Songs of the Bulbul - Aakash Odedra Company

The graceful yet powerful art of Kathak dance intertwines with Sufi storytelling in a transformative experience that transcends physical and emotional boundaries

‘A tribute to my mother “Kay”... my smiling bulbul who left her cage.’ - Aakash Odedra

Songs of the Bulbul is a new dance work by Aakash Odedra, with choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan (of Orchestral Qawwali Project). Drawing inspiration from an ancient Sufi myth, the work tells the story of a bulbul trapped in captivity. Bound by its constraints, the bird’s despair deepens as its final moments approach. Yet, it sings more sweetly as its end draws near, delivering one last heartbreaking song before its soul departs. This tale of sacrifice and beauty explores freedom found only in the ultimate release.

Birdsong is fleeting—like dance, it exists only in the present, vanishing as soon as it is sung. In Persian culture, nightingales or “Bulbuls” are deeply symbolic, representing the soul’s yearning for unity with the divine. Their songs, often directed towards the rose, symbolise the earthly beauty and the divine beloved, capturing the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. From Persia to the Indian subcontinent, from freedom to captivity, Songs of the Bulbul explores the soul’s journey towards divine love and enlightenment. Aakash Odedra’s performance poses a universal question: will we remain confined to the material world like the caged bird, or will we soar toward liberation and unity with the divine.

Leveraging their common cultural heritage, Aakash Odedra and Rani Khanam seek to explore and research form that upholds the sanctity of traditional Sufi Kathak, a classical style imbued with profound spiritual nuance and rooted in the dance traditions of the Indian subcontinent, while also investigating its possibilities when viewed through a modern lens. With music composed and directed by Rushil Ranjan, Songs of the Bulbul is an immersive dialogue between traditional classical Indian dance and music, renowned for its precise rhythm and storytelling, and the innovative perspectives of contemporary forms and processes. Songs of the Bulbul is the second collaboration between Aakash Odedra and Rushil Ranjan, after working together on Abi Sampa’s music video for Ghar Aa in 2021.

“Odedra has said that the story speaks to the life of an artist, and that with each performance he gives part of his soul to the audience. It’s a rare gift to watch him.” - The List - 5 Stars

“A work of exquisite beauty and sadness, Aakash Odedra’s brand new solo, Songs of the Bulbul, is the kind of theatrical moment that stays with you forever.” - The Scotsman - 5 Stars

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