Ranjana Gauhar

Her name figures amongst the foremost exponents in the world of Indian classical dance. She is Padmashree Ranjana Gauhar, a world-renowned Odissi dancer and a multidimensional personality whose interests also include theatre, painting and choreography. Ranjana Gauhar has been honoured with the prestigious Padmashree Award in 2003 for her longstanding services in the field of Odissi Dance. She is also the recipient of the National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2007), Senior Fellowship for her research in the temple tradition of Odissi dance by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award and Mahari Award in 2007 and many other accolades.

Ranjana’s performances bear the signature of a distinctive style because of her extensive training in Chhau, Kathak and Manipuri as well. It has widened her knowledge and understanding of Indian classical dance. Such a background has led her to boldly explore and reach out to other creative expressions such as authoring a book “Odissi, The Dance Divine”, which was released on the 13 February, 2007. The book not only delves into the evolution and aesthetics of Odissi dance but also introduces to the readers the architect and contemporary gurus and eminent dancers of this living tradition, Odissi.

Padmashree Ranjana Gauhar who received her training under the legendary Guru Mayadhar Rout and Ms. Aloka Paniker, is a graduate in Philosophy Honours and a postgraduate in English Literature. Not surprisingly, her education and creative skills saw her rise in name and fame in her pursuit of art at a pace few can match. Her talent in blending the traditional with the contemporary, her imagery, which is both innovative and individualistic, has made Ranjana all the more appealing to the audience at home and abroad. Gaiety, grace and strength are the hallmarks of Ranjana’s performances, compelling the spell-bound audiences to describe her recital as an experience in sublime spiritual odyssey. Ranjana has also produced and directed a number of ballets depicting modern and mythological themes.

Ranjana has travelled with her art of Odissi dance across the length and breadth of the country. She has participated in prestigious dance festivals including Khajuraho Festival, Kalidas Festival in Ujjain and Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale Centenary Festival at Kalakshetra. This cultural ambassador of India has performed at the Festival of India, Queen Elizabeth Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Hall of Plymouth, the Commonwealth Institute, Oxford University, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Dahlem Museum, Berlin, West Germany besides having performed in other cities in Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Serbia, Cyprus, Kuwait, Switzerland, Tunisia, Yugoslavia, Japan, Holland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Croatia and Latin American Countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Mexico, she has also visited 9 countries in the African continent. In Mexico, Ranjana represented India at the Cerventino Festival. She has also exposed the beauty of Odissi dance to audiences in Cambodia, Bhutan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, the continent of Africa, Mauritius and Egypt. Ranjana Gauhar and group inaugurated the festival of India in South Korea in July 2011 followed by performances in Japan, China, Singapore and the Philippines. She has given solo and group recitals in various festivals all over the world. In total, she has visited more than 80 countries across the globe.

Another facet to Ranjana’s persona is her talent as a film producer, researcher and scriptwriter. She has produced many television serials and documentaries that have been very successful and highly appreciated. They are “Odissi Chandrika” “Saundarya Lahari” based on “Shri Geet Govind” commissioned by Doordarshan, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, “Nectar in Stone” for MEA, a film depicting the cultural relations of India with Vietnam and Cambodia through ancient Hindu Temples, “The Celestial Dancer in the Temple of Jagannath” for the Ford Foundation, “Manas Mandir” and many others are produced by Ranjana Films for Indian television. Her independent productions are “Nupur” and “Prerna” for IGNOU.

She is also actively involved in creating awareness by presenting lec-dems in rural and semi-rural regions of the country. Ranjana is the moving spirit behind the non-governmental organization ‘Utsav’ started by her in 1987 where she uses her experience and commitment for the teaching of Odissi dance and music in the Guru Shishya Parampara. Utsav under the guidance of Ranjana organizes two major festivals of Indian classical dances-. “Unbound Beats of India”-the two-day international festival of dance where young artists including those of foreign origin perform and Sare Jahan Se Accha”- a two-day national festival where renowned dance exponents perform Su-Tarang celebrates young dancers for World Dance Day. She also holds seminars on Odissi music and allied forms where artists from India and Abroad participate.

A dancer par excellence and a perfectionist to the core, Ranjana is not one to rest on her laurels. Instead, she is tirelessly working towards achieving the high standards of excellence set by her. She believes the best is yet to come.

She won the Padma Shree in 2003[1] and with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2007 by the President of India.