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Chandalika
A Kuchipudi Reflection on Caste and Identity
Artists
What happens when one small act of kindness transforms society?
Chandalika is a moving story of a young woman marked by caste, until one simple act of compassion sparks a revolution. Presented by Chinmayi Nrithyalaya and directed by Guru Sridevi Chalagalla Mungara, this Kuchipudi dance-drama brings Rabindranath Tagore’s poignant writing to life.
This emotional and spiritual journey of identity, longing, and liberation unfolds beautifully through Kuchipudi’s deeply expressive vocabulary. Graceful movement, rhythmic command, and layered abhinaya, portray the character’s awakening from inherited exclusion to personal agency with an emotional depth only dance can invoke .
Performed in Telugu with English narration, Chandalika is easy to follow and hard to forget!
Presented by:
Artists
Chinmayi Mungara
A second-generation artist and the Artistic Director of Chinmayi Nrithyalaya, Chinmayi represents a new generation of performers who approach classical dance as both heritage and dialogue. Trained by her mother and grand guru Padma Shri Dr. Sobha Naidu, Chinmayi’s performances are known for their elegance, depth, and narrative strength.
She has performed at TEDx, where she spoke on how classical dance cultivates leadership, empathy, and identity. Her work has also been featured on global stages including the UN Biodiversity Conference, UNICEF International Children’s Film Festival, and at leading universities across India and the United States. She has conducted lecture demonstrations under the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) and has mentored over 150 students across continents.
Chinmayi has been recognized with several awards, including the ‘Natya Manjari’ title and the Padma Shri Dr. Sobha Naidu Yuva Puraskar, honoring her contributions to Kuchipudi and her growing influence as a cultural ambassador of Indian classical arts.
Her work is characterized by clarity of form, emotional authenticity, and a deep commitment to keeping classical art relevant to modern life. Whether on stage or in classrooms, Chinmayi blends artistic excellence with social reflection, seeking to build cultural bridges across generations and geographies.
Sridevi Chalagalla Mungara
Smt. Sridevi is one of the senior-most disciples of Padma Shri Dr. Sobha Naidu and has dedicated her life to the art of Kuchipudi for over three decades. With hundreds of performances across India and abroad, she has appeared on prestigious platforms including Doordarshan, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, and numerous national cultural festivals. Her acclaimed portrayals of Lord Krishna, Lord Venkateshwara, and Mother Sita in landmark ballets such as Kalyana Sreenivasam, Sri Krishna Parijatham, and Jagadananda Karaka reflect her command over both nritta and abhinaya.
A recipient of the National Talent Search Scholarship throughout her formative years, she holds a Master’s degree in Performing Arts from Central University, Hyderabad, with a specialization in Kuchipudi. As a teacher, her influence is both wide and deep. Over the past twenty years, she has trained hundreds of students with a method that blends technical discipline, expressive clarity, and philosophical insight. Her approach fosters not only artistic excellence but also emotional maturity and cultural rootedness.
