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Kujita: A Solo in Odissi by Akankshya Padhi

Part of the Friends of Oddbird Festival 2025 lineup, this piece brought Odissi and Hindustani traditions into dialogue - where music led, dance responded, and both breathed together.

11 September 2025

At the heart of Kujita - Sanskrit for "the cooing of a bird" - was a year-long collaboration between Odissi dancer Akankshya Padhi and Hindustani vocalist Yusra Naqvi. What began as an artistic exchange grew into a repertoire shaped by the synergy of two young classical practitioners - where the voice carried the body forward, and the body, in turn, shaped the song.

Performed as a solo with live accompaniment by Naqvi, alongside Pradeepta Moharana on mardala, Shubhakant Sahoo on flute, and Arnaaz Zaman on manjeera, the piece placed the dancer in close dialogue with her musicians.

Photo credit: Akshita Doley

Dance: Akankshya Padhi
Vocals: Yusra Naqvi
Manjeera: Arnaaz Zaman
Mardala: Pradeepta Maharana
Flute: Shubhakant Sahoo

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