REVIEW / REPORT

A spectacular evening of art, tradition and devotion

- Giridhar Mylavarapu
e-mail: mvgiridhar@gmail.com
Photos: Madhukar of Universal Rasikaas and Shiva Murthy

September 25, 2026

On 19th September, we had the privilege of witnessing a truly spectacular and divine cultural evening at the Samanvay Arts Festival, celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Sri Rajarajeshwari Kalaniketan, at the iconic Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru with hall packed audience.

Samanvay Arts Festival was much more than a cultural programme. It was a beautiful confluence of tradition, creativity, devotion and artistic excellence, meticulously curated by Guru Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay, recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest national recognition for the performing arts conferred by the Government of India. Every presentation reflected the depth, diversity and richness of Indian classical dance and left the audience spellbound.

Adavu JAM
The morning sessions commenced with Adavu JAM, a wonderfully innovative initiative and truly different in concept. More than 100 students from different dance schools of Bengaluru came together on one stage, creating a vibrant atmosphere of learning, sharing and celebration.

It was a unique opportunity for the young dancers to understand, witness and practise different adavu patterns and styles directly under the guidance of eminent acharyas - Parshwanath Upadhye, Dr. Anuradha Vikranth, Chitkala Tunga, Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay along with Shama Krishna, and the artistes of Aayana Dance Co. What a wonderful way to pass tradition from one generation to the next.

Samanvay Puraskar
The evening was made even more special with the conferment of the 'Samanvay Puraskar' by Sri Rajarajeshwari Kalaniketan on Revathi Ramachandran, Anitha Guha and Dr. Hamsini Nagendra, in the august presence of several distinguished personalities. It was truly a memorable and humbling moment, honouring distinguished contributions to the world of Indian classical dance and music.

Sathyabhama - A magnificent confluence of classical traditions

Veena Murthy Vijay

Mysore Nagaraj

The grandeur of the evening continued with 'Sathyabhama', a wonderfully curated exploration of the many dimensions of the iconic character of Sathyabhama through different classical dance traditions.

The brilliant Sutradhar, Mysore Nagaraj, portraying Madhavi, was witty, engaging and effortlessly connected the individual dance presentations with the overarching narrative. His lively introductions and graceful transitions brought coherence to the production and kept the audience beautifully connected to the unfolding story. The divine atmosphere created by the ensemble of senior artistes, each portraying Satyabhama through their respective classical traditions, was truly mesmerising.

Lakshmi Gopalaswamy

Vidha Lal

Gopika Varma

Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, representing Bharatanatyam, was deeply inspiring, bringing remarkable depth and expression to the character. Vidha Lal's Kathak presentation was impressive, with its dynamic energy and elegance. Gopika Varma, through the graceful nuances of Mohiniattam, enthralled the audience with her beauty and poise. And Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay, portraying Satyabhama through Kuchipudi, thrilled the audience with her Mayura Nandini (Chitra Nrithya).

What made 'Sathyabhama' particularly special was the coming together of these distinctive classical traditions and accomplished artistic personalities. Each artiste offered a different interpretation and emotional dimension of the same timeless character, beautifully demonstrating how the richness of Indian classical dance can illuminate one character in so many unique ways, a truly memorable celebration of Sathyabhama, tradition and artistic excellence.

Apsaras - A colourful celebration of mythology
The evening continued with 'Apsaras', a vibrant and imaginative production that offered yet another fascinating perspective on our rich mythological heritage. The celestial world of the Apsaras came alive on stage through a beautiful confluence of classical dance, theatre and music.

Shama Krishna and group

Prateeksha Kashi and group

The enchanting Apsaras of the evening were brought to life by an impressive ensemble of artistes - Shama Krishna in Kuchipudi, Ranjitha S. in Bharatanatyam, Rohini Prabhat in Kathak, Pallavi Manjunath in Bharatanatyam representing Aayana Dance Company, Prateeksha Kashi in Kuchipudi, Shubha Chetan in Bharatanatyam, Shuba Dhananjay in Kathak, and Vandana Supriya in Odissi. Adding further colour and character to the production were G. Pavan Kumar as Indra, Suvin Prasad as Narada, and Pradyumna as the Rishi. The production was a delightful coming together of diverse classical dance traditions, expressive theatre and compelling storytelling. Each artiste brought a distinctive flavour to the narrative, creating a vibrant tapestry that captivated the audience.

The spellbound audience responded with enthusiastic applause, appreciating the entire 'Apsaras' team - dancers, musicians, theatre artistes, choreographers and creators - for presenting a spectacular, deeply engaging and thought-provoking experience. 'Apsaras' was truly a celebration of colour, imagination, mythology and the timeless beauty of Indian performing arts.

Vandana Supriya and group

The fabulous lighting, professionally handled by lighting director Surya Rao, beautifully enhanced the mood and visual grandeur of the evening. The multimedia design by Vasudha was seamless and complemented the productions perfectly. The memorable moments were beautifully captured by Madhukar of Universal Rasikaas and Shiva Murthy, whose photography added another dimension to this spectacular evening.

Heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to Guru Veena Murthy Vijay for her remarkable dedication and tireless contribution to the promotion, preservation and propagation of Indian classical dance over five decades. The very name 'Samanvay' beautifully reflected the spirit of this celebration - bringing artists, traditions and generations together in a shared space of creativity, devotion and cultural continuity. It was truly a divine evening, beautifully curated and presented.

Congratulations to the entire Samanvay team on this historic Golden Jubilee celebration. The event was not merely a commemoration of 50 years; it was a celebration of a living tradition, and of the generations of artistes, gurus and rasikas who have nurtured and carried this legacy forward. This unforgettable celebration will remain etched in our memories for years to come.

Giridhar Mylavarapu is based in Chennai since 30 years and runs a fine arts institution by name Kalaakruthi, an institution for performing arts.