This Summer

Experience the Rasa.

Experience the Bhava.

Experience the Art.

25TH APRIL 2026 I CHOWDIAH MEMORIAL HALL

PERFORMANCE BY

Dr. Neena Prasad

Mohiniyattam

P. Praveen Kumar

Bharatanatyam

GOVARDHANA LEELA

By Prabhat Arts International

An Enchanting Kathak Performance By

Guru SRI HARI

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Lecture Demonstration Headed By

V KALADHARAN

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Bharatnatyam Performance By

NAYANA SRINIVASAMURTHY

12:15 PM - 01:00 PM

Solo Odissi Performance By

AKSHITI ROYCHOWDHURY

02:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Kuchipudi Dance Presentation By

DEVESH NAIR

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM

ROOPASHREE MADHUSUDAN

DESIGNATION

PANEL DISCUSSION

TOPIC OF DISCUSSION

Two distinguished speakers for the day: Smt. Sumitra Nitin on “Blurring Lines of Bani” and renowned Smt. Veena Murthy Vijay on “Career Opportunities in Performing Arts,” moderated by Dr. Priyashri Rao.

Sumitra nitin

Bharatanatyam Dancer & Carnatic Vocalist

veena murthy vijay

Renowned Kuchipudi danseuse and choreographer

Dr. PRIYASHRI RAO

Kalakshetra-trained dancer, Carnatic vocalist, and scholar

GUEST OF HONOR

Padma Bhushan

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh

Renowned Scholar, Polyglot & Master of Avadhana

Padma Shri

Smt. Arundhati Nag

Eminent Theatre Personality & Cultural Icon

Padma Shri

Smt. B. Jayashree

Renowned Theatre Personality

Hon. Shri. Tejasvi Surya

Member of Parliament

Smt. Nirupama Rajendra

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Eminent Kathak & Bharatanatyam Exponent

Shri T.D. Rajendra

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Renowned Classical Dancer & Choreographer

Dr. Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar

Renowned Director & Author

Shri T. N. Seetharam

Renowned Director, Actor & Screenwriter

Dr. T. S. Nagabharana

Renowned Film Director

Sri Prakash Belawadi

Renowned Actor-Director

Dr. M. Mohan Alva

Founder-Chairman, Alva’s Education Foundation

Dr. M S Murthy

Renowned Artist and author

Dr. Na. Damodar Shetty

Renowned Scholar & Writer

Sri Mukhyamantri Chandru

Renowned Actor

Shri. Jayaram Raipura

IRS (Senior Official, Government of Karnataka)

Smt. Anuradha Vikranth

Karnataka Kalashree Renowned Bharatanatyam Exponent

Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay

Karnataka Kalashree Renowned Kuchipudi Exponent

Vidushi Smt. Roopashree Madhusudan

Eminent Bharatanatyam Guru & Choreographer

Dr. Sathyanarayana Raju

Karnataka Kalashree Awardee, Eminent Scholar & Cultural Luminary

Dr. Sridhar

Renowned Actor, Producer & Bharatanatyam Exponent

Guru Pulakeshi Kasturi

Renowned Bharatanatyam Guru & Nattuvangist

Shri Sreenivas G. Kappanna

Renowned Theatre Professional & Cultural Strategist

Smt. Sneha Kappanna

Eminent Bharatanatyam Exponent & Choreographer

Shri. Jayachandran Palazhy

Founder & Artistic Director

Smt. Girija Lokesh

Renowned Actress & Cultural Contributor

Smt. Vinaya Prasad

Veteran Film & Television Actress

Smt. Anuradha Sridhar

Eminent Bharatanatyam Exponent

Guru Smt. Usha Datar

Renowned Classical Dance Exponent

Smt. Sivasri Skandaprasad

Renowned Carnatic Vocalist

Shri. Y.K. Muddukrishna

Renowned Cultural Icon

Smt. Nagini Bharana

Renowned Director and Costume Designer

Shri. H. Dundiraj

Renowned Poet & Writer

Shri B. R. Lakshmana Rao

Renowned Kannada Poet & Filmfare Award–Winning Lyricist

Smt. Archana Udupa

Renowned Playback & Classical Singer

Shri. H. Dundiraj

Renowned Poet & Writer

Shri. H. Dundiraj

Renowned Poet & Writer

CHIEF GUEST

PANEL DISCUSSION

DESIGNATION

GUEST OF HONOR

Padma Bhushan

Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh

Renowned Scholar, Polyglot & Master of Avadhana

Padma Shri

Smt. Arundhati Nag

Eminent Theatre Personality & Cultural Icon

Padma Shri

Smt. B. Jayashree

Renowned Theatre Personality

Hon. Shri. Tejasvi Surya

Member of Parliament

Smt. Nirupama Rajendra

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Eminent Kathak & Bharatanatyam Exponent

Shri T.D. Rajendra

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Renowned Classical Dancer & Choreographer

Dr. Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar

Renowned Director & Author

Shri T. N. Seetharam

Renowned Director, Actor & Screenwriter

Dr. T. S. Nagabharana

Renowned Film Director

Sri Prakash Belawadi

Renowned Actor-Director

Dr. M. Mohan Alva

Founder-Chairman, Alva’s Education Foundation

Dr. M S Murthy

Renowned Artist and author

Dr. Na. Damodar Shetty

Renowned Scholar & Writer

Sri Mukhyamantri Chandru

Renowned Actor

Shri. Jayaram Raipura

IRS (Senior Official, Government of Karnataka)

Smt. Anuradha Vikranth

Karnataka Kalashree Renowned Bharatanatyam Exponent

Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay

Karnataka Kalashree Renowned Kuchipudi Exponent

Vidushi Smt. Roopashree Madhusudan

Eminent Bharatanatyam Guru & Choreographer

Dr. Sathyanarayana Raju

Karnataka Kalashree Awardee, Eminent Scholar & Cultural Luminary

Dr. Sridhar

Renowned Actor, Producer & Bharatanatyam Exponent

Guru Pulakeshi Kasturi

Renowned Bharatanatyam Guru & Nattuvangist

Shri Sreenivas G. Kappanna

Renowned Theatre Professional & Cultural Strategist

Smt. Sneha Kappanna

Eminent Bharatanatyam Exponent & Choreographer

Shri. Jayachandran Palazhy

Founder & Artistic Director

Smt. Girija Lokesh

Renowned Actress & Cultural Contributor

Smt. Vinaya Prasad

Veteran Film & Television Actress

Smt. Anuradha Sridhar

Eminent Bharatanatyam Exponent

Guru Smt. Usha Datar

Renowned Classical Dance Exponent

Smt. Sivasri Skandaprasad

Renowned Carnatic Vocalist

Shri. Y.K. Muddukrishna

Renowned Cultural Icon

Smt. Nagini Bharana

Renowned Director and Costume Designer

Shri. H. Dundiraj

Renowned Poet & Writer

Shri B. R. Lakshmana Rao

Renowned Kannada Poet & Filmfare Award–Winning Lyricist

Smt. Archana Udupa

Renowned Playback & Classical Singer

Shri. H. Dundiraj

Renowned Poet & Writer

Shri. H. Dundiraj

Renowned Poet & Writer

Dr. Neena Prasad

Mohiniyattam

Dr. Neena Prasad is one of India’s foremost exponents of Mohiniyattam, performing at prestigious festivals in India and abroad. A rare blend of scholar and performer, she holds a doctorate and post-doctoral fellowship in dance and is widely respected as an academician and researcher.

She has undergone rigorous training in Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali under renowned gurus including Kalamandalam Suganthi, Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Guru Adyar K. Lakshman, Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, and Vembayam Appukkuttan Pillai. Her performances are critically acclaimed for their depth and aesthetic excellence.

Founder of the Sougandhika Centre for Mohiniyattam (established over two decades ago), she has developed a strong pedagogical system known for impeccable body kinetics and expressive abhinaya. Her landmark productions include Sitayanam, Tatri – The Woman, and Sakhyam – The Bond of Soulmates.

A Top Grade Doordarshan and ICCR empanelled artist, she is also a research guide, academic advisor, and mentor. She continues her teaching and research through Sougandhika (Chennai) and Bharatanjali (Trivandrum).

Her numerous honours include the President’s Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Nritya Choodamani, Kerala Kalamandalam Award, Pranati Women Puraskar (Mumbai), and the prestigious Nritya Kalanidhi (2024) from the Madras Music Academy – the first dancer from Kerala to receive this distinction.

P. Praveen Kumar

Bharatanatyam

P. Praveen Kumar is a distinguished Bharatanatyam artiste from a family of artists. Trained under Smt. Narmada and Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, he has dedicated himself to the aesthetic depth and tradition of this classical dance form.

An accomplished nattuvanar and choreographer, he has created several acclaimed productions such as Madhvacharya, Shvasa Vishvasa, Tyagaraja Hruth Sadana, Rtu Vismruthi, Vani, Sakha, Anangha Vilasa, and Pandharpur. His works explore themes including climate change, textiles, interpersonal relationships, and lesser-known dimensions of mythology.

Known for his flawless footwork, nuanced abhinaya, and layered understanding of nritta,
Praveen Kumar has consistently earned critical
acclaim. He has performed extensively in India
and abroad and is the founder of the Chithkala
School of Dance, Bengaluru. An empanelled
artist of the ICCR and an ‘A’ grade Doordarshan
artist, he believes dance is a powerful medium of
creative and therapeutic expression.

Awards & Honors

  • Senior Fellowship Award (2024) – Kalavaahini Trust
  • Best Dancer of the Season (2018 & 2019) – The Madras Music Academy
  • Mohan Khokar Award (2010)
  • Karnataka Kalasri (2021) – Karnataka Sangeeta Nrutya Academy
  • Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2010) – Sangeet Natak Akademi
  • Obul Reddy Endowment Senior Dancer Award (2016) – Natyarangam, Chennai
  • Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Puraskar (2016) – Srjan, Bhubaneswar
  • Chandana Prashasthi (2017) – Bangalore Doordarshan

Sharat R. Prabhath

Kathak

Sharat R. Prabhath is a dynamic Kathak performer, Harikatha exponent, director, and composer, trained under acclaimed gurus including Smt. Nirupama & Sri Rajendra and Pt. Rajendra Gangani. Rooted in a rich artistic lineage, he is known for his large-scale dance musicals, innovative productions, and versatile artistry across music, theatre, and storytelling. As the Founding CEO of PADAPA and Artistic Director of Prabhat Arts International, he continues to shape contemporary classical arts with creativity and vision.

GURU SRI HARI

Kathak Performance

An internationally acclaimed exponent and founder of Noopur Performing Arts Centre, Bengaluru, presented alongside his talented disciples.

Lecture Demonstration Headed By

V KALADHARAN

A captivating lecture demonstration unveiling the glorious heritage and magical world of Kathakali, led by V Kaladharan.

NAYANA SRINIVASAMURTHY

Bharatnatyam

A psychologist turned performer and choreographer, she is a dedicated Bharatanatyam artist and founder of Natesha Nrithyalaya, blending classical dance with therapeutic practice. A curator of the Rasanubhava Dance Festival, she continues her artistic journey under the guidance of Dr. Neena Prasad.

AKSHITI ROYCHOWDHURY

Odissi Nritya

Akshiti Roychowdhury is an accomplished Odissi dancer, teacher, and choreographer, and an alumna of Nrityagram, trained under renowned gurus. Known for her dynamic stage presence and powerful artistry, she has performed across prestigious platforms in India and internationally, while continuously evolving her practice through disciplines like Kalaripayattu.

DEVESH NAIR

Kuchipudi

Devesh Nair is an emerging Kuchipudi dancer trained in Bharatanatyam, Kerala Nadanam, and Kuchipudi under Dr. Vasant Kiran. A Doordarshan-graded artist, he has performed at prestigious festivals and is known for his dynamic stage presence and dedication to the art form.