An exhibition that moved beyond the walls

- Krithikaa Shurajit

September 24, 2025

There are evenings that change you quietly, almost without warning. The inauguration of What Anchored Me, Let Me Fly at Alliance Française (Madras) on the 20th of September 2025 was one such evening for me. As I stepped into the hall, I was starry-eyed, swept by an instant rush of overwhelm. Before me unfolded an archive of the life and artistic journey of Guru Chitra Visweswaran, celebrating her 75th year.

Sudharani Raghupathy, Chitra Visweswaran, Shobana, Thota Tharani, Sukanya Ravinder

Sudharani Raghupathy, Chitra Visweswaran, Shobana, Thota Tharani, Sukanya Ravindhar

Chitra akka, as she's fondly known by artistes world over, has always inspired me, not only through her artistry and knowledge but through her presence: her aesthetics, her kindness that shines through her eyes, and her generosity as a legendary senior guru. For me, art always reveals our truest selves, and her art reflects a quiet yet spellbinding strength, grace, beauty, and humanity.

The title itself What Anchored Me, Let Me Fly lingered within me. As artistes, this paradox is our life: to remain anchored in tradition, in the grammar of Bharatanatyam and the voices of our Gurus, and yet to take flight, to interpret, to express, to become.

Inaugurated by the legendary artist-designer Thota Tharani, with chief guest Dr. Shobana Chandrakumar, one of Chitra akka's star disciples, the exhibit was a time machine through her childhood and formative journeys. It revealed how her parents nurtured her with travel, experience, and encouragement so her art could grow and blossom. Every detail was lovingly ideated by Sukanya Ravindhar, her senior disciple and now director of CAPA (Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts), Chitra akka's institution, as a humble homage, with Bhooma Padmanabhan lending her extraordinary attention to detail with curation, and Shreya Nagarajan Singh and team weaving it all together. This dream team made the exhibit come alive.

Shobana and Chitra Visweswaran

It was more than a gallery of memorabilia, it felt like a sanctum, where the air itself carried stories. Black-and-white photographs whispered of beginnings, newspaper clippings announced milestones, rare dance recordings brought her craft vividly alive, and images with disciples radiated a legacy breathing through generations. The official inauguration of her unique style, the Vichitra Baani, was a historic moment. One couldn't help but remember how beautifully the artistries of Visweswaran anna and Chitra akka intertwined over decades.

Standing amidst it all, I was humbled by the magnitude of this exemplary artiste's journey. Decades of discipline, surrender, and devotion have translated into something eternal. At one point, seeing her alongside her disciples, I was moved to tears. I realized that being an artiste of this calibre is not only about performance or growth, but about purpose, to share, to give, to nurture.

Sudharani Raghupathy and Chitra Visweswaran

As a younger artiste inspired by legends and their way of life, this exhibit left me with something I will always carry. It made me feel both heavy and light, anchored and free. Rarely does an exhibition not only inform but transform, not only showcase but stir. The world of art needs more such curated experiences, to remind us of the stories that shaped icons, to ground us in their journeys, and to lift us toward a bigger, more inspired flight.

The exhibition is open from September 20-28, 2025 at Alliance Francaise, Chennai from 10AM to 7PM every day. Daily tours at 12PM and 6PM are also available. All are welcome.

Krithikaa Shurajit is a Bharatanatyam dancer, theatre actor, singer, and an accomplished television host and Emcee. With a strong foundation in the performing arts, she continues to create and present work that bridges tradition and contemporary expression.