International Odissi Festival 2003: Niharika Mohanty performs Braja ku chora
Director: Kelucharan Mohapatra; Cinematographer: Shaina Anand
Duration: 00:14:17; Aspect Ratio: 1.364:1; Hue: 45.040; Saturation: 0.111; Lightness: 0.066; Volume: 0.115; Cuts per Minute: 1.469; Words per Minute: 17.911
Summary: The 2nd International Odissi Festival was organised by IPAP between August 28 - 31, 2003, in Washington D.C. Dedicated to the memory of Guru Pankaj Charan Das, who passed away in June 2003, it brought together Odissi dancers and scholars from all over the world.
Born and raised in Canada, Niharika Mohanty began training in Odissi at the age of five. Her initial training was received under Guru Murali Dhar Majhi, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Ananda Radha, and Dr. Menaka Thakkar. Later, she became a disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She continues to train under his daughter-in-law, Sujata Mohapatra. She has performed extensively and now runs her own institution, Guru Shradha.
Here, she is seen performing Braja ku chora, an Oriya abhinaya. The baby Krishna is joyfully immersed in his world of pranks even as his mother, Yashoda, tries to put him to sleep. She adopts various tactics, swinging him in thr air, making him walk and carrying him on her back. Naughty Krishna refuses to sleep; she threatens him, saying that a thief will carry him away if he does not sleep.
The Oriya lyrics were translated under the guidance of Sangita Gosain and Kumkum Lal.
(Music begins. The sitar and the violin play Yashoda's entry with Krishna in her arms)
Guru Shradha
Kelucharan Mohapatra
Krishna
Oriya abhinaya
Washington, DC
Yashoda
Braja ku chora asichi gheni jibo,
suatuni hoi re!
Translation:
The thief who has come to Braja will take you away
Now, sleep quietly, will you?
Rankara dhana mo gokula chandrama
nishi pahi nahi re
Translation:
You are the light of our lives,
O moon of Gokul, the night has not passed yet, dawn is yet to come.
Braja ku chora asichi gheni jibo,
suatuni hoi re!
Translation:
The thief who has come to Braja will take you away
Now, sleep quietly, will you?
Rati gota jaka mati lu nata re
palaka na pakai re
Translation:
You have played your pranks all night,
you don't even stop to rest your tired eyes!
(Instrumental interlude)
Rati gota jaka mati lu nata re
palaka na pakai re
grama nishabada helani ki tote
nidra asu nahi re
Translation:
You have played your pranks all night,
you don't even stop to rest your tired eyes!
The village is silent, asleep,
why are you unable to sleep?
Braja ku chora asichi gheni jibo,
suatuni hoi re!
Translation:
The thief who has come to Braja will take you away
Now, sleep quietly, will you?
Ke sikhadela dola dhalibara
tala ukutai re
Pada bathaiba pora ahuriki
nata anti nahi re
Translation:
Who has taught you all these pranks,
to roll your eyes like that and make faces?
You have been kicking your legs about restlessly
Aren't you satisfied now? Is there any end to your antics?
(The last line of the stanza is repeated several times as the song reaches the sthai again)
nata anti nahi re
Translation:
Is there any end to your antics?
Braja ku chora asichi gheni jibo,
suatuni hoi re!
Translation:
The thief who has come to Braja will take you away
Now, sleep quietly, will you?
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