Pre-event: Sujatha Ramanathan to perform solo Bharatanatyam choreography in Delhi on 19 August

Sujatha Ramanathan (courtesy https://sujatharamanathan.com/)

Mumbai-based Bharatanatyam exponent and banking executive Sujatha Ramanathan will perform at the India International Centre’s Monsoon Festival of Dance on 19 August, Tuesday, at 6 pm. She will present ‘Rama Amritam’, a full-length solo Bharatanatyam production with elements of Bharatanrityam. In an interview to Classical Claps, Sujatha explains, ‘The centerpiece is the composition “Ramam Ravikulambhudi Somam”, written by Mumbai-based lyricist and composer Shri P.S. Krishnamoorthy. This was the seed that inspired the entire production.’

‘The structure follows a traditional Margam. It opens with a mallari, moves into a prelude—featuring a conversation between Shiva and Parvati—progressing to depictions of young Rama, the warrior prince, and eventually culminating in a vibrant tarana composed by Raghuram. Episodes such as Jatayu Moksha and Vali Dhamana are elaborated through intense abhinaya and movement. I am happy I had for research guidance Dr. S. Raghuraman, for texts Kamba Ramayanam and Ram Charitmanas, compositions by P.S. Krishnamoorthy, Raghuram Rajagopalan, Satish Krishnamoorthy, costume design by Sandhya Raman, light design and execution Sushant Jadhav, recording studio Omkar Studio, Bengaluru, and sound engineer B. Omkarmurthy.’

Sujatha Ramanathan (courtesy https://sujatharamanathan.com/)

Sujatha grew up learning Bharatanatyam as a child in Chennai, with her initial training conducted by several teachers including Guru Adyar K. Lakshman. A high-powered career in banking and a move to Mumbai put dance in the back seat till Sujatha took it up again under the guidance of Guru Latha Raman. She has been earning recognition as a soloist and educator in the decade since she resumed her practice, but it isn’t only Bharatanatyam that she has immersed herself in. She has been studying the Natya Shastra and the Karanas under Dr. Sujatha Mohan (disciple of Dr. Padma Subrahmaniam), abhinaya and theatre technique of Navarasa Sadhana under Guru G. Venu, Mohiniyattam under Dr. Nirmal Panicker, and has received training in Kalaripayattu, Chhau and the dancer flow technique. She has also been learning violin from Smt. Lalitha Ramachandran.

Sujatha’s recital at the IIC on 19 August will be followed by a Kathak recital by Shipra Joshi, disciple of Guru Prerana Shrimali, at 7 pm.

Shipra Joshi (courtesy Instagram/@shiprajoshi88)