Wheelchair accessible venue
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Venue
The Cube
Date
August 01, 2025
Showtime
19:30
Duration
1 h 15 mins
Venue Highlights
Suitable for ages 7+
Experience a rare cultural revival as Kalamandalam Piyal Bhattacharya, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Intangible Cultural Heritage grant, reawakens Bharata’s Marga Natya through a rich blend of dance, music, and storytelling.
Rooted in 25 years of dedicated research, Uparoopak Bhanak showcases Kalamandalam Piyal Bhattacharya’s pioneering reconstruction of Marga Natya—the classical performance tradition outlined in the Natyashastra. Unlike regional forms that evolved later, Marga refers to the original path prescribed by Bharata, encompassing dance, drama, and music in a codified, spiritual framework.
Bhattacharya’s practice brings this ancient tradition back to life through a rigorously developed repertoire and ensemble structure. To reconstruct Bharata’s musical system, he trained in instruments such as the Saraswati Veena, Pakhawaj, Miravu, and Pung Achoba, and continues to study Dhrupad and Rudra Veena under Pt. Asit Banerjee of the Dagar Gharana. His journey has even taken him to Myanmar, where he studied the traditional Burmese harp to trace the migration of Indian string instruments across Asia.
Supported by fellowships from the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture, Bhattacharya’s work stands as a vital effort to safeguard India’s intangible cultural heritage. ‘Uparoopak Bhanak’, performed with his disciples, offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the aesthetics and spirit of an art form nearly lost to time.
This performance is supported by Reliance Foundation.
Language
Hindustani