Oct 31 2025 to Oct 31 2025 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Time, Kaala in Hindu mythology, is envisaged as a wheel, making its way through colossal cycles of creation, Srushti, sustenance, Sthiti and destruction, Layam. This perpetually turning wheel is nourished endlessly by Shakti – energy. This Shakti is MAHAKALI – the personification of time and death. According to Surya Siddhanta, philosophical time is measured from miniscule units – Thruti, Lavam, Ghatika – to gargantuan measures – Mahayuga, Manvantaram, Kalpam.

But even the largest measure of time is but a blink of an eye for Her. Within this monumental blink occur countless births and deaths, across centuries, millennia, Yugas and ages. The eye of Mahakali is a window into time’s perpetual dance of creation and destruction.

But, when evil in the creation becomes so powerful that imbalance occurs, those who possess unquenchable greed: for power, for lust, for wealth, become too many. They bring the universe into a state of anarchy. Trembling under their might, mortal, immortal and celestial beings of the many worlds beseech Devi to save them. Then, Devi decides that it is time to annihilate. She contains the multiplicity of divine forces within, and in unison they descend upon the battlefield in all their glorious force, magnificent in their vigour and resplendent in their rage. On the battlefield, evil meets them head on, and both sides fight without mercy. But finally, she transforms into the massive form of MAHAKALI, her tongue enveloping everything around to devour the Asuras, drinking every drop of their blood to ensure that evil is extinguished.

For this, the moment for destruction, she absorbs the entire universe within her. Everything becomes a part of her, and She is everything, marking the end of one cycle of time. But the wheel of time will keep turning, and after this end, there will be another beginning. For what seems to be an end, is no more than a pause… nothing, more than a pause…just a pause…

MAHAKALI is inspired by a range of literary and dramaturgical sources. It draws extensively from the mythological universe of Devisaptashati and Devi Bhagavatam.

The choreogrphy uses the treasured hastahinaya of Kuchipudi, drawing from the treatises like Bharatarnavam and Abhinaya Darpana and innovative movement patterns that are essentially grounded in the tradition . The music uses a wide range of sound scapes and ragas that elevates and provides a vibrant auditory base for the story to be told.

Supported by:

Artists

Anuradha (Jonnalagadda) Tadakamalla
Concept, Research & Choreography
Dr. Anuradha (Jonnalagadda) Tadakamalla is a distinguished Kuchipudi performer, teacher, scholar, and choreographer with over three decades of contribution to Indian classical dance. Renowned for her mastery of abhinaya, she has represented India at prestigious international festivals through the ICCR and performed at major national venues including Khajuraho and Soorya Festivals. The first performer-scholar to academically establish Kuchipudi through her Ph.D., she has taught at the University of Hyderabad since age 24, mentoring generations of dancers and guiding twelve Ph.D. scholars. Her acclaimed choreographies—such as Mahakali, Namostu Nari, and Apas – An Ode to Water—blend tradition with contemporary thought. Author and editor of six books, she has published widely in reputed journals and contributed to national cultural projects. Recipient of numerous honors including the Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award and Artiste of Eminence (MoC, 2022), she currently serves as Chair, ICC, University of Hyderabad.

Katyayani Kanak
Dancer
With 16 years of dedicated Kuchipudi training, Katyayani Kanak has profound grasp of Kuchipudi’s movement language, that stems from her tutelage under DSV Sastry and exposure to diverse pedagogies. Holding a Ph.D. in dance, she also serves as faculty at the University of Silicon Andhra. Katyayani possesses a natural flair for choreography and an impeccable sense of stagecraft aesthetics. Notably, she has an extraordinary talent for identifying emerging artists and has curated national-level cultural programs through the Lasyakalpa Foundation, featuring renowned artists like Nrityagram Ensemble and Rama Vaidyanathan, enriching Hyderabad’s cultural landscape

Aparna Dhulipalla
Dancer
Aparna Dhulipalla is a Kuchipudi Dance performer with over 2 decades of experience. She has a Masters degree in Kuchipudi from the Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad, and is pursuing her Ph.D. under the guidance of Prof. Anuradha J. She is an A Grade artist in Doordarshan and has won many accolades and critical acclaim for her passionate and energetic performances. She shares her experiences through teaching and writing.

P B Vaishnavi
Dancer
With nearly two decades of rigorous training under Guru P B Krishna Bharathi, Vaishnavi PB stands as a cornerstone of the group, having contributed to prior acclaimed productions, including ‘Mahakali.’ Her approach to dance is characterized by intelligence and finesse, thus commanding a mesmerizing stage presence. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Hyderabad under the guidance of Professor Anuradha Jonnalagadda.

Anusha Srinivas
Dancer
Anusha Srinivas, with her elegant and agile presence, personifies grace in motion. Previously trained under Guru Geeta Madhuri and Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda. she’s an acclaimed soloist and a highly sought-after educator, who also holds a Masters’s Degree in Performing Arts (Dance) from University of Hyderabad. As the artistic director of Srinidhi Arts Academy in Hyderabad, imparting Kuchipudi training leadership is an innate quality for Anusha.

Sreenaiah Bakki
Dancer
Sreenaiah Bakki holds a Masters degree in Performing Arts (Kuchipudi) from University of Hyderabad. Sreenaiah has undergone training under prominent Kuchipudi Gurus- Sri Vedantam Satyanarasimha Sastri, Sri Vempati Ravi Shankar, Prof. Anuradha (Jonnalagadda) Tadakamalla. He has performed in several prestigious dance festivals in India and abroad. Sreenaiah’s mastery is evident in his Nritta and Abhinaya, which he carries with elan and ease. He imparts training in Kuchipudi dance to the younger generation through his institution Temple of Kuchipudi at Hyderabad.