Dance drama on poet Andal staged in Coimbatore

The dance drama, Naachiyar Next, choreographed by Anita Ratnam, was staged in Coimbatore city on Sunday.

The 70-minute performance on Andal was jointly organised by Kumaraguru Institutions and Abhyasa Academy of Classical Dance. The performance drew on Ms. Ratnam’s Neo Bharatam idiom, which combines Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and yoga with theatre and music to narrate Andal’s story in a contemporary framework.

Addressing the audience, Ms. Ratnam said the staging in Coimbatore enabled younger generations to connect with Andal’s legacy through an interplay of tradition and new practices. She observed that creativity in the city was shaped not only by people, but also by its environment and institutions. She added that sustained platforms for the arts were essential to support practitioners and position Coimbatore as a centre for cultural activity.