Pune: On Sunday, the eve of Janmashtami, students and teachers of Shri Shri Radha Madhav Classical Fine Arts and NupurNaad Music and Dance Academy collaborated to present a dance-drama titled ‘Dan Keli Kaumudi' at Tilak Smarak Mandir. Adapted from the renowned work of Acharya Rupa Goswami, this unique production in Sanskrit blended the traditions of South Indian music, Hindustani music, and the mesmerising art of Bharatanatyam. The audiences were transported to the realm of divine love as they witnessed the timeless tale of Radha and Krishna unfold in a captivating and entertaining format.
“The story highlighted the playful aspect of Krishna and Radha’s relationship — the mischief and teasing. It is a light-hearted, endearing comedy,” said Dr Swati Daithankar, a renowned Bharatanatyam exponent who has adapted the project from the 15th-century book. “I spent months figuring out how to transform 500 pages of Sanskrit literature into a 1.
45-hour play. This effort involved a trip to Vrindavan, where I met with many goswamis — devotional teachers — to discuss the storyline and get feedback. I also spoke to researchers and critics who gave me insights and sourced other Sanskrit literature related to the subject to work on our adaptation,” said Daithankar.
The play, while including some of the original Sanskrit verses from Rupa Goswami’s book, was interspersed with English to ensure that the content resonates with audiences. The music was composed by Dr Dhananjay.