Nrithyotsavam: When the Margazhi stage became everyone's home

- Krithikaa Shurajit
e-mail: krithikashurajit@icloud.com
Photo credit: Giruba Parthiban

November 5, 2025

As Chennai prepares itself for the glittering and culturally vibrant Margazhi season, the air is already thick with music, movement, and devotion. Yet, before the city plunges into its peak classical calendar, this year witnessed something extraordinary. Nrithyotsavam is a 3 day dance festival curated by Purushothaman (Chennai), Dr. Suresh (Banroti), and Murali (Coimbatore), all eminent dance gurus in their own right, this year being the third edition of this beautiful celebration. The festival that happened from October 31st to November 2nd at Rukmini Arangam, Kalakshetra served as a powerful prelude to Margazhi's traditional grandiosity with the inaugural day featuring the release of a book authored by Dr. Suresh, adding a literary and reflective dimension to the celebrations. What made it remarkable was not just its curation or its venue, but its heart - a wonderful celebration of inclusivity and the recognition of voices that rarely find a place on our mainstream stages.

Book release

In an artistic world where prominence is often reserved for dancers from metropolitan hubs or those with established visibility across India and abroad, Nrithyotsavam stepped in as a refreshing counter-narrative. The festival shone a warm spotlight on over 300 varied classical artists from smaller towns, cities, and communities often rich in dedication, tradition, and rigorous training, yet overlooked in the larger cultural circuit.

Each evening was graced by esteemed chief guests from the world of nNatyam - Senior Natyacharyas Thomas and Vasundhara Thomas on Day 1, Guru Anitha Guha on Day 2, and Dr. Radhika Shurajit on Day 3. Amidst the grandeur of the space, Nrithyotsavam remained rooted in humility and inclusivity, the qualities that echoed in every performance, speech, and gesture.

Over the course of the three days, the stage embraced diversity in every form. The first day of the festival featured transgender Bharatanatyam artists Ponni and Vanithasri, whose presence was a celebration of identity and artistic courage! The second day had Saravanan, a 60-year-old debutante, light up the stage, reminding everyone that passion has no expiration! And the final day of the festival featured Gurushankar, a special needs child whose performance brought tears to many eyes and reaffirmed that art belongs to all. These moments were not mere symbolic inclusions. They were lived, emotional testaments to how dance can transcend boundaries, labels, and limitations.

And as the curtains closed on this year's edition, Nrithyotsavam left the city with a lingering emotion - hope! Hope that more festivals and institutions widen their embrace to young dancers from smaller towns who will find courage in visibility. It concluded on an uplifting note, inspiring both performers and audiences to celebrate dance in all its varied forms.

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.