Kathak dancer plans film, book on Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Varanasi, Aug 16 (UNI) Noted Kathak exponent of Lucknow Gharana Sushmita Banerjee plans to make a film and write a book depicting the last Nawab of Oudh Wajid Ali Shah as a patron of the north Indian dance form.

''Talks are underway with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata for making the film which will highlight the contribution of the Nawab to Kathak dance form,'' Ms Banerjee told UNI after performing at the Spic Macay 'Virasat' series programme in the Agrasen Post Graduate College here today.

Ms Banerjee, hailing from Kolkata has been doing extensive research for reviving old compositions of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and feels this will enrich Kathak and give a new dimension to this classical Indian dance form.

''People normally know the famous ruler of Oudh as a fun loving and playful king, but very few are aware of his unparellel contribution to Kathak by composing as many as 500 thumris and ghazals in Urdu-Persian and Arabic,'' said Ms Banerjee, who has documented the works of the famous Oudh ruler over the last 11 yrs.

''I have recently been awarded the Emeritus Fellowship from the Central Government for two years during which I will further my work on the treasure trove rendered to Kathak dance form by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. The end result will be in form of a book as well as a film and efforts will be made to complete both the projects by 2010,'' she added.

''The book and film will depict Wajid Ali Shah's lesser known persona of an art connoisseur who not only composed 500 thumris and ghazals but also evolved 14 gata-nikasas for the Lucknow School of Kathak dance,'' Ms Banerjee maintained.

UNI