Nirupama Rajendra’s unique steps light up ‘Rasaraadhanam’
Parvati’s inner beauty and the oneness of Hari and Hara take centre stage
The event was held at Meenakshi Rangamancha in Doddakallasandra.recently.
25 SEP 2026-Bengaluru: 
Parvati’s intense penance across all seasons to win Shiva’s love, and the Lord offering his very heart to become Ardhanarishwara for her pure inner beauty… Nature, the peacock and Krishna blooming in a dance offering… Hari and Hara praising each other’s powers and revealing their essential oneness…
These vivid portrayals unfolded in the solo classical dance presentation by Sangeet Natak Academi awardee Nirupama Rajendra on Sunday at Meenakshi Rangamancha in Doddakallasandra. The performance formed the highlight of the evening of homage titled ‘Rasaraadhanam’, dedicated to the compositions of Padma Bhushan Shatavadhani Dr R. Ganesh.
In the depiction of Kaliya Mardana, Krishna’s feet sliding over the serpent’s hoods, the surging Ganga and Yamuna, and the gentle breeze—all found fleeting yet precise expression through Nirupama’s footwork and abhinaya. Clear music, exact lighting angles and subtle shifts in colour created a mythological and divine world on stage.
In the presentation of the composition ‘Dautya Deekshite’, the heroine, unable to find any suitable messenger for her distant husband, finally sends her own mind—an unusual and moving sequence. Clouds, the full moon, the peacock, the parrot and the breeze passed through the narrative in quick succession.
The packed auditorium responded with thunderous applause after every piece.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr R. Ganesh said, “Nirupama’s dedication and commitment are remarkable. She is an outstanding transformer of the art. The refinements she makes even during the performance itself are special. Shringara rasa must be expressed correctly—only then does the name Bharatanatyam become meaningful. More such solo presentations, rather than group dances, should take place.”
Musician Vidushi M.S. Sheela observed, “Nirupama has become the Sharada of abhinaya. May her artistic worship continue uninterrupted.”
Nirupama’s husband Rajendra and Deepa Sridhar, head of the Kumaran Group of Institutions, were present.
The performance was supported by Raghuram Rajagopalan (vocal), Mahesh Swamy (flute), Prashanth Rudrapatna (veena), Srinidhi Mathur (violin), Prasannakumar (percussion and nattuvangam) and Vidyashankar (mridangam). Kashyap Nayak and Arjun Bharadwaj provided the narrative.
