Chandalika, The Outcaste – Photograph 1

Series nameChandalika
Description

This is a photograph of all the dancers in Pushpalata Dance Company’s dance-drama ‘Chandalika’.The dancers from left to right are: Meenu Dutta, Machthild Buntton, Mahua Chatterjee, Simtra Chugani and Harsha Patel. The name of the last dancer is unknown.

Date of Creation / Publication1993
CreatorUnknown
Associated Person/ OrganisationPawar, Priya; Patel, Harsha
Location
Collection and Reference NumberPushpalata Dance Company (GB 2661 PD)
Catalogue NumberPD/CHA/2
Copyright
Access to originalsThe originals belong to Priya Pawar.
Series notesIn 1993, Pushpalata Dance Company presented its first production, Chandalika, a Rabindranath Tagore’s classic dance-drama about unrequited love. Priya Pawar’s rendition of the early 20th century play incorporates the dance forms Odissi and Kathak. Chandalika is the story of a Prokriti, an untouchable woman (Chandal) who lives on the outskirts of the town with her mother. When a Buddhist monk, Anand, treats her with compassion and dignity, Prokriti falls in love with him and embarks on a journey of self- discovery, eventually embracing a Buddhist way of life. The production was performed at the Place Theatre in London. The digitised items include flyers, programmes and photographs from the performance.
Collection notesThe digitised materials from the Pushpalata Dance Company consist of documentation such as flyers and photographs of Priya Pawar’s performances such as ‘Chitrangada’, ‘Chandalika, The Outcaste’, Kathak-Odissi performances and various others. In addition, photographs and leaflets relating to her previous dance company, Triveni, her community, outreach and education work and biographical information are also included.