NCPA Pravaha- Anand Satchidanandan; Namrata Mehta

Ayudha – The Divine Arms
Odissi by Namrata Mehta
Ramana
Bharatanatyam Dance Production by Anand Satchidanandan

Namrata Mehta is a senior disciple of Odissi exponent Daksha Mashruwala. She is a graded artiste of Doordarshan and an empanelled artiste with the ICCR. Mehta has a Master’s in Performing Arts – Odissi from the University of Mumbai. She was awarded the prestigious Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman 2017 in Odissi dance. She has performed for the Indian Embassy at the Summer on Stross festival in Zagreb and has been a part of a cultural exchange programme with Taiwan’s Tjimur Dance Theatre. Mehta also represented India as a cultural ambassador in Sri Lanka through the ICCR.

What if the weapons of the gods were never meant merely to destroy, but to awaken? The trishul, chakra, gada, bow and arrow and brahmastra embody the timeless virtues of balance, vision, strength, focus and restraint. Through dance, music and storytelling, Ayudha – The Divine Arms explores how these have evolved from instruments of war on ancient battlefields to symbols of the inner struggles that shape the human spirit. Across ages, they have stood as guardians of dharma. What do they mean now? This Odissi performance by Mehta will lead you on a transformative journey where myth meets meaning, and towards the discovery that true power lies not in destruction, but in awareness.

Anand Satchidanandan is a dancer, curator and educator, whose work bridges tradition and innovation in Bharatanatyam. From growing up in Indonesia to training under legendary gurus, Satchidanandan credits cultural exposure, interdisciplinary research and philosophical inquiry for shaping his practice. Through teaching, collaborative productions and a deep respect for the impermanence of art, he has been instrumental in adding a vital perspective to the evolving landscape of Indian classical dance.

Ramana, a Bharatanatyam production choreographed and performed by Satchidanandan, is a profound exploration of the life and philosophy of Ramana Maharshi. Rooted in tradition yet expansive in spiritual vision, the work draws upon verses, songs and stories from Ramana’s journey, offering audiences a rare experience that is both artistic and transcendental. The production traces the luminous arc of Ramana’s life—each segment unfolds through Bharatanatyam, live music, poetry and evocative stage design, revealing Ramana in many dimensions: as child, seeker, ascetic and ultimately as the radiance merging into Arunachala.