Oct 02 2025 to Oct 02 2025 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Gandhi, a transformative Bharatanatyam production conceptualised and choreographed by C P Satyajit, delves deep into the life, philosophy, and enduring legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Moving beyond a conventional biographical portrayal, this performance offers a profound exploration of Gandhi’s ideals, highlighting his moral restlessness, unwavering commitment to truth (satya), and selfless service (seva).

Through the exquisite language of Bharatanatyam, Gandhi captures the essence of the Mahatma’s connection with the people and his vision for a just and compassionate world. The choreography intertwines emotive Abhinaya with intricate rhythmic patterns, creating a layered narrative that resonates with both the heart and mind.

The production is informed by extensive research by Dr. V R Devika, Founder of The Aseema Trust, whose PhD on Gandhi’s communication strategies illuminates the nuances of his life and teachings. Drawing upon Dr. Devika’s insights into Gandhi’s use of communicative Abhinaya, the performance translates the Mahatma’s principles into a compelling visual and emotional journey for contemporary audiences.

Credits:
Concept & Choreography: CP Satyajit

Dancers:
Keerthana Ganesan
Devikha S
Hemavathy Kalaiarasan
Parvathi Parameswar
Archana Sivasubramanian
Anjannaa Ashok

Musicians
M S Sukhi: Rhythm
Monali Bala: Voice
Manonmani T: Sarangi

Original Lighting Design: Martin Jose
Operated by: Muthukumar R

The production is created by Bharata Kalanali with the support of the Kaladham Trust.

In collaboration with:

Supported by:

Artistes

C P Satyajit
Concept & Choreography
C P  Satyajit, son of the legendary dance duo the Dhananjayans, inherits his deep-rooted passion for Bharatanatyam from both parents. Bearing his initials from the matrilineal traditions of Kerala, Satyajit chose dance as his path and has been a professional performer since his arangetram in 1988. He is also a sought-after automotive photographer and a graduate in Visual Communication from Loyola College, Chennai.

Keerthana Ganesan
Dancer
Keerthana began her journey in Naatyam at the age of nine in Karur. In 2018, she took a significant step forward by joining Bharata Kalanjali for intensive training in Bharatanatyam.

After completing her undergraduate degree in B.A. Economics, she went on to earn an LL.B. (Hons.) degree.

Currently, Keerthana is an active member of the repertoire group and other senior-level batches at Bharata Kalanjali. Under the guidance and mentorship of her teachers, she has developed the conviction to pursue dance as a full-time profession and continues to refine her skills as a performing artist.

In addition to her training and performance commitments, Keerthana also serves as a teaching intern and assistant at Bharata Kalanjali, contributing to the efforts of the institution.

Devikha S
Dancer
Devikha began her journey in the classical arts at the age of five under the guidance of her mother, Smt. Kalamandalam Jyothi, training in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi.

In 2022, she joined Bharata Kalanjali to further refine her craft under the mentorship of The Dhananjayans, Shobana Bhalchandra, Satyajit C.P., and Uttiya Barua. Holding a Master’s in Mathematics from Bharathiar University and a Master’s in Bharatanatyam from the University of Madras, she is part of Bharata Kalanjali’s repertory and has also been performing in Anita Ratnam’s Naachiyar Next.

She currently serves as a teacher and administrator at Bharata Kalanjali and as a part-time dance instructor at Sharanalaya World School, Akkarai. Alongside, she has recently embarked on her Ph.D. in Performing Arts at Alliance University, Bangalore.

Hemavathy Kalaiarasan
Dancer
Hemavathy Kalaiarasan began her journey in Bharatanatyam at the tender age of six in 2011 under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan awardees Shri V.P. Dhananjayan and Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan at Bharata Kalanjali. She completed her Arangetram in September 2022 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore.

She has participated in several productions of Bharata Kalanjali, including Thyagaraja Vaibhavam, Sangeethothsavam and many more. In July 2023, she won the second prize in the senior category conducted by Tom Media at Bharat Kalachar.

Hemavathy has performed at numerous prestigious venues and festivals. These include the Brahma Gana Sabha Dance Festival (2024), SPIC MACAY workshop at IIT Madras (2024), Tapas Natyotsava (2024), Kartik Fine Arts at Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall (2025), and the Varahi Amman Margazhi Festival (2025). She also performed for Hema Rajagopalan’s (Chicago) Meenakshi Kalyanam at Bharat Kalachar and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore. In April 2025, she performed at the Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple as part of their Vidaiatri Festival. She has been selected under the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaka Mandram’s Youth Talent Promotion Scheme.

Hemavathy has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at M.O.P. Vaishnav College, Nungambakkam, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Loyola College, Chennai. She has also earned a Diploma in Bharatanatyam from The Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalitha Music and Fine Arts University, Chennai.

Born into a musical family, Hemavathy’s grandfather Thiru A.S. Ramanathan (Mridangist) and her father Shri R. Kalaiarasan (Violinist) have enriched her journey in dance. Growing up in an artistic milieu instilled in her a deep understanding of the importance of art in life and nurtured her passion for Bharatanatyam.

Parvathi Parameswar
Dancer
Parvathi, a talented young artist from Kerala, began her Bharatanatyam journey at the age of four under her first guru, Sri Venkatesh. Alongside Bharatanatyam, she has also trained in other classical dance forms like Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi. Since 2010, she has been trained by Sri BK Shafeekudeen. Now, she is undergoing training at the institution of world-renowned dance duo and Padma Bhushan awardees, The Dhananjayans.

Apart from her artistic pursuits, Parvathi is involved in her family construction business. In addition of being a performer, she is highly skilled in nattuvangam, choreography and music. She has received numerous accolades during her school years through competitions held in Kerala, Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore, and New Delhi.

Archana Sivasubramanian
Dancer
Archana Sivasubramanian sees dance as her way of celebrating life’s rhythm and grace. Beginning her journey with Bharatanatyam at the age of 3, she embraces music and movement as a source of strength, an adventurous home, and a lifelong path of self-discovery.

Anjannaa Ashok
Dancer
Anjannaa Ashok is a dedicated Bharatanatyam artiste and teacher at Bharata Kalanjali. Her journey in dance began at the age of nine and has since grown into both a profound passion and a professional pursuit.

Since 2016, she has had the privilege of performing in several of Bharata Kalanjali’s major productions. In 2021, she completed her Ranga Pravesham, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey. Anjannaa holds a Diploma in Bharatanatyam from RASA and continues to pursue advanced training under the esteemed guidance of Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan, Smt. Shobana Balachandra, and Sri C.P. Satyajit.

In addition to her performance career, Anjannaa has been committed to teaching at Bharata Kalanjali for the past four years, nurturing and mentoring the next generation of dancers. Since 2024, she has also been a part of Dr. Anita Ratnam’s acclaimed production, Naachiyar Next, further expanding her experience as a contemporary performer rooted in classical tradition.

Monali Bala
Vocals
Monali Bala is a multi-genre and multilingual musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and teacher with expertise in Carnatic and Hindustani classical, Rabindra Sangeet, Sufi, and various traditional and folk music forms. She performs in multiple languages, highlighting Indian diversity. Her journey began with the Kerala University Youth Festival Award.

Beyond performing, Monali uses music for therapeutic purposes through workshops, addressing stress, depression, anxiety, and sorrow. She founded “The School of Music” for students of all ages and abilities, offering vocal, instrumental, and visual art courses with a unique pedagogy that blends traditional and innovative techniques. Her dedication to music’s transformative power inspires and uplifts audiences globally.

M S Sukhi
Mridangam
M.S. Sukhi is a versatile artist with a post-graduate diploma in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra. He is proficient in Mridangam, Nattuvangam, and music. He trained in Mridangam under several gurus, including Trichur Mohan and Palakkad S.A. Ramakrishnan, and is currently a senior disciple of Sri R. Ramesh in the Guru Karaikudi Mani style, and is also learning under Dr. Shri Patri Satheesh Kumar. He is known for his crisp and intricate Mridangam playing. He also studied Carnatic vocal music and is currently learning Hindustani Classical Vocal Music.

Beyond performing, M.S. Sukhi is a creative music composer, creating music for classical dance that has been commercially released and critically acclaimed. He also composes jathis and rhythmic sequences for dance and has worked with various audio companies. He has also composed fusion music for organizations like Times of India. He is also an established Nattuvangam and Knonakhol artist in Bharatanatyam, having performed leading roles in Kalakshetra’s dance dramas. He also had the unique privilege of performing for Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Kalakshetra.

M.S. Sukhi has performed globally at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival in New York, and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. He has received the title ‘Dasyam- Swaralaya’ from Dasyam Fine Arts, Chennai, and is highly sought after in India and abroad.

Manonmani T
Sarangi
Manonmani an independent & only female Sarangi instrumentalist in south India who is derived from both Karnatic and Hindustani music.

Being an instrumentalist she is actively performing in many concerts with renowned musicians. Born in musical family at Chennai. She had begun her musical training with her mother Dilruba Saroja an only female Dilrupa & Tharshenai player.

Manonmani working with famous music directors including A R Rehman, Imman, Aniruth, Gibran, Hip hop Tamizha, Ousepachan, Jayachandran, Deepak Dev, Stephen Devassy, and with many leading music directors. Also, she played other instrument called Erhu (Chinese Violin) for music directors A R Rehman, Harris Jayaraj, Yuvan Shankar.

Manonmani began her musical training under her Guru Late Madurai T. Srinivasan (Karnatic) and Kuldeep Sagar (Hindustani) and at present advancing her music journey with her Guru Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan in Delhi and primarily into live concerts.