Commissions

This performance seeks to provide an insight into the life and teachings of the 13th century saint Janabai and the 14th century saint Lalleswari or Lalded as she was fondly called. Both were female mystic poets driven by their love for the supreme who went through tremendous hardships before they were finally recognised. 

Janabai was born in a Shudra family in Maharashtra and belonged to the Warkari tradition. Her Marathi abhangs reflect her clarity of thought and her state of spiritual consciousness. Lalded’s Vakhs (or sayings) in Kashmiri touched the common man for their simultaneous simplicity and profundity. 

Janabai was a Vaishnavite while Lalded was a Shaivite. Janabai believed in forms of the Divine while Lalded believed in the formless. Janabai took the path of devotion while Lalded took the path of tantra. They appear to be different, but there is no denying that they were both Mad and Divine.

‘Mad and Divine’ was originally commissioned by Dr Anita Ratnam in 2011 for Kartik Fine Arts Chennai for the conference by the same name. 

Rama Vaidyanathan is one of the foremost Bharatanatyam dancers of her generation. She trained under the legendary dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and the celebrated Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. In a performance career spanning more than 35 years, Rama has developed her own individual style while preserving the core principles of her dance form. Her technique is grounded and yet there is a fresh approach to the innumerable dance compositions that she has presented at major dance venues all over the world. Rama Vaidyanathan is the recipient of several awards and honours. As the Vice President of Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi, she has been actively engaged in teaching for over 25 years.