An ode to the mehfil of nawabs by kathak exponent Rani Khanam

New Delhi, February 8, 2023: The evening was all set to experience the essence of Mehfil of Nawabs as Kathak exponent Rani Khanam presented "Mehfil e Safarnama, at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. This kathak dance performance featured numerous themes in Kathak, Gayaki, and royal court poetry, Mehfil of Nawabs, and courtesans.

This unique production depicting the time period of the Mehfil of Nawabs till the mid-19th century was choreographed and performed by Rani Khanam herself. The performance in 2 verses combined the subtle Bhav Batana abhinaya style with Lucknow adayegi dance aspects of Kathak and Gayaki such as Ghazal, Thumari, Bandish, Dadra, and so on. Rani Khanam Ji was accompanied by Sahbaaz Khan on Tabla, Nasir Khan on Sarangi, and vocalist Shuheb Hasan, among others.

The event was attended by industry stalwarts like renowned Indian Kathak dancer Guru Shovana Narayan, Indian bharatanatyam artist Rama Vaidhynathan, Amrender Khatuwa, an Indian civil servant who belongs to the Indian Foreign Service cadre. He is the former High Commissioner of India to Argentina, Ivory Coast, Former Secretary (Special Assignment) at Ministry of External Affairs (India) and former DG of the ICCR, Amir Raza Hussain - International Play Director, Sindhu Mishra -  Ex-Deputy Secretary, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Rishi Vashist- Director CCRT and Temsunaro Jamir - Director National gallery of Modern Art

Rani Khanam's performance seeks to teach the next generation about the history of art and culture, as well as raise awareness of the artists who developed our art form and made significant contributions to the preservation of traditional dance and music traditions.