The Sanskrit word ‘Samanvay’ denotes harmony, a coming together of different elements to create a unified whole. It is this very spirit that has been at the heart of Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) since its establishment in Chennai in 1974 by Bharatanatyam exponent and Guru, Smt. Chitra Visweswaran, together with her husband, the late Pt. R Visweswaran, a renowned Santoor maestro. Centered around the philosophy that dance cannot exist in isolation, CAPA has, over the decades, nurtured a holistic approach to Bharatanatyam – one that integrates not only performance, but also nattuvangam (conducting the dance and orchestra), music, poetry, theory, stage craft, lighting, teaching methodology, the philosophy of movement and Bharatiya Samskriti.
As CAPA stepped into its 50th year, this very foundational philosophy was brought to life through Samanvay, a year long celebration that reflected the institution’s journey, shaped by Chitra Visweswaran’s vision, teaching philosophy and evolving artistic ethos. A thoughtfully curated series of events curated by Smt Chitra Visweswaran and Smt Sukanya Ravindhar , unfolded across the year, bringing together diverse art forms and perspectives, and finally culminating in a two-day festival that honoured the institution’s rich legacy and its continued commitment towards holistic learning.
History: Why Bother? by , Dr Pradeep Chakravarty,
9 March 2024 | The Terracotta Terrace, CAPA Chennai
The first event under Samanvay was a thought-provoking talk by renowned historian and author, Dr Pradeep Chakravarty, exploring the relevance of history in today’s world. Held at CAPA’s event space, The Terracotta Terrace, the event invited audiences to reflect on how history shapes not only our understanding of society, but also the way in which classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam are framed and experienced.
Prahlada Narasimha with Vinay Varanasi
19 May 2024 | Online
The second event under Samanvay featured a virtual storytelling session with celebrated storyteller, Sri Vinay Varanasi. Held over Zoom, the session brought to life the tale of Prahlada Narasimha – the story of Lord Vishnu’s fourth avatar; the half man, half lion form of Narasimha. Rich in its narrative and layered with spiritual insight, the event was widely attended and concluded with an interactive Q&A session. This event was made even more special as it coincided with the 80th birth anniversary of the late Pt. R Visweswaran, co-founder of CAPA and a renowned Santoor maestro.
Vanita in Arts a Usha R K Production
30 August 2024 | Alliance Francaise Madras, Chennai – Supported by Ministry of Culture
The third event, Vanita in Arts was an intimate Bharatanatyam performance that explored the characteristics of exemplary women from Indian mythology and history, shown through dance. Curated in collaboration with Bharatanatyam dancer and curator, Usha RK and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Vanita featured artists, Nikita Manjunath, Shreyasi Gopinath, Arundhati Patwardhan, Shivaranjini Harish and Sayani Chakraborthy. Each artist depicted a distinct female protagonist through solo presentations, offering layered portrayals of remarkable women from India’s great epics and stories. Set in the black box studio of Alliance Francaise Madras, this intimate performance allowed for a more immersive, deeper engagement with Bharatanatyam and its emotive power.
Tamrapatra in collaboration with Shankarananda Kalakshetra
11 September 2024 | Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
– Supported by Ministry of Culture
Presented in collaboration with Shankarananda Kalakshetra, the Ministry of Culture and Kalakshetra Foundation, Tamrapatra, featured a selection of Annamacharya Sankeerthanams composed by the late Sathiraju Venumadhav and brought to life by eminent artists across Indian classical dance forms. Bharatanatyam artists Ananda Shankar Jayant, Anupama Kailash, Sathyanarayana Raju and Vaibhav Arekar, along with Kuchipudi artist Deepika Reddy, Mohiniattam artist Gopika Varma and Odissi artist Sharmila Biswas, each offered a unique lens into the timeless poetry of the saint composer. The synergy of these eminent artists fostered a strong sense of community, highlighting the event not just as a performance, but as a coming together of traditions, styles and shared cultural belonging.
- Samanvay – A Confluence
– Supported by Ministry of Culture
Sponsors – , Enmas Power Projects Ltd and
associate sponsors, Hablis Hotel and Poorvika Mobiles.
in Association with SNS Consultancy & Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
28 & 29 September 2024 | Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai
As the culmination of a year long celebration marking Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts’ 50th anniversary, Samanvay – A Confluence, brought together a rich array of performances across Indian art forms. The two-day festival held on 28 & 29 September 2024 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, featured performances in Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, puppetry from Karnataka, and stories of Lord Rama.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture and in partnership with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai and Shreya Nagarajan Singh Arts Development Consultancy, Samanvay – A Confluence was made possible with the generous sponsorship of title sponsor, Enmas Power Projects Ltd and associate sponsors, Hablis Hotel and Poorvika Mobiles.
Day 1 [28 September 2024]
The festival began with a Veda Parayanam by Vaithika Sri, where young minds carried the rich tradition of Vedic chanting. This was followed by an ensemble Bharatanatyam performance, ‘Rama-ayana’, a retelling of the Valmiki Ramayana, presented by Chidambaram Dance Company, the professional performing wing of CAPA. The evening continued with a discourse titled ‘Rama ni Samanamevaru’ by Sri Dushyanth Sridhar, who guided the audience through the various ways in which composers and poets across India have experienced and celebrated Lord Rama’s qualities through various anecdotes and verses.
Day 2 [29 September 2024]
On the second day, the festival featured ‘Chuddala – String Puppets of Karnataka’, a mesmerising puppetry performance based on the story of Chuddala Devi by master puppeteer, Smt Anupama Hoskere and her team. The two-day festival concluded with ‘Tarunam’, a concert showcasing captivating Tamil compositions, featuring musicians Sri Anil Srinivasan and Sikkil Gurucharan, along with percussionist Sumesh Narayan.
The distinguished guests of honour over the two days were Dr. J Radhakrishnan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Department of Cooperation and Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, Bharatanatyam exponent and guru.
True to its name, Samanvay brought together a rich tapestry of Indian art forms to celebrate 50 years of CAPA and the vision of Guru Smt Chitra Visweswaran. The two-day festival was widely attended and received an overwhelmingly positive response, with both audiences and participants appreciating the diverse and vibrant showcase of India’s art forms and cultural heritage. In conclusion, Samanvay stood as a powerful reflection of CAPA’s enduring ethos – one that honours tradition, fosters collaboration and champions the spirit of symbiosis, inclusivity and holistic engagement with the arts.
