Kaahe Chhed Mohe | Devdas Thumri | Kathak by Shruti Patki and students

This song was performed at Avant Garde 5 as a symbolic representation of the 'Andhakkar Yug' of Kathak which went on from the invasion by the British, to the early 20th century. Emergence of colonial rule in the 18th century saw decline of various classical dance forms which were subjected to contemptuous fun and discouragement including Kathak. Eventually the social stigma associated with nautch girls added with highly critical and despicable attitude from the Christian missionaries and British officials, who held them and the Devadasis of South India as harlots, disgraced such systems. It is during this time that we can find no documentation of the contributions of various dancers to the dance form, and hence it is called the 'Andhakkar Yug' or the 'Dark period' of Kathak history.

Later on, many senior Kathak dancers contributed to the revival of this art form and gave it the form we witness on stage today. These names include Natraj Gopikrishna ji, Pt. Sundarprasad ji, Pt. Kundanlal ji, Pt. Mohanrao Kalianpurkarji, Pta. Sitara Devi ji, Pt. Birju Maharaj ji, Pta. Kumudini Lakhia ji etc.

This traditional thumri written by Pt. Bindadeen Maharaj ji was included in the Bollywood movie Devdas with a few additions. The original choreography is by Padmavibhushan Pt. Birju Maharajji.