Gandhi

Son of the legendary dance duo, The Dhananjayans, C P  Satyajit carries forward a rich artistic legacy shaped by rigorous training and performance. Since his arangetram in 1988, he has carved an independent path as a professional dancer, bringing depth and clarity to his Bharatanatyam practice. His artistry is informed by both inherited tradition and personal exploration, making his performances resonate with precision and vitality. A graduate in Visual Communication from Loyola College, Chennai, Satyajit also nurtures a parallel career as an acclaimed automotive photographer.

Educator, author, performer, and storyteller, Dr. V R  Devika has long worked at the confluence of arts, culture, and Gandhian philosophy. Founder of The Aseema Trust, Her practice reflects an enduring commitment to art as knowledge, lived philosophy, and social change. Trained in Bharatanatyam under The Dhananjayans, she has taught dance theory at institutions of repute and mentored generations of artists. Renowned for her lectures and presentations, she speaks extensively on Gandhi, heritage, and traditional performing arts. Her creative reach extends from academic forums to stage and screen, where her presence is equally compelling.

Keerthana’s engagement with Bharatanatyam began at nine and deepened with her intensive training at Bharata Kalanjali. Her dedication to the form has been enriched by the discipline of parallel academic pursuits, with degrees in Economics and Law shaping her sharp, reflective approach to practice. An active repertory member and teaching intern at Bharata Kalanjali, she contributes to both performance and pedagogy with conviction. Guided by her teachers, she has embraced dance as a lifelong profession, balancing rigorous training with evolving artistry, and emerging as a promising young voice in the classical tradition.

Initiated into the classical arts by her mother, Smt. Kalamandalam Jyothi, Devikha trained in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi before joining Bharata Kalanjali in 2022 to refine her practice under eminent mentors. With dual Master’s degrees in Mathematics and Bharatanatyam, she bridges analytical precision and artistic depth. As a performer, she is part of Bharata Kalanjali’s repertory and Anita Ratnam’s Naachiyar Next. Alongside her roles as teacher and administrator at Bharata Kalanjali and instructor at Sharanalaya World School, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Performing Arts at Alliance University, Bangalore.

Growing up in a family of musicians, Hemavathy brings to her dance an innate sensitivity to rhythm, melody, and tradition. Guided from childhood by Padma Bhushan awardees Shri V.P. Dhananjayan and Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan, her Bharatanatyam journey has been marked by rigour and refinement. She has performed across prestigious platforms, including Brahma Gana Sabha, Kartik Fine Arts, and SPIC MACAY at IIT Madras, and was featured in Hema Rajagopalan’s Meenakshi Kalyanam. Recipient of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaka Mandram’s Youth Talent Promotion recognition, she combines artistry with academic grounding, holding degrees in Psychology and Bharatanatyam.

From her early training in Kerala, Parvathi’s journey has woven together Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi, enriched by years of guidance under Sri B.K. Shafeekudeen and further honed at Bharata Kalanjali under The Dhananjayans. Her artistry extends beyond performance, encompassing nattuvangam, choreography, and music. Known for her versatility, she has been recognised through numerous accolades at state and national competitions across Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore, and New Delhi. Balancing her artistic path with her role in her family’s construction enterprise, Parvathi embodies the multiple dimensions of a dancer rooted in tradition yet open to expansive expression.

For Archana Sivasubramanian, Bharatanatyam has been a lifelong companion, embraced since the age of three as a celebration of rhythm, grace, and discovery. Her practice reflects not only technical rigour but also a deep attunement to the emotional currents of music and movement. Dance, for her, has evolved into a source of strength and sanctuary—a space where tradition becomes personal and artistry becomes intimate. Through performance, Archana continues to nurture this relationship, offering audiences a glimpse into her journey of self-expression, where the classical form is both home and horizon.

Anjannaa Ashok has cultivated her Bharatanatyam journey since the age of nine, evolving into both a performer and teacher of note at Bharata Kalanjali. Her repertoire includes significant productions since 2016, alongside her Ranga Pravesham in 2021. A Diploma-holder in Bharatanatyam from RASA, she continues advanced training with Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan, Smt. Shobana Balachandra, and Sri C.P. Satyajit. Committed to pedagogy as much as performance, she has mentored younger dancers while expanding her stage experience through productions such as Dr. Anita Ratnam’s Naachiyar Next, where she explores contemporary contexts grounded in classical rigour.

A singer, composer, and teacher, Monali Bala brings to the stage a rare versatility across Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, Rabindra Sangeet, Sufi, and folk idioms. Her performances in multiple languages highlight India’s pluralism, while her pedagogy blends traditional rigor with creative innovation. From her beginnings at the Kerala University Youth Festival to founding The School of Music, she has continually expanded her artistic vision. Monali also employs music as therapy, conducting workshops that address emotional well-being. Her practice reflects music’s transformative power, where performance, teaching, and healing converge in a deeply humanistic approach.

A multi-faceted artist, M.S. Sukhi trained at Kalakshetra, mastering mridangam, nattuvangam, and vocal music. A senior disciple in the Guru Karaikudi Mani tradition, his mridangam playing is noted for its crisp intricacy. Sukhi’s compositions for classical dance have been widely acclaimed, blending rhythmic innovation with tradition. His career spans global stages—from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. to Queen Elizabeth Hall in London—and includes performing for Queen Elizabeth at Kalakshetra. Honoured with the title ‘Dasyam–Swaralaya,’ he remains a sought-after collaborator across India and abroad.

The only female Sarangi instrumentalist in South India, Manonmani draws from both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions. Trained first by her mother, Dilruba Saroja, and later by stalwarts Guru Late Madurai T. Srinivasan (Carnatic) and Kuldeep Sagar (Hindustani), her training continues today with Guru Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan. She has carved a distinctive path as a soloist and collaborator. Her artistry extends across classical and cinematic music, with performances alongside renowned music directors A R Rehman, Imman, Aniruth, and many more. She has also introduced the Erhu (Chinese violin) into her repertoire, widening her sonic landscape. Performing widely in India and abroad, she embodies a rare commitment to innovation within tradition.