Few words with Saswat - A talented Odishi Dancer from India

Saswat Joshi is an internationally acclaimed Odissi dancer, Choreographer and Dance Educator. Presently he is researching on Odissi Dance. He has performed at major dance festivals and venues across the world including Japan, UK, Canada, Europe and India. He has participated in many workshops on Odissi dance in South Korea, Europe, Italy, Japan. Saswat is known for expression and technical perfection in Odissi dance. Saswat Joshi performs in Mangalacharan, Batu, Pallavi, Abhinaya and Mokhya. He has the future prospect having determination & devotion to carry forward Odissi dance in its classical feature & traditional style.He is the senior member cum dancer in ART VISION, also working as a faculty & choreographer.He has received training from many senior disciple of Guruji like Mukti lata Pal, Leena Nanda, Kasturi Pattaink, Minati Pradhan, Shilalipi Parida, Sagarika Mohapatra, Nivedita Jena & Nihar nalini Das.Saswat holds Master's Degree in English Literature from Sambalpur University.

1. What made you to choose Odishi dance as your career ?

Ans... Being a guy hells from a traditional Brahmin family i never thought to take dance as a career still. When i joined in Odissi Research Centre in the year 2001.I had decided to take dance as a career. I felt their only, it can be a profession..

2. What are the differences between Classical and folk dances in Odisha's context?

Ans...Well there is a lot of difference between Classical Dance and Folk Dances. Specially, in Orissa in every District has their own Folk Dance Style. Whereas Classical is one style which is called Odissi. In Odissi Dance we can get a flavour or a fine blending of Folk Style. Basically, it’s emerging of Folk, Mahari (The temple dance style) & Martial Style of Mayurbhanj District. It also has Sambalpuri Dance Style.

3. What are the essential elements required to be a successful professional Odishi Dancer and what benefits one will get?  

Ans... Firstly, of all you need to be educated, well spoken, well groomed in dance style, dedication, determination, devinty, smart, and humble. For me these are really important factor. Dance itself is a great discipline specially, Classical Dance if one will enter then one can realise what’s the real benefits.

4. Do you have any planning to add your talent of dancing in films?

Ans... Yes i would love to if I’ll get a chance surely, I will make it.

5. Is there any special feature of Odishi dance in comparisons to other Classical forms?

Ans.. The torso movement i mean the upper part of the body moves like a wave in Odishi Style that is very unique which you don’t get it in other forms.

6. How many Gharana (style) is there in Odishi dance. You follow which one of that and why?

Ans....There are three Gharana in Odishi. One is AdiGuru Pankaj Charan Das Style, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Style and Guru Deba Prasad Das Style. But i practise Guru kelu charan mohapatra style as i told in our style we follow a grammer,a scientific foundation also the movement of the torso.....because when i had started my learning it became more easy for me also i had a strong folk base on my body....

7. Your experience during the foreign tours.

Ans...   ha ha ah ha ah ah...i ve been to so many places now so every places they ve their own story..and interesting as well...when i landed for the first time in Europe and it was Italy and it was Venice oh my god it was mind blowing....actually its paradise in earth..heavenly heaven....i m telling u after the performance next day i opened my mails and one of my friend had send me a link i clicked that and i couldn’t believe...somebody from the public of the performance had written so great about our odissi dance as well as abut me “especially SASWAT JOSHI IS PHENOMENAL AND HE WAS LOOKING LIKE AN INDIAN GOD UN STAGE” its really not less then a great award....

8. Are you satisfied with the encouragement provided by Govt. of Odisha for development of Odishi dance?

Ans...yes very much satisfied that’s why it’s very easy for us to take dance as a career....tourism dept of Orissa is doing really a great job but at the same time culture dept is pretty slow to take initiative...it will take some time for a balance....now a day every things becoming computerised so need time for a change.....

9. Where do you want to see you after  five years?

Ans.in my own dance village u can say NRUTYAGRAM in odisha..

10. Please say something about your life partner.

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHH...great question from a great person....i believe in arrange marriage..so my parents had already chosen a girl for me from bolangir..she is doing her m.phil in Hindi literature

11. We would be happy to know something about the beginning days of your dance career in your hometown Titlagarh..

Ans..i tell u from the very beginning i had convinced myself that  dance is my life and  i ll take this as my career done.. well i couldn’t able to balance my studies because dance was so important i never thought that something is better than this ...completely PAGALA...mad for dance...real struggle actually started when i  came to Bhubaneswar...

12.  Something about your family.

Ans...very small a cute family my bapa, maa, rani and raja which is me...that’s all.

13.  Your love life?

Ans..AAPANA KANA MOTE JAIL PATHEIBARA BYABASTA KARICHHANTI KI........HA HA HA HA JUST KIDDING...my love is my dance up to now i have this in my mind lets see after my would be entry in my life i will surely let you know in future...

14.  Any unforgettable moment during dance concerts?

Ans....i remember once i had presented a piece un devi durga in bolangir mathakhai utsav and suddenly light got off  but my music was on strange and one person was dancing like mad un the public gallery as if he had got strong energy from my dance....i do and i follow so much discipline specially un the performance day....also i remember i was presenting india in Europe and i was performing with Carla fraccci<the numero uno ballerina of Europe> in theatre Massimo of pelermo and after the performance when we came out for the clapping suddenly so many flowers fall un from some where i was really shocked u know what was that all the public thrown flowers to us .....Great

15.  Can Odishi dance be composed for contemporary films? If yes in what way?

Ans..yes why not odishi has all that ability for contemporary films...look odissi has two style one is tandava which is the masculine part and another is the lasya  the feminine part also we have nava rasa the nine type of bhaba ex..srungara, hasya karuna roudra etc in normal odissi recital it has its own meaning but when u will design in contemporary style it has his own charm even  i have composed few pieces just for  experiments...

16.  What can make Odishi dance more popular in international level?

Ans..Because its more circular and complete.... with theatre,dance,drama with lot of energy also peaceful and spiritual...and these are the things attracts foreign origin....

17.  Names that you have inspired from?

Ans...There are couple of people like my parents, Mr. Jankai Ballbha Pattanaik, Padmashree Dr.ileana Citaristi, Sanjaya Leela Vansali, Anjolina Jolie, Peter Brooke,

18.  What is your final aim of life?

Ans....i can’t say now because i believe in present and if   i ll built of my present smoothly then my future is safe.....but i m very much optimistic......

19.  What awards you have got? Any dream you have for any special award.

Ans... i have got the sangeet ratna from rabindra varati university, Kolkata, gold medal from Chandigarh university in visharad, National award from ministry of culture govt of india, zee Asthitwa Award,..and also there is a dream which i shouldn’t express now...let me make it then whole world will know....but it will take time and  ill make it ....

20.  What message you would like to give to the boys and girls who are interested to learn Odishi?

Ans....please come forward and joins us....there is plenty of opportunities to take dance as a career so don’t hesitate and make it.....i will definitely help if somebody will take dance as a profession.....  

21.  Any thing breaking or special you want to reveal or inform to press?

Ans....press is just like a  mirror for me ...because till now whatever i am its my work but in other point i will give the credit to electronic media, print media and now a day internet media ....whenever i  do some thing or creat something always media helped me allot so it’s my heartfelt thanks to media....

Namaskar

Saswat Joshi

  

'Dhanamali...' from the Album 'Luk Lukani' in Sambalpuri Language

The song is based upon the cruelty the workers face in the brick kilns of the neighboring states of Odisha. In western Odisha dalals from the adjacent states are exporting workers to construct bricks in their kilns. They work as hard as possible but are not completely paid and don't get enough freedom.

This video is about how a worker does not get leave to meet her wife. The couple are hence recalling their conjugal happy moments and being sorry for each other. The girl is eagerly waiting for her spouse and dying every moment to see him again.

The video is performed by Suru and Deepika, lyrics by Bramhanand Banchhore and directed by Gopal Pradhan. It has been shot in the suburbans rural Odisha to match the plot.

Please give your comments and suggestions so that we can honor your valuable choice in the future. Thanks. 

Monkey on Banana Hill

Spielberg to direct Abraham Lincoln's Biography

After making Tintin and War Horse(releasing on Dec 23 & Dec 28,2011 respectively), Spielberg is now fully focused on Lincoln,  biopic of the 16th president that follows the controversial historical theory that he was not, in fact, a ruthless vampire slayer, but just a boring lawyer from Illinois. Based on the best-selling book, “Team of Rivals,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (who also adapted the script with Tony Kushner).  This project has been in development for over 15 years and at last Spielberg is directing as well as producing, alongside Kathleen Kennedy. Filming is slated for this fall, with a late 2012 release through Disney Touchstone.

Cast of Lincoln

Steven Spielberg

Based on this cast and Spielberg being the director, Lincoln has Oscar written all over it.  Daniel Day-Lewis is the perfect person for this role (even better than Liam Neeson, who was originally cast many years ago, but dropped out due to contract expiration) and Spielberg has surrounded him with solid actors. with Sally Field playing his manic-depressive wife Mary Todd, Tommy Lee Jones has signed on to play Thaddeus Stevens—the fiery Republican leader who pushed for the Civil War and was often given to making flashy, Tommy Lee Jones-like speeches and Joseph Gordon-Levitt will play Robert Todd Lincoln, the longest-living survivor of the cosmically doomed Lincoln children.

News and Features hopes that this film would be as successful as Schindler’s List and many other films by steven spielberg.

Unbelievable Human face

Roll your mouse up and down this pic and feel the funny experience of moving of the skulls

Superheros watch Laden

Top 10 films of America by AFI

Written by - By Saswat Mishra AKA Raja

#1 

Citizen Kane

Director :- Orson Welles

Citizen Kane is consider as the greatest film by AFI twice. It was the directorial debut of Orson Welles. He also contributed in the production, screenplay and also starred in the film and was nominated in all the respective categories at the Oscars winning Best Screenplay. He became the first person to get nominated in four categories (Succeeded  by Warren Beatty  and Coen Brothers).

#2

The Godfather

Director :- Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather is considered as the greatest gangster film by many film institutes. The film stars Marlon Brando as Don Vito 'Godfather'  corleone, Al pacino as Michael corleone, James Caan as Sonny Corleone and Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen (Vito's thee sons). Brando won Oscar for his performance while his all three son's (in the film) were nominated Best Supporting Actor. In addition the film won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. Two Sequels were made later and they were also a hit alike The Godfather. The Godfather Trilogy is the only trilogy in which all three films were nominated for best picture at Oscars (other than Lord of The Rings ). 

#3

Casablanca

Director :- Michael Curtiz

Casablanca is a romantic film about a person who must choose between his love for a woman and helping her and her Czech Resistance leader husband escape from the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city of Casablanca to continue his fight against the Nazis. Starring Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund. The film won three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay respectively.

#4

Raging Bull                                                                          

Director :- Martin Scorsese

Raging Bull is a biographical-Sport film about Boxer Jake LaMotta a middleweight boxer whose sadomasochistic rage, sexual jealousy, and animalistic appetite exceeded the boundaries of the prizefight ring, and destroyed his relationship with his wife and family. The film won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Editing to Robert DeNiro and Thelma Schoonmaker respectively.

#5

Singin' in the Rain

Director :- Gene Kelly

                 Stanley Donen

Singin' in the Rain is a comedy-musical film which is often considered as the greatest musical of all time. Although it was not a big hit when first released, it was accorded its legendary status by contemporary critics. It is now frequently described as one of the best musicals ever made. Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'connor, and others the film was nominated for two oscars : Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Score.

#6

Gone With The Wind

Director :- Victor Fleming

Gone With the Wind is a historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name.It tells a story of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era from a Southern point of view. the film stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, and Hattie McDaniel, among others. The film won ten Oscars, a record that stood for 20 years including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress. 

#7
Lawrence Of Arabia

Director:- David Lean

Lawrence Of Arabia is a biographical film about T.E.Lawrence. The film depicts Lawrence's experiences in Arabia during World War I, in particular his attacks on Aqaba and Damascus and his involvement in the Arab National Council. Its themes include Lawrence's emotional struggles with the personal violence inherent in war, his personal identity, and his divided allegiance between his native Britain and its army and his newfound comrades within the Arabian desert tribes. Starring Peter O'toole as T.E. Lawrence. The film was nominated for ten Oscars winning seven including Best Picture and Best Director.


#8
Schindler's List
Director:- Steven Spielberg
Schindler's List is a biographical film about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. The film stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, Ralph Fiennse as Amon Göth and Ben kingsley as Itzhak Stern. The film gave spielberg his first oscar . On his acceptance speech he said "It could have never happened without a survivor named Poldek Pffefeberg " reffering to the man who gave his whole life to make Oskar Schindler famous. The film was nominated for twelve oscars winning seven including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.


#9Vertigo

Director:- Alfred Hitchcock
Vertigo is a  psychological thriller film about a retired police detective suffering from acrophobia who is hired as a private investigator to follow the wife of an acquaintance to uncover the mystery of her peculiar behavior. The film stars James Stewart as John "Scottie" Ferguson and Kim Novak as Judy Barton/Madeleine Elster. The film received mixed reviews upon initial release, but has garnered much acclaim since then and was moved up to #9 from #61 in AFI list.


#10

Wizard Of Oz
Director:- Victor Fleming
Wizard Of Oz is a musical fantasy film. t features Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan, with Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charles Grapewin, Clara Blandick and the Singer Midgets as the Munchkins. It is based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Notable for its use of special effects,Technicolor, fantasy storytelling and unusual characters, The Wizard of Oz has become, over the years, one of the best-known of all films.






Writer's List

Saswat Mishra AKA Raja

#1 - Schindler's List
#2 - The Godfather II
#3 - The Godfather
#4 - Forrest Gump
#5 - Casablanca