Some weeks turn out to be saree laden! It’s fun and full of fotos
This moment is so special! @swarnamalyag akka , my guru hugging me after final dance rehearsal! The day before my arangetram! Her proud and confident smile gave me alll the final strength and push to give my 200% for my arangetram day! What a journey it’s been!!! Guru’s approval truly is the highest recognition! 😻❤️ Grateful! @rangamandiraacademy thank you mummyyyy @kumzkonnectz for all the timely and beautiful captures 😍😻
This moment is so special! @swarnamalyag akka , my guru hugging me after final dance rehearsal! The day before my arangetram! Her proud and confident smile gave me alll the final strength and push to give my 200% for my arangetram day! What a journey it’s been!!! Guru’s approval truly is the highest recognition! 😻❤️ Grateful! @rangamandiraacademy thank you mummyyyy @kumzkonnectz for all the timely and beautiful captures 😍😻
TAMIZHE- A Sadir performance of Tamil a testament to Dravidian Cultures is Ranga Mandira Sadir Melam’s latest production. Tamizhe which premiered @texturesoftraditions in Sep 2023 The Ancient language of Tamil writes its own autobiography. Through centuries of intense reflection, in Tamil we see movement, aliveness and the self. Tamil is a thinking language, it is a singing language, a dancing language and indeed a poetic and literary language. Indo- European languages like classical Sanskrit have assimilated much of their syntactical patterns from Dravidian. Poets like Illango and grammarians like Valluvan bring to us Tamil as our ancient sensibility and culture. Dr Kalignar’s ruminations see Tamil as “knowing how to love”. Tamil is implicit, we can live in Tamil. And you don’t need to know Tamil to hear it. We presented Tamizhe @worlddiasporaday Ayalagath Tamizhar Dinam organised by the @tamilnadugovernment on Jan 12th. Here is a snippet of how it goes from reel to real!
My love for lights ! The pure joy of a constellation of lights! Pure gold! #vangoghmuseum @anjanarajagopalan_musician thank you for capturing my childish joy so candidly. We were lit 🔥 up, our smiles and joy hitting a new high
Arangetram Vibes @smrithikaksasidhaar. @rangamandiraacademy brings yet another Sadir Artiste to stage @krishnaganasabha with @menon_artist
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
When our minds meet, our hearts melt. A lifetime’s opportunity to cross the border and see the land that holds so many memories, painful, tearful, yet full of hope and resilience- Lahore invited me, I knew this year is special. To speak at the opening of the FAIZ Festival 2024 on behalf of the Indian delegation, to share stage with Salima ji, daughter of Faiz Saab and to perform at the historic Alhambra hall, the very same space in which Iqbal Bano had sung Faiz Saab’s Hum Dekhenge in the 70s, to take the same Nazm in Tamil to an awakened audience who not only gave a lasting standing ovation to Sadir but were moved to tears along with me, and to experience the love of Lahore’s poetry, mushairas, qawwali, Abida ji’s Sufi Kalams, Lahori food, and above all the love and warmth of the people of Lahore. 2024 February is historic in my life. Thoughts about boundaries and borders, identities and struggles- but most importantly about love, peace, harmony and hope. Faiz Saab lives in the hearts of the city of Lahore. And you can see his warmth in the hug of Moneeza ji his daughter to me. Also in one of the pics is Nawabzada Asfandyar ji who is a Bharatanatyam dancer of Pakistan whom I had invited to join me briefly on the stage, along with my dearest friend Arvinder Chamak Saab. So many friendships and so many lives shared ❤️here is to more
Him Dekhenge- Naam Paarpome- speaking truth to power. Faiz Saab’s hope for a tomorrow, a new dawn, lends itself to all moments in history where truth to power needs to be spoken. A song of revolution, a song of resistance and a song of hope. When I introduced it as the translation by Mangai Arasu and Ponni, brought to life by @anjanarajagopalan_musician and Bindu I was so proud that they were the wind beneath my wings to take this song of resistance to his place of origin in a language of revolution- Tamil. I requested a Pakistani artiste Nawabzada Asfandyar to join me in stage as a way to embody two dancers, from India and Pakistan, sharing stage, sharing art as a strong message of togetherness and harmony – the tomorrow that we all want. Activist Beena Sarwar and many diplomats in the audience realised the power of the moment. And also see how young Pakistani girls speak of the impact of this moment. A full circle. In my years of being a dancer and researcher creating work on multiculturalism -and interfaith harmony, this day was a summary of the journey thus far, and miles to go before I sleep.
Him Dekhenge- Naam Paarpome- speaking truth to power. Faiz Saab’s hope for a tomorrow, a new dawn, lends itself to all moments in history where truth to power needs to be spoken. A song of revolution, a song of resistance and a song of hope. When I introduced it as the translation by Mangai Arasu and Ponni, brought to life by @anjanarajagopalan_musician and Bindu I was so proud that they were the wind beneath my wings to take this song of resistance to his place of origin in a language of revolution- Tamil. I requested a Pakistani artiste Nawabzada Asfandyar to join me in stage as a way to embody two dancers, from India and Pakistan, sharing stage, sharing art as a strong message of togetherness and harmony – the tomorrow that we all want. Activist Beena Sarwar and many diplomats in the audience realised the power of the moment. And also see how young Pakistani girls speak of the impact of this moment. A full circle. In my years of being a dancer and researcher creating work on multiculturalism -and interfaith harmony, this day was a summary of the journey thus far, and miles to go before I sleep.
Him Dekhenge- Naam Paarpome- speaking truth to power. Faiz Saab’s hope for a tomorrow, a new dawn, lends itself to all moments in history where truth to power needs to be spoken. A song of revolution, a song of resistance and a song of hope. When I introduced it as the translation by Mangai Arasu and Ponni, brought to life by @anjanarajagopalan_musician and Bindu I was so proud that they were the wind beneath my wings to take this song of resistance to his place of origin in a language of revolution- Tamil. I requested a Pakistani artiste Nawabzada Asfandyar to join me in stage as a way to embody two dancers, from India and Pakistan, sharing stage, sharing art as a strong message of togetherness and harmony – the tomorrow that we all want. Activist Beena Sarwar and many diplomats in the audience realised the power of the moment. And also see how young Pakistani girls speak of the impact of this moment. A full circle. In my years of being a dancer and researcher creating work on multiculturalism -and interfaith harmony, this day was a summary of the journey thus far, and miles to go before I sleep.
Him Dekhenge- Naam Paarpome- speaking truth to power. Faiz Saab’s hope for a tomorrow, a new dawn, lends itself to all moments in history where truth to power needs to be spoken. A song of revolution, a song of resistance and a song of hope. When I introduced it as the translation by Mangai Arasu and Ponni, brought to life by @anjanarajagopalan_musician and Bindu I was so proud that they were the wind beneath my wings to take this song of resistance to his place of origin in a language of revolution- Tamil. I requested a Pakistani artiste Nawabzada Asfandyar to join me in stage as a way to embody two dancers, from India and Pakistan, sharing stage, sharing art as a strong message of togetherness and harmony – the tomorrow that we all want. Activist Beena Sarwar and many diplomats in the audience realised the power of the moment. And also see how young Pakistani girls speak of the impact of this moment. A full circle. In my years of being a dancer and researcher creating work on multiculturalism -and interfaith harmony, this day was a summary of the journey thus far, and miles to go before I sleep.
Young students of Sadir are performing tomorrow 19th Jan. Kum Deepthi, Kum Aishwarya and Kum Nandika Traditional repertoire and bright dancing ! Do come if you are in chennai
Faiz Festival 2024 in News
This is happening tomorrow. Speaking aboutTanjavur’s role in the world of arts and aesthetics is not difficult for anyone. For me in the decades of research and time I have spent working on various aspects of Tanjavur arts what excites me is Tanjavur’s MulticultureS Cultures with an S. The many cultures that met at this Kaveri belt in a confluence patronised by the many kings who freely and generously learnt from every one in and around their world. That’s what I will highlight in tomorrow’s talk.
