Buddha Charita

This was a specially choreographed work for the inauguration of a major exhibition of Buddhist sculpture. The dance-drama recreates the life of Buddha from his birth till his nirvana or stage of enlightenment. The dance drama is based on two major Sanskrit works on the life of Buddha (Lalitavistara and Buddhacharita). The story of Buddha's life and his quest for solutions to the miseries in this world unfolds through a series of dramatic events.

Music Direction: Shri T. Raghu

Hayavadana

The dance drama is based on an original Hindi adaptation of Girish Karnad's Kannada play of the same name. The central episode in the play - the story of Devadatta and Kapila - is itself inspired by a tale from Vetalapanchavamshika and on Thomas Mann's reworking of the tale in "The Transposed Heads." Karnad's play poses a interesting question of the nature of human identity in a world of tangled relationships. When the play opens, Devadatta and Kapila are the closest of friends - 'one mind, one heart,' as the Bhagavata describes them. Devadatta is a man of intellect, Kapila a 'man of the body.' Their relations get complicated when Devadatta marries Padmini. Kapila falls in love with Padmini, and she too starts drifting towards them. The friends kill each other and then in a critical scene, hilarious and at the same time, dramatic, Padmini mistakenly transposes their heads in bringing them back to live with the help of divine intervention so Devadatta's body gets Kapila's head and Kapila's body gets Devadatta's head.

Hayavadana raises the age-old mind-body problem yet again in a thought-provoking but wonderfully entertaining way. Who are we - our bodies or our minds? How do we relate to others around us? How do they see us - are they reacting to our bodies or our minds? What do we desire? What will it take for us to be completely satisfied in our relations with our fellow human beings?

Music direction: K.A. Ganeshan

Ramayana

This is a dance drama adaptation of the saint poet Tulasidas's Ramacharit Manas which is a poetic rendition in Avadhi language of the epic Ramayana.
This dance drama depicts the complete story from the birth of lord Rama to the killing of the demon Ravana. This adaptation includes all major incidents of the Ramayana, like Rama's marriage to Sita, the banishment to the forest by queen Kaikeyi, the abduction of his wife Sita, and then the crossing of the ocean by the monkey army.

Music Direction: Shri T Raghu

Padmavati Kalyanam

Padmavati Kalyanam depicts the story of Lord Vishnu's incarnation as Tirupati Balaji and his marriage to the princess Padmavati. This drama in the Telugu language consists of two acts and is choreographed in the traditional Kuchipudi style. The story begins with sage Bhrugu's encounter with Vishnu and subsequently his loss of pride. Lakshmi, Vishnu's wife quarrels with Vishnu and leaves him. Vishnu grief stricken by her absence comes down to earth where according to previously ordained destiny he meets and marries princess Padmavati. He then resides in Tirupati where he his worshipped to this day.

Music Direction: Shri T Raghu

Parvati Kalyanam

The marriage of Parvati to Lord Shiva is enacted in this dance drama. Set in Telugu language this dance drama starts with the death of Sati, Shiva's wife in the sacrificial fire. Then she is reborn as Parvati and meditates on Lord Shiva in order to marry him.

Music Direction: Smt Saroja Srinath and Shri T Raghu

Jaya Jaya Ganesha

Set in Marathi language this dance drama depicts the birth of the elephant headed god Ganesha.

Music Direction: Smt. Saroja Srinath

Kamba Ramayanam

This is the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana. Entire Ramayana is depicted through dance.

Narayaneeyam

The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu/ Krishna are depicted in this dance drama. Narayaneeyam is a well known Sanskrit poetic rendition of the ten incarnations of Vishnu and this production depicts all the incarnations. The incarnation of Krishna is specially highlighted.

Music Direction: Smt Muthulakshmi and Smt Saroja Srinath

Kaaliya Mardhana (Sanskrit)

Kaaliya Mardhana is a dance drama visualization of the myth of Krishna's battle with the serpent Kaaliya. This visualization is based on the Sanksrit poem Narayaneeyam. This hour and a half long presentation begins with birth and childhood frolics of Lord Krishna and then goes on to dramatize his battle with the serpent demon.

Music : Smt. Muthulakshmi and Smt. Saroja Srinath

Nowka Charitam (Telugu)

The famous Saint poet Tyagaraja's opera is presented through the Bharata Natyam dance style. As the name suggests the opera's highlight is the episode of Krishna and the gopis on a night out, boating on the river Yamuna. The gopis are arrogant about their beauty and powers, but soon realise their folly.

Music: Saint Tyagaraja

Valli Kalyanam (Tamil)

Kartikeyya or Muruga, son of God Shiva, marries a girl from the hill tribe. The incident surrounding their marriage makes for an interesting and fun filled dance drama.

Music: Smt. Saroja Srinath