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Manthan
A Confluence of Kaavad Katha & Mohiniyattam
Artists
Manthan is a performance that brings together, for the first time, two ancient art forms from opposite corners of India—Kaavad storytelling from Rajasthan and Mohiniyattam dance from Kerala. Rooted in the myth of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean, it unfolds as a series of seven symbolic ‘manthans’ or churnings, exploring what it means to be human—psychologically, emotionally, philosophically, and socially.
The performance emerges from a long process of research, exploration, and experimentation. It weaves original writing, choreography, and music into a layered structure of stories within stories, drawing on Indian mythology alongside imagined and contemporary experiences. Themes of existence, duality, and the paradoxes of life surface through metaphor, movement, and voice.
Mohiniyattam, known for its fluidity and depth, brings grace and quiet power to the performance, while the rarely-seen Kaavad Katha—supported by over six years of dedicated study—offers a rich narrative tradition that is both visual and oral. The Kaavad box opens and closes like a book, revealing worlds within, as the dancer and storyteller move in and out of each other’s rhythms.
Manthan holds space for the interplay of tradition and innovation, creating a performance that is reflective, immersive, and intimate. Rather than offering answers, it invites the audience into a shared space of reflection—where stories, images, and movement gently churn beneath the surface. The performance was first curated by Mayuri Upadhya and commissioned by Serendipity Arts Festival.
Supported by:
Artists
Divya Warier
Divya Warier is a Mohiniyattam artist with over a decade of intensive training under Dr. Neena Prasad at Sougandhikam Kalari. Her journey in classical dance began under Guru Jayashree Nair, and she continues to deepen her practice through the mentorship of Guru Sharmila Biswas and advanced training with Guru G. Venu, having completed three phases of Navarasa Sadhana.
A graded artiste of Doordarshan Mumbai in both Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam, Divya holds a master’s in fine arts (MFA) from SASTRA University, along with a Diploma in Mohiniyattam and an MBA.
She is the founder and teacher at Avyukt Arts, a cultural initiative under the Warrier Foundation, where she also serves as a Trustee. Divya has worked as Assistant Choreographer on the film Padmaavat and continues to train celebrities in classical dance for the Bollywood industry. She has appeared on Dance India Dance (Zee TV) and has presented solo recitals, workshops, and performances across India and abroad.
Akhshay Gandhi
Akhshay Gandhi is a theatre artist and facilitator, and an ambassador for SITI Company (New York). He serves as visiting faculty at both Lalit Kala Kendra and the Drama School Mumbai.
Trained in theatre at SITI Company (NYC), Odin Teatret (Denmark), and Indian Ensemble (Bangalore), Akhshay’s performances have been featured at prestigious venues and festivals such as Gessnerallee (Zurich), Stanford University, UCLA, Columbia University, Odin Teatret, and Spoken Fest (Mumbai), among others.
His artistic practice centers around developing original work through collaborative processes. He is currently in the process of formalizing his initiative #forartistsandarts into a dedicated platform titled ‘Conservatory for Arts & Artists’.
Thrissur M Shyam Kalyan
Shyam Kalyan is a Carnatic violinist and vocalist, born into a renowned musical family. He is the grandson of Late Kalamandalam N.K. Vasudeva Panicker and son of N.K. Madhusoodanan, both respected figures in Kerala’s classical music scene.
A B-High Grade Violinist with All India Radio, Shyam has performed solo, accompanied vocal and dance concerts, and explored fusion music. He began violin training at age 8 under Sri Vayala Rajendran and has studied for over 12 years with Sri T. H. Subramaniam. He continues to train in Carnatic vocal music under his father’s guidance.
Rohit Bhasi
Rohit Bhasi is a self-taught visual artist based in Bengaluru, whose practice explores the intersection of ancient narratives and contemporary society. Drawing from local belief systems, myths, and folk traditions, his work reflects on how these continue to shape modern mindsets—with a touch of humour and playfulness.
Deeply intrigued by the human body and its potential for beauty, creation, and destruction, Rohit’s artistic journey naturally leans into performing arts and storytelling traditions.
You can find his work on Instagram under the name @indigoranges.
Anita Gandhi
Anita Gandhi seamlessly balances multiple roles while collaborating with dynamic teams and creative individuals. With an MBA in Finance and keen observational skills, she wears many hats—host, organizer, cook, coordinator, calendar planner, finance manager, and a constant pillar of support.
Her work spans supporting marginalized artists, producing theatre shows, curating children’s festivals, and managing international artists for performances and workshops.
Keerthi Kumar
Keerthi Kumar is a Kathak, Indian contemporary dance and Bharatanatyam artiste. He is a Principal dancer and Head of Projects of STEM Dance Kampni and has performed and toured extensively. He is also a sought-after Lighting Designer, a Nattuvanar and a Padhant artiste. Keerthi also holds a master’s in business administration. He co-founded ARTMOS through which he creates original choreographic works for educational institutions and works with artistes to create specially curated events, fastidious production design and their mindful execution.
