Namaargam Dance Company and Talent South presents “Antaram”
– A Collage of Classical Dance, Music, Theatre and Technology on stage!

Antaram is jointly produced by Krithika Subrahmanian of Namaargam Dance Company and Suhasini Mani Ratnam of Talent South, which was staged on Friday 28th November 2014 at The Music Academy by 6.30 pm.

Conceived by Gopika Varma and produced by Krithika Subrahmanian of Namaargam Dance Company and Suhasini Mani Ratnam of Talent South.
“Antaram” is collaboration out of true love for the Classical Dance, Music, Theatre and Technology which had come alive in a collage onstage through this presentation.

ANTARAM is technically supervised by Mr. Jayendra of Real Image. While the musical compositions for dance are by stalwarts like Mr. O S Arun, Mr Rajkumar Bharathi, Mr.D Sheshachari(Hyderabad Brothers), Mr.Arun Gopinath, the music for theatricals were by A R Rehman. Stalwarts of Classical dance PadmaBhushans Drs RajaRadha Reddy, Padmashri Prof Sudharani Raghupathy and Dr.Vyjayanthimala Balihave mentored the production and contributed valuable inputs.

Vasavi, Kannagi and Andal – legendary native women from the South of India who attained divinity, aptly infuse divinity in their character within( Antaram ) .
In exploring their life story the attributes of Devi or the powerful divine feminine form is revealed. Rhamba emerges as the culmination of feminine aspirations in liberation.

Vasavi of Telengana is danced in Kuchipudi by Yamini Reddy. Gnanashakti is manifest as she is an intellectual social relevance for knowledge and grows the mind by renouncing the body.

Kannagi is danced in Mohiniattam by Gopika Varma. Full of Valour, Veeram she embodies the Kriya Shakti or capacity to Act purposefully with dynamism – physical energy to accomplish and prove. She is revered as Attukal Bhagavathi Amman of Kerala.

Andal of Tamil Nadu is performed by Krithika Subrahmanian in Bharatanatyam. Ichha shakti or the capacity to envision and achieve the ideal is manifest. Bhakti Shringara or devoted love, characterises this manifestation of Bhudevi. A source of rich fullness in all aspects enriching life itself.

Rhamba entombed in Karnataka is enacted by Suhasini Mani Ratnam. As the consummate woman she embodies the dynamism and strength of these iconic characters. Her theatrical presentation of poetry, song and script will weave through the production and translate as the contemporary embodiment of Shakti, the universal energy . She weaves the characters from history with the present day women.

Krithika Subrahmanian says” Antaram” is a strong concept, Feminist women character from history and goddesses like Attukal Bhagavathy from Kerala, Andal from Tamilnadu, Vasavi from Andhra Pradesh & Rhamba a Srilankan girl settled in Karnataka. We have used four southern states, four languages and made it come alive in a classical dance form.

Gopika Verma says “We are bringing in different form of Abinaya together from different parts of Southern india. “Antaram” is a collaboration of dance, theatre & Music. Iam playing a role of “Kanagi” reversed as Attukal Bhagavathy Amman from Kerala.

Suhasini Maniratnam says she will palying a role of Rhamba – A Srilankan Girl settled in Karnataka, on how she fell in love with the Mughal king – Adil Shah. I’m extremely delighted to be a part of Antaram