A Monthly Feature On
Art Events in Chennai

V.V. Ramani

Meera – The Soul Divine

Meera the poet princess is an epitome of bhakti and total surrender, and her life story that is so strongly embedded in the minds of Indians , has been a popular theme recurring time and again in Indian folklore ,classical and folk performing arts and visual arts. Swami Dayanandha Saraswathi had a strong desire to throw light on Meerabai during the centenary year celebrations of M.S.Subbhulakshmi ,the great carnatic musician who immortalised the story and music of Meera on celluloid. He was keen that the carnatic vocalist Bombay Jaishri Ramnath design the musical score for a new dance production. Chitra Visweswaran ,the bharatnatyam exponent was then entrusted with the task of giving a visual design by choreographing a
dance production. Funded by Aim For Seva, the two artists worked together to present a dance production ‘Meera— The Soul Divine ‘ which was premiered in Chennai recently and has embarked on a tour of U.K and U.S.A.