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Wed 02 Sep 2026 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Dear Kannamma

A Dance-Theatre Performance

Performers

Janani Murali
Performer, Educator & Researcher
Eeshwar Aiyer
Vocals
Vinay Nagarajan M
Mridangam
R Raghunandan
Flute
Yonitha Jain
Light Designer

Date & Time

Wednesday Wed, 2 Sep 2026

Categories

Location

Bangalore International Centre
7, 4th Main Road, Domlur II Stage
Bangalore, Karnataka 560071 India

Contact

[email protected]

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Languages: English, Tamil, and Sanskrit

Inspired by the life and works of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi, imagined and told through the voice of his muse, his kannamma, this solo bharatnatyam dance-theatre is an ode to the man and his poetry that continues to influence and inspire current generations. The performance is accompanied by live music.

Bharathi’s journey, from journalist and household rebel to revolutionary and Vedantin, is a colourful one. His private devotion to Chellammal and his public awakening to the Mother, Kali, Sister Nivedita and Bharat Mata, become inseparable. From Benaras to Bengal to Pondicherry to Kadayam, Dear Kannamma seeks the person and the poet, the muse and the goddess, the beloved and the motherland.

Supported by:

Venue: Auditorium

Performers

Janani Murali

Performer, Educator & Researcher

Janani Murali is a performer, educator, arts writer, and researcher. An A-grade artiste of Doordarshan Kendra and empanelled artiste of ICCR, she has been lauded by critics for her performative work across multiple frameworks of performance, with recent productions including Savitri, A Goddess’s Dream, and Kalpavruksha touring successfully. Her study of movement vocabularies, education, and socio-political ecosystems informs her dance education and academic work; she currently works with academia in Management to develop decolonial pedagogies informed by embodied dance practice.

Eeshwar Aiyer

Vocals
Eeshwar Aiyer is a versatile artiste, accomplished Carnatic vocalist and Bharatanatyam dancer, trained under distinguished Gurus in both disciplines. A disciple of Vid. S. Shankar in music, he has performed extensively in concerts and lecture-demonstrations and is a recipient of several prestigious awards. Trained in the Kalakshetra tradition under Vid. Suma Nagesh and mentored by senior artistes of Kalakshetra, he holds a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam from Tanjavur University and is a graded artiste of Doordarshan. He is also an Engineering Manager at Collins Aerospace.

Vinay Nagarajan M

Mridangam

Vinay Nagarajan M is an accomplished mridangam and konnakol artiste, trained under Vid. N. Narayanaswamy and currently under Vid. Bangalore S. V. Balakrishna. An AIR B-High Grade artiste in mridangam and B Grade in konnakol, he has accompanied leading Carnatic musicians and Bharatanatyam artistes across India and internationally. He is also a dedicated educator, teaching mridangam and konnakol worldwide, and has received several honours for his contribution to percussion. He is a member of the acclaimed trio Rasa Triangle.

R Raghunandan

Flute
R. Raghunandan is a multi-genre flautist, composer and arranger with over two decades of performance experience in India and abroad. Trained in both Carnatic and Western musical traditions, he has collaborated with leading artistes and contributed to films, dance productions and television projects. His work encompasses performance, composition and musical arrangement across genres. He is the Founder of Suraaghavi Studios and Co-Founder of Suraaghavi Foundation, Bengaluru.

 

Yonitha Jain

Light Designer
Yonitha Jain is a lighting designer and programmer who has worked across leading venues in India, including NMACC Mumbai, Chowdiah Memorial Hall and Bangalore International Centre. She has designed lighting for dance productions and music performances of varied scales. Her understanding of stage and venue spaces is enriched by over a decade of experience as a dancer, trained in Kathak, contemporary dance and martial arts. A member of STEM Dance Kampni for 11 years, she also works as a choreographer, creating original dance and music productions.