SUNEHRA NOOR - A GOLDEN LIGHT

SUNEHRA NOOR - A GOLDEN LIGHT 

A Kathak dance drama depicting the story of the great court composer of 16th century Mughal India, Miyan Tansen - set in the time of Emperor Akbar, known as the golden age. 
Performed by students of Noorani Dance School & featuring the Noorani Dance Company.
Choreographed by Artistic Director, Farah Yasmeen Shaikh

SCENE 1: The Golden Age & Emperor Akbar

Emperor Akbar ruled the Mughal Empire in India for close to 50 years, extending the reach of the Mughal dynasty across the Indian subcontinent. Emperor Akbar’s court was known for its diversity, and as a place where people of all races and religions could come together. The Emperor led with a principle of honoring and celebrating the development of an inclusive Mughal culture. It was the culmination of these contributions that named this time, the Golden Age. 

As Emperor Akbar’s many attributes centered on the arts, including a tradition of entertainment in the Darbar, the royal court of gathering where music and dance, especially Kathak, filled the hall on a nightly basis. 

Padshah Emperor Akbar, seated in his throne, looks out at all in attendance in the Darbar, with great pride as the celebration of dance and music begins.

Performed by: Noorani Dance Company

SCENE 2: Akbar witnesses the brilliance of Tansen

The Emperor had great admiration and respect for those that possessed a unique skill set and knowledge, often rooted in artistic practices such as poetry, architecture, astrology, and music.

A trusted courtier, knowing of the Emperor’s love for the arts, tells the Emperor of a brilliant musician who lives not too far from the palace. The Emperor is eager to see and hear for himself, and insists on discreetly visiting the ashram where it is said this man lives, practices and trains others.

Tansen, at this time known as Ramtanu, and his daughter, Saraswati, enter the courtyard of the ashram. His students come to offer their respect to the divine through dancing and singing. Tansen looks on with great pride. 

Having watched from afar, Emperor Akbar is impressed by watching this musical genius instruct his students with such love, knowledge and skill. He directs his courtier to go and invite Tansen to come to his court. 

Performed by: Beginning Children, Teens & Adults; Intermediate Adults; 

Noorani Dance Graduates

SCENE 3: Tansen joins the Navratna

One of Akbar’s greatest traits was his humility, which led him to form the Navratna - or nine jewels - where 9 individuals were handpicked to represent a particular skill that the Emperor saw them to be most proficient in. 

Tonight, the Emperor awaits the arrival of the great musician he had seen and heard, eager to invite him to become his court composer and one of his Navratna. He also gives him the loving name of Miyan Tansen. As Akbar and Tansen bond, the other courtiers become jealous and devise a plan to shame and ridicule Tansen in front of Akbar and the entire court. 

Their plan unfolds at the end of the nightly entertainment. 

But first, the Emperor takes his place as the dancers enter with their nazaakat aur taaqat and the tehzeeb indicative of this nuanced style of dance.

Throughout the evening, the courtiers become increasingly jealous of Akbar becoming enamored with Tansen. They tell the Emperor of a rumor about Tansen singing a particular Raag that could ignite fire. The Emperor falls right into their plan, insisting that Tansen must perform this Raag in tomorrow evening’s Darbar. He was certain this could be no rumor, as the unparalleled talent of Miyan Tansen knew no boundaries. 

The cunning courtiers determined that if the rumor was true, Tansen would cause fiery destruction, and if it were not true, he would simply look like a fool in the Emperor’s eyes.

Tansen, knowing that Raag Deepak can indeed ignite fire, feared the outcome of what he was asked to do, but knew he could not deny this request of the Emperor so he reluctantly agrees to perform Raag Deepak. 

Performed by: Beginning & IntermediateTeens & Adults; Intermediate & Advanced Teens; Noorani Dance Graduates

SCENE 4: Women of the Mughal Court

The women of the Mughal Court, the court dancers in particular, are often seen in opulent jewelry and clothing, displaying elegance and charm, and living what seems to be a very luxurious lifestyle.

But what are their lives truly like? What seems to be glorified in the portrayal of these women, in the music and poetry, is not their desired reality. Possessing a strength and resilience, these women, these dancers, are to be celebrated and respected, as they reject the norms of society at that time. On a path of self empowerment, they reclaim their power and influence beyond the male gaze, and are determined to write their own narrative.

Performed by: Noorani Dance Company

SCENE 5: Aab-e-Pashi (shower of colorful flowers)

Emperor Akbar embraced the traditions and celebrations of many cultures and religions, including the Spring festival of colors - Holi! In Mughal India, the festivities were referred to as Aab-e-Pashi - shower of colorful flowers, and all in the palace were excited for the day’s celebration! 

Following the celebration, Saraswati, Miyan Tansen’s daughter, looks around for her father, expecting him to have participated in the day's Holi festivities. Unable to find him, she goes to look for him in his apartments in the Palace. 

Performed by: Advanced Teens; Intermediate & Advanced Adults

SCENE 6: Saraswati supports her father

Miyan Tansen wanders about his apartments. Lethargic, almost helpless, he feels somewhat paralyzed by the request to sing Raag Deepak, though he has no choice. To reject a request from the Emperor would be unacceptable, with the potential of an unimaginable punishment. And yes, the singing of Raag Deepak will light the diya lamps, but it will also ignite fires throughout the palace, and likely so much worse. But again, what was he to do? As he sat with his thoughts, his daughter Saraswati enters his apartment. 

Saraswati looks at her father, perplexed by his depressed demeanor. She asks him what is burdening him, and he tells her of his predicament. She listens and takes in the magnitude of what her father is faced with, and the destruction that the singing of Raag Deepak can have on him, the Emperor, and all in the kingdom. 

She has a realization! She excitedly tells her father that she has a solution. As he looks at her with confusion, Saraswati explains. 

You have taught me to sing Raag Miyan ki Malhar - a raag that can invoke the rain. Tonight, I will stay away from the Darbar and watch from afar. When I see the fire and smoke start to rise I will begin to sing Miyan ki Malhar, and the rain shall come and put out the fires. She reminds her father that his knowledge and training will allow her to use the power of the music to respond to the destructive nature of one raag, by offering the healing of another. 

Miyan Tansen could not be prouder of his daughter, as he finds great comfort in her wise solution. 

Performed by: Noorani Dance Graduates

SCENE 7: A fiery night in the Darbar  

Tonight in the Darbar is the much anticipated performance by Miyan Tansen of which he has been asked to sing Raag Deepak. Drawing the attention of people from far and wide, many of whom have brought their own diya lamps to see if Tansen’s singing of Raag Deepak, will indeed, ignite the flames.

But first, a performance by one of the court dancers. 

Following, the time has come for the performance by Miyan Tansen. He timidly enters the Darbar. Though he takes comfort in knowing of his daughter’s plan, he is still concerned. Seeing the excitement on the face of the Emperor, and the many who have come to witness his singing of Raag Deepak, all he can do is trust in what he has passed onto his daughter, and prepare himself to experience the power of the music that will come out of both he and Saraswati.

Performed by: Noorani Dance Advanced Adult & Graduates; Advanced Teens

SCENE 8: Miyan ki Malhar brings the rain

Miyan Tansen collapses as the heat and the flames overtook his body. Limp and weak, he hears in the distance, the sound of his daughter’s melodious voice. 

Saraswati comes to the edge of her balcony and sees the flames and smoke coming from the Palace. She fears for the well being of her father, and all in the Darbar. She knows what she must do, and prays to the divine that her singing of Miyan ki Malhar will invoke the rain to cool the heat, and put out the flames.

The power of the arts has truly never been more powerful.

Performed by: Noorani Dance Company & Graduates