Songs of the Bulbul - Aakash Odedra Company

The graceful yet powerful art of Kathak dance intertwines with Sufi storytelling in a transformative experience that transcends physical and emotional boundaries

‘A tribute to my mother “Kay”... my smiling bulbul who left her cage.’ - Aakash Odedra

Songs of the Bulbul is a new dance work by Aakash Odedra, with choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan (of Orchestral Qawwali Project). Drawing inspiration from an ancient Sufi myth, the work tells the story of a bulbul trapped in captivity. Bound by its constraints, the bird’s despair deepens as its final moments approach. Yet, it sings more sweetly as its end draws near, delivering one last heartbreaking song before its soul departs. This tale of sacrifice and beauty explores freedom found only in the ultimate release. 

Birdsong is fleeting—like dance, it exists only in the present, vanishing as soon as it is sung. In Persian culture, nightingales or “Bulbuls” are deeply symbolic, representing the soul’s yearning for unity with the divine. Their songs, often directed towards the rose, symbolise the earthly beauty and the divine beloved, capturing the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. From Persia to the Indian subcontinent, from freedom to captivity, Songs of the Bulbul explores the soul’s journey towards divine love and enlightenment. Aakash Odedra’s performance poses a universal question: will we remain confined to the material world like the caged bird, or will we soar toward liberation and unity with the divine.

Leveraging their common cultural heritage, Aakash Odedra and Rani Khanam seek to explore and research form that upholds the sanctity of traditional Sufi Kathak, a classical style imbued with profound spiritual nuance and rooted in the dance traditions of the Indian subcontinent, while also investigating its possibilities when viewed through a modern lens. With music composed and directed by Rushil Ranjan, Songs of the Bulbul is an immersive dialogue between traditional classical Indian dance and music, renowned for its precise rhythm and storytelling, and the innovative perspectives of contemporary forms and processes. Songs of the Bulbul is the second collaboration between Aakash Odedra and Rushil Ranjan, after working together on Abi Sampa’s music video for Ghar Aa in 2021.

Aakash Odedra (Dancer)

Aakash Odedra is a Leicester-based artist, celebrated as one of the UK’s most prolific and innovative performers. His work is inspired by both ancient and modern stories and culture. He has performed celebrated works such as Songs of the Bulbul, Mehek, Samsara, and Rising in the most prestigious halls in the world. Aakash has forged partnerships with leading venues, choreographers, dancers and musicians worldwide, including working with Ravi Shankar at the Royal Opera House, and more recently with Aditi Mangaldas, Rani Khanam and Rushil Rajan. Born in Birmingham, UK, Odedra’s journey from prodigious dance student to internationally acclaimed choreographer began with foundational training in Kathak and Bharatanatyam under revered gurus in both the UK and India. At age 15, Odedra moved to Mumbai for training, invigorating his passion for dance and maturing his artistry. Aakash’s works have won multiple awards, including Best Show of Edinburgh International Festival 2024 and UK Theatre Award for Dance. He was voted Best Male Dancer at the UK National Dance Awards and also won Best Male Classical Performance. He won a British Empire Medal for services to dance in 2021 and was announced as an associate artist of Sadlers Wells in 2025.

Rani Khanam (Choreographer)

Rani Khanam is one of the most sensitive and astute interpreters of Lucknow Gharana of Kathak today, and she has been performing professionally for the past thirty years. Her style reflects deep comprehension of the dance tradition which has set new dimensions and source of inspirations to younger generation. While deeply rooted in tradition she has evolved her own individual style in Kathak. Inspired by her intimate knowledge of Islamic and Sufi texts, she has a vision to perform a unique repertoire of Sufiana poetry (Qalam) & Islamic verses, which has received rich reviews.

As a choreographer, Rani Khanam has won many accolades and her choreography has received applaud and encouragement from the dignitaries Including the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of Delhi & Arunachal Pradesh, Governor of Bengal & Arunachal Pradesh etc. The Indian and international art critics consider her an excellent and creative dancer. Rani has been honoured for her pioneering work through awards including the Women Achievement Award 2022 and The India Foundation’s award for Outstanding Kathak Dancer 1991.

Rushil Ranjan (Composer/Musical Director)

Rushil Ranjan is a multi-disciplinary and genre-defying artist and composer based in London. His work across contemporary, Sufi and classical music has earned him a reputation as one of the most distinctive and extraordinary musical voices around today. As a classical crossover composer, Rushil has had his works performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Firdaus Orchestra, The National Youth Choir and many other acclaimed classical artists and ensembles. He is also an artistic partner of the pioneering Manchester Camerata. Together with his longtime collaborator, Abi Sampa, he premiered the world’s first Urdu Symphonic Poem to great critical acclaim. He was also awarded the PRS Foundation Composer’s Fund in July 2023 to tour the work. 

As a composer for film and TV, Rushil has already built up an impressive list of credits and accolades having scored award winning and Bafta nominated films for Netflix, ITV, Film 4 and the BFI. Rushil is also the progenitor, artistic director and composer of the Orchestral Qawwali Project, a critically acclaimed musical collective that seamlessly reframes the spiritual rapture of Sufi music through its rich orchestral scores. Since its debut in 2020, the project has been heralded as something of a cultural zeitgeist, amassing millions of streams, views and critical acclaim from around the world. Under Rushil’s direction the project has also sold out venues around the world including most recently the Royal Albert Hall, during the project’s debut headline performance.

Aakash Odedra Company

Based in Leicester, Aakash Odedra Company exists to deliver exceptional creative experiences for audiences and participants and to help create a society that is happier and healthier through dance and the arts. We want to ensure that our dance work reflects excellence, removes barriers to access excellent dance and art and makes art and dance education opportunities more widely available. Our mission is to create dance works through a synthesis of kathak, bharatanatyam, contemporary and Bollywood-jazz which push boundaries, responding to and drawing inspiration from contemporary issues. Bilingual in classical and contemporary dance we use the voice of British-Asian experience to translate ancient and contemporary movement languages to tell new stories relevant to today.

Our location within Leicester’s international communities has allowed us to be more aware of, and pro-active about, the opportunities of plural heritage and the importance of a culture of accessibility, social justice, messaging and making people feel welcome. Aakash Odedra is an Associate Artist at Curve Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome. Aakash Odedra Company is a National Partner Organisation of Sadler’s Wells and one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations.

Aakash Odedra Company is a deeply-rooted, local community organization. Founded and based in Leicester, we produce projects and events to engage the local communities, while facing outwards to embrace the world. Constantly travelling the world, we draw inspiration from the audiences, artists and participants we meet and the local, regional, national and international partners we work with. AOC celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021.

About the Bagri Foundation

The Bagri Foundation, established in 1990, is a family foundation driven by a spirit of curiosity. Our vision is to cultivate a meaningful space for Asian culture to thrive, shift perspectives and deepen connections. The Foundation works within a network of leading cultural organisations who share this mission, to give artists and experts from across Asia, wider visibility on the global stage. We champion diverse artistic initiatives that challenge and inspire us and our audiences. Through grants and strategic partnerships, we realise unique, high-quality programmes which share traditional and contemporary Asian culture. Recent partnerships and projects include the exhibition Asian Bronze: 4000 years of Beauty at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; a touring co-production, Thikra: Night of Remembering, by Akram Khan Company; and three first-time UK solo institutional presentations by female artists from Asia, Arpita Singh at Serpentine Gallery, London, Citra Sasmita at the Curve Gallery, Barbican, London and Seulgi Lee at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham. In addition to the public-facing arts programme, three generations of the family continue to support education, poverty relief and health initiatives. 

https://bagrifoundation.org/

Dancer: Aakash Odedra

Choreographer: Rani Khanam

Composer/Musical Director: Rushil Ranjan

Set Designer & Stage Manager: Emanuele Salamanca

Lighting Designer & Dramaturg: Fabiana Piccioli

Costume Designer: Kanika Thakur

Rehearsal Director: Dheerendra Tiwari

Music Performed by: Manchester Camerata conducted by Melvin Tay

Vocals: Sarthak Kalyani, Abi Sampa

Choral Vocals: Rushil Ranjan, Aakash Odedra

Additional Instrumentation: Janan Sathiendran (tabla), Praveen Prathapan (bansuri)

Additional Composition: Abi Sampa, Danyal Dhondy, Shuheb Hasan, Amaan Ali

Additional Composition on Yaare Mann and Forest by: Shuheb Hasan and Amaan Ali

Mixed and mastered by: Andrea Gobbi at Gloworm Studios

Music Preparation: Danyal Dhondy, Max Guthrie

Production Manager: Salvatore Scollo

Photography: Angela Grabowska

Videography: Dani Bower

Trailer: Subhash Viman Gorania

Songs of the Bulbul is created by Aakash Odedra Company. Songs of the Bulbul is created in association with Manchester Camerata, and was created in part during a residency at the Pillow Lab at Jacob’s Pillow. It is presented by Aakash Odedra Company in association with Manchester Camerata, and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.