‘Meera – The Mystic by Shama Bhate’s Nadroop Ensemble’

The timeless story of Meerabai, princess of Mewar, poet, philosopher, and free spirit, unfolds in this dynamic Kathak production choreographed by Vidushi Shama Bhate and performed by her Nadroop Ensemble. Through movement rooted in classical brilliance, evocative music, and expressive imagery, the performance delves into Meera’s unconditional surrender to Sri Krishna and her oscillation between earthly reality and an inner world of dreams, imagination, and spiritual conviction.

The pulse of the production is Kathak, steeped in the power and precision of the Jaipur Gharana, carrying the emotional and narrative flow through choreography and dance orchestration by Narendra Bhide. The experience is made more immersive with Chala Vahi Des and other immortal bhajans of Meera, presented in the unparalleled voice of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, with compositions by Pt. Hridayanath Mangeshkar — rarely witnessed in such a theatrical setting. Complementing the performance, moving projections of Ragamala paintings, grand arches, and jaalis create a vivid visual landscape that reflects the splendour of Mewar.

At its core, ‘Meera – The Mystic’ is an artistic quest to uncover the essence of Meera’s persona—Was she a seer, a philosopher, a poet, a princess, or a renunciate? It suggests she was all of these, and above all a free spirit who lived with the conviction that one day she would merge with Krishnatatva.

One of India’s foremost Kathak exponents, Bhate brings to this vision her five decades of artistry as performer, choreographer, and educator. Her institution Nadroop has become a hub of creative exploration, with its ensemble presenting innovative Kathak productions across India and abroad. Together, they craft a showcase where poetry, music, dance, and visual design converge to reveal the many dimensions of Meera’s truth.

‘Meera – The Mystic’ is not a retelling of history—it is an absorbing stage experience that invites audiences into the inner and outer worlds of Meera, through her devotion, her defiance, and her eternal search for the divine.