Anand Satchidanandan’s performance was an ode to Ramana Maharishi

The 27th annual thematic festival of Natyarangam, Acharya Bharatham, concluded with a deeply reflective production on Ramana Maharshi, performed by Anand Satchidanandan.

Opening with the story of his birth , the presentation wove divinity into the very act of his arrival. marked by the blind midwife’s vision of light. It is said that she experienced a vision of bright light at the moment of his delivery. Anand traced this moment with stillness and grace, invoking the sense of a destiny that was to flower into spiritual illumination.

The choreography then moved on to the discovery of Arunachala, a name that resonated in young Venkatraman’s heart even before he could start speaking. . Anand’s abhinaya here captured the innocence of childhood, giving way to awe when the word found its earthly anchor in Tiruvannamalai.

Ramana’s spiritual pursuit

The dancer moved to the key moment of death-awareness, which turned the boy into a spiritual seeker. Anand lay completely still, showing the instant when the breathing stopped, the body became motionless, and the eternal self was revealed. His stillness on stage conveyed more than movement, echoing the Maharshi’s way of teaching through silence.

The journey to Arunachala was neatly depicted by Anand Satchidanandan, whose choreography was inspired by the life and teachings of Ramana Maharishi.
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

The journey to Arunachala was shown with simplicity and devotion. Anand depicted Ramana giving up all his belongings, keeping only a simple loincloth, and entering into deep meditation. The narration recalled how Ramana remained unmoved even when insects bit him. Anand chose not to act this out in a dramatic way; instead, he used calm and subtle movements to show Ramana Maharishi’s quiet strength and inner peace.

Later episodes brought to life the Maharishi’s encounters with family and devotees. His silent response to his mother’s pleas, rendered as poised stillness, carried profound weight. In contrast, his first written upadesha and later spoken teachings were depicted through gestures that suggested writing and speech, while keeping the emphasis on inwardness.

Particularly evocative was the sequence of the hornet’s nest, where the sage’s non-retaliation highlighted his compassion. The dance then shifted to how , Ramana guided his mother through the metaphor of making appam, equating it with the path of self-enquiry. Anand infused this with gentle humour.

The finale drew the strands together with the Arunachala song. Sitting in the iconic posture of meditation, Anand became the still mountain-sage himself, the dance dissolving into silence as the image lingered.

The production was enhanced by a strong supporting team. Ramananjali created the score, while Adithyanarayanan handled the composition and vocals. The orchestra featured Sarvesh Karthik (mridangam, urumi, effects), Jayalakshmi Anand (nattuvangam, makeup, costumes), T.V. Sukanya (violin), and Sashidharan (flute). The narrations were by Aishwarya Neelakantan.

Anand Satchidanandan’s thematic production was a tribute to Ramana Maharishi.
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

Without resorting to excess or flourish, the production offered a quiet, contemplative tribute to Ramana Maharshi. It was an evening where narration, dance, and music moved in tandem, reminding the audience that the Maharshi’s message was never about spectacle, but about seeing the truth.