Other States - Orissa

A special performance

— Photo:Lingaraj Panda

MUSICALLY GIFTED: A visually challenged troupe performs at Berhampur.

BERHAMPUR: A unique musical troupe of blind artistes became a major attraction during the Puja festivities in the city.

This musical troupe named ‘Hari Om Bhajan Samaroh’ happens to be an off-shoot of the Orissa Service Center for the Blind. It was formed in January this year. Professional blind musicians from different parts of the Orissa had got together to form this musical troupe. The present popularity of this relatively new musical troupe can be assessed from the fact that during the ‘navratri’ it was booked for ten performances in different parts of the city. During the Ganesh Puja celebrations this troupe gave six performances and for Biswkarma Puja, five contracts. They have a busy schedule ahead as they have started to get calls from all over the State and even for new year eve celebration.

This troupe is said to be first of its kind in Orissa. The students of the residential school for the blind managed by the OSCB also take part in the performances of the troupe. One of the directors of OSCB, Bhabani Shankar Padhi, who himself is visually-impaired, said it was an effort to provide an income-generating opportunity and exposure to blind people with talent.

Several members of this musical troupe have graduate and post graduate degrees in music. The team includes other professional artists including classical vocalists like Jharana Padhi and Bhagaban Jena, tabla players and percussionists like Belalasena Nayak, Jagdish Mangaraj, Chaitanya Majhi.

To have a separate image for their troupe, they decided to put emphasis on classical tunes and devotional songs in their performances. They have proved that stage performances of Odissi classical tunes and bhajans written by traditional poets of Orissa still attracts the attention of young and the old alike. They also include some lyrics to create awareness among public to provide equal status to the physically handicapped . “We are trying to prove music can be entertaining without being vulgar and loud,” said the musicians .

In contrast to the modern orchestras and musical troupes which have done away with traditional musical instruments and classical tunes, this troupe has preferred to stick to traditional Indian musical equipments. The solo or jugalbandi performances of mridangam, flute and tabla have a large following even in rural areas of the State, said Mr Padhi.

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