Witness a series of spirited Bharatanatyam choreographies that tells the stories of human trials and triumphs, sections of the narrative dedicated to representing women in a non-patriarchal gaze.  

The presentation plays out over five thematically connected narratives woven together by intricate movements and moments of epiphany. ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, for instance, is an abstract interpretation of freedom from oppressions related to gender, caste, and creed, and the burden of ‘othering’ faced by non-conforming individuals. ‘Shoorpanaka Navrasa Gadya’ is a humanised interpretation of the character, a refreshing departure from the established male gaze. As the choreography traverses the ‘nava rasas’ or nine human emotions, we see Shoorpanaka recounting the course of her life, questioning the patriarchy, violence, and lack of freedom embedded in her story. Moving through the medley, ‘Mid-life Crisis’ is a humorous take on women adulting in their late 20s to 40s, navigating their way through the mundane and the joyous with a side of existential crisis. ‘Gabricha Pausa’ or ‘Damn You, the Rains’ is a story of a woman who experiences a string of woes due to torrential rains – posing an antithesis to the romanticised notion of monsoon. But the relentless downpour doesn’t stop the fire from raging within! Bringing the episodic narrative to philosophical fruition, we see ‘Ud Jayega Hans Akela’ – a quest to resist the everyday rigour of life in pursuit of a deeper meaning.  

Conceptualised, choreographed and presented by Bharatanatyam danseuse Keerthana Ravi, ‘Movements of Resistance’ has been met with critical acclaim for its moving messaging and brilliant execution. Having performed at prestigious venues and festivals across India, Keerthana Ravi has been awarded the title of ‘Kanaka Bhushan’ by Dr. Kanak Rele and holds the honour of being an ‘A Grade’ Doordarshan artist.