After more than a decade away from performing in Mumbai, Aakash Odedra returns for an extraordinary, one-off performance at the prestigious Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC).
This special evening is dedicated to the legendary Kathak maestro Kumudini Lakhia, whose influence has shaped generations of dancers across the globe.
At the heart of this landmark moment is Mehek, a deeply evocative duet performed alongside the remarkable Aditi Mangaldas, a long-awaited homecoming that reunites two powerful voices in contemporary Kathak on Indian soil.
Originally touring to critical acclaim across the UK, Mehek is far more than a performance.
It is a poetic meditation on memory, longing, and the unseen threads that bind human experience.
Through two bodies moving as one, Odedra and Mangaldas create a shared language of rhythm, breath, and emotion, an intimate dialogue that transcends borders and tradition.
The production’s sonic landscape plays an equally vital role in shaping its emotional depth.
Featuring a rich live and recorded score rooted in classical Indian traditions, Mehek brings together exceptional musicians whose compositions and rhythms echo the inner worlds of the performers.
The interplay between movement and music creates a textured atmosphere where silence, sound, and gesture coexist in delicate balance.
This collaboration has not only resonated with audiences but has also been recognised at the highest level.
Mehek earned four award nominations during its UK tour and brought Odedra the prestigious Best Male Dancer and Outstanding Male Classical Performance at the National Dance Awards Critics Circle; an acknowledgment of both his technical mastery and his profound emotional storytelling.
Returning to Mumbai with Mehek after 11 years marks a significant chapter in Odedra’s artistic journey.
To perform this work in honour of Kumudini Lakhia, whose legacy continues to inspire innovation within Kathak, adds a powerful sense of lineage, respect, and continuity.
This one-night-only performance at NMACC is more than a homecoming.
It is a celebration of artistic dialogue across continents.
A tribute to a living legacy, and a rare convergence of two extraordinary artists whose shared vision continues to redefine the possibilities of dance.
Photo Credits: Angela Grabowska
