A dejected Krishna cries to Radha's sakhi in the masterpiece that is 'Bidagdha Chintamani' - "She stole my heart and left me hanging. Why? The thought of it burns my heart. Friend, tell her - whose loss is it if something happens to me?" (କିଣି ପୁଣି ଗୁଣମଣି କଲା ତ ନିରାଶ । ଏ ଭାବନା ହୃଦେ ସିନା ଦେଉଛି ପରାଶ । ଦୂତୀ କହିବୁ ଧନୀକି । ପରିଜନ ହୀନ କଲେ କାହାର ହାନି କି ।)

Duti Kara Dhari Hari

A rare ashtapadi of the Gitagovinda set to Anandabhairabi, Rupaka - traditional tune prevalent in the Ganjam sampradaya of Odissi music. This is as taught by Acharjya Tarini Charan Patra (1893-1979). The treatment of the Sanskrit lyric is not just fluid but also distinctly Odishan, as can be seen from the tune. Cover illustration from 1688 palm leaf manuscript etching by Bipra Dhananjaya, preserved in the Odisha State Museum, Bhubaneswar.

Bahati Malaya Samire | Jayadeva's Gitagovinda

The Kalyana classic 'Dekhiba Para Asa Re'. This Jatitala version was also in vogue earlier, alongside the Ekatali version more frequently encountered in Gotipua dance. Casual home recording with lots of noise around. Cover illustration is a Pattachitra by Guru Benudhar Mahapatra, one of the great masters of the twentieth century.

Dekhiba Para Asa Re | Odissi Music

A composition of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja where a dejected Nayaka laments the annoyance of his beloved. Based on Chalaghanta Kedara and Madhura Gujjari stringed together. The cover illustration is a 19th-century Ragamala Pattachitra depicting the Raga Kodaba.

Bandhu Kahinki Mo Thare Sahi | Odissi Music

Traditional instruments in a village marriage procession at Nabarangapur, Koraput, Odisha.

Mangala Badya

Ki Sobha Go Kunje Madanamohana set to Anandabhairabi, penned by the Gajapati Krupamaya Deba, king of Badakhemundi (some say it was written for him by Kabisurjya). Radha's friend shows her Krishna and describes his appearance in this much-loved (and one of my favourites) Odissi number. Please excuse my errors. ବଡ଼ଖେମୁଣ୍ଡି ରାଜ ଗଜପତି କୃପାମୟ ଦେବଙ୍କ ଲିଖିତ କି ଶୋଭା ଗୋକୁଞ୍ଜେ ମଦନମୋହନ । ଆନନ୍ଦଭୈରବୀ ।

In a casual afternoon session on 13th May 2018 at the Jagannatha Temple of Marada, I jammed together with some traditional musicians (especially a mardala expert, Shri Bhimasen Mahankuda) from the Athagada region of Ganjam on some songs of Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha, a 18th century poet from Athagada. 

Cover thumbnail : Wooden idol of Krishna, now in Kala Bhoomi, Odisha Crafts Museum, Bhubaneswar

Ki Sobha Go Kunje Madanamohana

Sri Chandramani Lenka is a veteran Odissi singer and guru based in Puri. He sings an Odissi song in this clip. This is documentation, but of very poor quality. I made this when I was first playing around with the idea of audio-visual documentation.

Song : Ninda Na Labha Sakhi Re (ନିନ୍ଦା ନ ଲଭ ସଖୀ ରେ)
Poet : Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha, Athagada, Ganjam
Raga : Kalyana, Tala : Ekatali
Genre : Chaupadi (Odissi)

Ninda Na Labha Sakhi Re (Odissi Music) | Guru Chandramani Lenka

Sri Chandramani Lenka is a veteran Odissi singer and guru based in Puri. He sings an traditional composition sung during Chandana Jatra in this clip. This is documentation, but of very poor quality. Made this when I was first playing around with the idea of audio-visual documentation.

Song : Chahan Nayana Chape Madanamohana (ଚାହାଁ ନୟନ ଚାପେ ମଦନମୋହନ)
Raga : Kalyana, Tala : Rupaka
Poet : Singhari Shyamasundar Kar, Puri
Genre : Jatra Gita (Odissi)

Chahan Nayana Chape Madanamohana (Chandana Jatra - Odissi Music) | Guru Chandramani Lenka

Sri Chandramani Lenka is a veteran Odissi singer and guru based in Puri. He sings a traditional Odissi song in this clip. This is documentation, but of very poor quality. Made this when I was first playing around with the idea of audio-visual documentation.

Song : Sajare Sahi Sajare (ସାଜରେ ସହି ସାଜରେ)
Poet : Raja Rajeswara Deba
Genre : Chaupadi (Odissi)

Sajare Sahi Sajare (Odissi Music) | Guru Chandramani Lenka

Sri Chandramani Lenka is a veteran Odissi singer and guru based in Puri. He sings a traditional Odissi song in this clip. This is documentation, but of very poor quality. Made this when I was first playing around with the idea of audio-visual documentation.

Song : Manini Radhe (ମାନିନୀ ରାଧେ)
Raga : Kalyana
Tala : Ekatali
Genre : Chaupadi (Odissi)

Manini Radhe (Odissi music) | Guru Chandramani Lenka

Chhanda from Abhimanyu Samantasinghara's Bidagdha Chintamani, an epic poem on Radha & Krishna's romance.

Prateek Pattanaik

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