Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 31:

The odissi dance on British singer Ed Sheeran's song 'Shape of You', which received overwhelming response on YouTube last week, drew huge flak from the eminent odissi dancers of Odisha.

Around 24 odissi dance personalities criticised the music video alleging obscenity in the classical dance performed by a group of artists.

They alleged that the plot has been made to spoil the thousand years of odissi dance that is the identity of billions of Odias through this music video, which is being promoted in name of promotion of odissi.

The dance style of odissi is featured in various ancient sculptures and scriptures. Nobody has right to destroy the genuineness of the dance. The attempts are being made to spoil the originality of the classical form of dance in name of globalization. If anyone wants to promote the dance, odissi should be promoted and presented through Indian music or languages, but not through western language or style, said eminent odissi dancers Padmashree Aruna Mohanty, Padmashree Ileana Citaristi and dance guru Ratikant Mohapatra.

They appealed to the culture secretary to take steps to uphold the originality of dance.

However, Detour Odisha defended by saying the music video was produced for promotion of odissi.

"We produced odissi fusion for promoting odissi. Earlier, fusion has been made on other classical forms of dance like Kathak and Bharat Natyam and these have also received thumb up. ‘Shape of You’ music video has also been popular. We have promoted the heritage and sculptures of Odisha capital through the video. Nobody is protesting the music video except some odissi artists. We have not used any obscene word in the video. It should be understood properly", said Detour Odisha proprietor Kartik Aaruda.