A classical dance performance that beautifully explored devotion, emotion, and tradition through graceful storytelling, says SAKSHI PRIYA
To witness true devotion is to see the soul dance and in this performance, the dancer became the voice of Andal’s longing.” HCL Concerts’ recent presentation of Maalyada — Andal’s Sacred Garland was an experience that left the audience quietly moved.
Choreographed by Rama Vaidyanathan and based on Maalyada, The Sacred Garland, the book by Jeysundhar D, the work drew from Andal’s Thiruppavai and was accompanied by live music composed by Sudha Raghuraman. From the first movement, an emotional thread work through the performance. It avoided flourish and showmanship, focusing instead on a sincere portrayal of devotion. The approach resonated deeply, creating a mood that stayed well beyond the final curtain.
Nine Pathways to Bhakti
The choreography followed Nava Vidha Bhakti — the nine traditional forms of devotion, with coherence and emotional precision. Rama Vaidyanathan shared the stage with four of her disciples: Sayani Chakraborty, Reshika Sivakumar, Vaishnavi Dhore, and Shubhamani Chandrashekar. Together, they built a rhythm of gesture and meaning that gave shape to Andal’s spiritual longing.
The journey began with Shravanam, the act of listening. Each gesture was attentive, almost reverential. In Smaranam, expressions carried a quiet ache, recalling Krishna with intimacy. Sankeerthanam brought a sense of lyrical energy, measured and full of clarity. Pada Sevanam offered one of the most touching moments of the evening. The portrayal of Andal at Krishna’s feet carried a stillness that seemed to hold time. In Sakhyam, devotion as friendship was expressed with gentle warmth, while Dasyaminvoked episodes from Krishna’s life as the protector, each sequence distinct in mood and intention. The final section, Atma Nivedanam, a complete surrender, felt stripped of all ornament, pure, steady and heartfelt.
The silence that followed in the auditorium was its own applause.
Music and Light in Dialogue with Dance
The live music — led by Sudha Raghruraman (vocal), Sumod Sreedharan (percussion), Raghuraman Govindarajan and Himanshu Srivastava (flute), and Sannidhi Vaidyanathan (mridangam) — provided an elegant and responsive framework. Rather than seeking prominence, the musicians supported the dancers with sensitivity. Their presence added emotional texture, allowing the audience to absorb each moment more fully.
Lighting by Gaurav Sharma played a restrained yet vital role. Gentle shifts in tone allowed the stage to adapt to each form of devotion. The production design was thoughtful, avoiding spectacle in favour of intimacy.
Celebrating Golden Year
This performance also coincided with a special milestone: this is the 50th year of Ganesa Natyalaya which is run by Rama Vaidyanathan, the Bharatanatyam institution founded by the late Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. Celebrated through the Swarna Saroja Festival, the institution has grown from a small classroom to a cultural landmark.
The Institution has also been active in outreach, offering Bharatanatyam training to underprivileged students through collaborations with organisations such as the Guild of Service, Aravindam Foundation, and SARVAM. Over the past year alone, more than 35 events have been held across national and international platforms.
This context gave the performance an added layer of depth. It stood not only as an artistic interpretation of Andal’s devotion, but also as a reflection of a long-standing commitment to preserving and evolving the Bharatanatyam tradition.
A Performance Rooted in Feeling
Throughout the evening, the performance avoided grand gestures in favour of quiet strength. Every movement was anchored in intention. The Performace led with clarity, allowing each dancer to bring her own energy to the stage. Rather than overpowering the space, the ensemble shaped it together, with balance, care and deep respect for the material. There was no distance between emotion and execution. Every section felt like a step in a spiritual journey, one shared between dancer and audience, saint and seeker.
A moving tribute to Andal’s devotion, told with restraint and rare emotional clarity. For those present, it felt less like watching a performance and more like being invited into a sacred conversation. Few evenings in recent memory have offered such stillness, such grace, and such honesty on stage.
Can art still move us to silence in a world full of noise?
Maalyada – Andal’s Sacred Garland, answers with a resounding yes — not through spectacle, but through sincerity. What stayed beyond the performance wasn’t just choreography or technique, it was the emotional honesty work into each moment. This was a evening where Bharatanatyam spoke not to the intellect alone, but to something quieter and deeper. In a time where tradition is often repackaged to suit trends, Maalyada held its ground — anchored in faith, simplicity and artistic integrity. The live music, careful lighting and absence of excess allowed the focus to remain on the essence of devotion. It was a moment of living it.
Art rooted in deep tradition
Sudha Raghuraman and Rama Vaidyanathan brought together music and movement in a deeply reflective performance. Sudha’s rich, emotive vocals blend effortlessly with Rama’s expressive Bharatanatyam with grace and clarity rooted in artistic grace.
