Ahilaya by Dr. Samira Koser

Date: 21st November 2024

Time: 6:30PM

Venue: Tagore Theatre, Chandgiarh

The second day of the ongoing Sanskar Bharti Kala Utsav, a five-day festival organized by Sanskar Bharti in collaboration with NZCC, Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy, witnessed a mesmerizing Kathak dance ballet titled “Ahilaya” by Dr Samira Koser.

The festival, taking place at Tagore Theatre from 20th to 24th November 2024, continues to bring captivating performances to art lovers—esteemed dignitaries, including Prof. Saubhagya Vardhan of Sanskar Bharti and Sh. Sajal Koser, Secretary of Pracheen Kala Kendra, graced the occasion.

An eminent Kathak dance exponent, Dr. Samira Koser, began her presentation with an invocatory piece, “Krishna Stuti”, beautifully set to the bols “Bali Bali Mohan Murat Ki Bali”. Through her expressive movements, she depicted the mesmerizing beauty of Lord Krishna and her reverence towards him. She then transitioned into her main presentation, “Ahilaya”, a poignant portrayal of one of the most deeply moving mythological stories.

The performance narrated the tale of Ahilaya, the daughter of Brahma Ji, renowned for her unmatched beauty and grace. Married to Maharishi Gautam, she fell victim to Indra Dev’s deceit when he, enamoured by her beauty, disguised himself as her husband. When Maharishi Gautam discovered the truth, he cursed Ahilaya and turned it into stone. However, with the divine touch of Lord Shri Ram’s feet, she was liberated and regained her human form. The ballet retold this legendary story and raised a thought-provoking question—whether Indra’s lust or Gautam Rishi’s curse in every situation Ahilaya suffered. Dr. Samira’s powerful performance subtly highlighted that even today, a woman’s dignity continues to be challenged, emphasizing the need to transform societal perspectives and foster a more just and equitable world.

Her deeply expressive abhinaya and bhavas captivated the audience, leaving a lasting impact. She was ably supported by an exceptional team of musicians, including Guru Brij Mohan Gangani on Padhant, Sh. Madho Prasad on vocals, Sh. Shakeel Ahmed and Sh. Mehmood Khan on Tabla, Sh. Saleem Kumar on Sitar, Sh. Mahaveer Gangani on Pakhawaj, and Sh. Azhar Shakeel on Violin. Dr Samira’s stellar performance won the audience’s hearts and reinforced the timeless relevance of Ahilaya’s story in today’s society.