Archival Pieces
Sarpatatwam
Sarpatatwam or The Serpent Wisdom” is the first-ever Indian classical dance short documentary to enter the contention list for the 2019 Oscar Academy Awards. The film explores the serpent's allure, a symbol of divinity and mysticism across Indian, Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese cultures. The archival film preserves Indian philosophy through real-time performance, blending movement, trance, and verbal dialogue.
Stripreksha
Strīpreksha draws inspiration from Stree Preksha, an ancient dramatic art performed exclusively by women, first referenced in the 4th century B.C. The term symbolizes a woman’s inner journey, free of attachment or aversion. This work explores alternative spaces for inclusion, with the Randumoorthy Temple as its backdrop. The performance pays homage to deities Annapoorneswari and Bhadrakali, including a brief enactment of Mahishasuramardini’s tale.
Kottichetham
Kottichetham is the dance of Siva and Parvathy mentioned in the ancient Tamizh epic Chilapathikaram. This dance video is an excerpt from a dance intensive for international students. The chaste lyrics are musically composed by Padmabhushan Shri Kavalam Narayana Panikkar. Joining her is is one of the participants from the workshop and Melbourne-based medical practitioner Dr. Arun A. Azeez.