Abhi, demonstrates how art and time can be meaningfully used even during adverse times, strengthening people's resolve to keep going. Dancers Manju Sunil, Deepa Nair, Ragasudha Vinjamuri and child artiste Kaavyajhar Rapatwar (Britain), Sabrina Madabhushi (USA), Yashodhra Sabu (India), and Shaariva Teredesai (Netherlands), have all surpassed their geographical confines to give a key message of cheer and confidence to global community.
Lyrics were taken partly from the project "Vaidyokti- Diction by Doctors" and contributed by Dr Amoolya Prasad- GP, Dr N Vishwanath- Consultant Radiologist, Mis Bernadette Pereira- Consultant Surgeon, Dr TS Chandrasekar- Gastroenterologist and Padma Shri awardee, Dr Shafalica Bhan Kotwal, Consultant Psychiatrist, Mr Vikas Kumar, Speciality Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon, Prof. Dr Diwakar Sukul- Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Mr Rajiva Ranjan Das- Colorectal Surgeon and Dr Ephia Yasmin- Consultant Gynaecologist. Editing was carried by Sushil Rapatwar.
The dance concluded with a message that we can fight the effects of pandemics together, whether physical, mental, or emotional.
