Chitrangada - dance drama by Shubhada Varadkar

Chitrangada is a Marathi adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s inspiring dance drama with the same name. On a preliminary level, the dance drama is a love story of the exiled prince Arjun, of the Kuru dynasty and the warrior princess Chitrangada. However, the story assumes a complex undercurrent of conflicting emotions within the two external forms of the princess – one manly and warrior like and the other effeminate. The dichotomy between the two and finally the acceptance of the inner beauty of a woman by a man are universal themes that have been explored through the performance.

A unique blend of theatrical techniques and classical dance, this Marathi

adaptation retains the essence of Tagore’s original music score (Rabindra Sangeet) demonstrating the adaptability of his plays to diverse periods and cultures.

Shubhada Varadkar is a fine exponent of the Odissi form of  Indian classical dance.  A disciple of the late Padmavibhushan Guru Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra, Shubhada Varadkar is recipient of Senior Fellowship by Ministry of Culture, Gov. of India. 

A postgraduate, Shubhada was a lecturer of Economics in R.R. Ruia College, Mumbai. She was also a newscaster with Indian television. But the calls of tinkling anklets made her give up all other careers and devote all her time and energy to Odissi.

A prima donna in Odissi, Shubhada Varadkar’s deep commitment to Odissi enables her to portray intensely emotional and lyrical artistry of this magnificent dance form. She brings out its true spirit as dance of love and passion in all its purity. Her dance  is a fascinating union of eloquent expressions, graceful  movements and captivating postures right out of Odissi’s  legendary heritage. Performance through spontaneous  Nritya and Abhinaya comes to her as natural as breathing  giving an experience that critics hail as joie de vivre.  For Shubhada Varadkar, dance is not merely a creative art form,  but also a means of enriching and developing life.