Chennai’s Cultural Extravaganza: Celebrating 50 Years of CAPA with Samanvay Festival
CHENNAI: In a world where digital distractions reign, the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) seeks to rekindle the charm of live performances through Samanvay – A Confluence, a two-day cultural festival set for September 28 and 29 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore. This festival, celebrating CAPA’s 50th anniversary, promises to be a grand homage to the rich legacy of classical arts, offering a refreshing escape into the world of Indian traditions.
Founded in 1975 by renowned danseuse Chitra Visweswaran and musician R Visweswaran, CAPA has spent five decades fostering the development of dancers, musicians, and artists. With its dedication to both classical and contemporary art forms, the academy has become an artistic institution in Chennai, representing the confluence of tradition and innovation.
For Chitra Visweswaran, the Samanvay festival is not just a celebration but also a deeply personal endeavor. Reflecting on CAPA’s journey, she explains, “It gives me great joy that CAPA is my baby. It’s not just a place where you learn; it’s a space where artistic transformations happen.” She views this event as a manifestation of her vision of art—a way to nurture creativity and understand art in its fullest meaning.
The two-day festival will offer a wide array of performances and cultural experiences, each representing diverse aspects of India’s rich traditions. Chitra emphasizes that Samanvay reflects the unity and diversity of Indian festivals, particularly Dussehra and Navaratri, which are celebrated differently across regions. She elaborates, “In South India, Navaratri is connected to Devi, while in North India, it is linked with Ram. Our festival integrates dance, poetic literature, puppetry, and Carnatic music to highlight these diverse cultural practices.”
Day 1: An Ode to Rama and Tradition
The festival will open on September 28 with a Veda Parayanam, setting a spiritual tone for the event. This will be followed by an ensemble performance by the Chidambaram Dance Company titled Rama – Ayana, celebrating the timeless epic of Ramayana through dance. The evening will also feature Rama ni samanamevaru, a musical presentation by scholar and composer Dushyanth Sridhar, deepening the thematic exploration of Rama in various art forms.
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Day 2: Puppetry, Poetry, and Fusion
On the second day, Samanvay will present a unique traditional art form—Chuddala, featuring string puppetry from Karnataka. Esteemed puppeteer Anupama Hoskere will showcase this ancient craft, bringing characters to life in a performance that bridges storytelling with intricate manipulation of puppets. The festival will conclude with Tarunam, a musical collaboration by acclaimed vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan and pianist Anil Srinivasan. This performance promises to blend the traditional Carnatic repertoire with contemporary instrumental stylings, symbolizing the festival’s broader theme of confluence.
Carrying Forward a Legacy
For long-time CAPA members like Sukanya Ravindhar, director of the Chidambaram Dance Company, the festival holds special significance. Having been associated with CAPA for nearly 40 years, she reflects on her own journey under the mentorship of Chitra Visweswaran. “I came here as a tiny person, always crazy about dance. My mother wanted me to learn from Chitra akka. It was a dream come true for me. Today, I have grown from being a student to an administrator and now a director, carrying forward the legacy of growth and adaptation,” she shares.
Sukanya’s story underscores the lasting impact of CAPA on the lives of its students. CAPA not only teaches the technicalities of performance but also nurtures an enduring passion for the arts. As Sukanya adds, “Chitra akka trained us to view dance from different perspectives, which has shaped my growth as an artist.”
Inspiring Future Generations
Through Samanvay, CAPA aims to inspire new generations of artists and audiences alike. Chitra Visweswaran hopes the festival will serve as a catalyst for furthering the evolution of classical arts. “It’s about pushing the envelope and being open to all forms of understanding through our art,” she says, adding that Samanvay is an invitation to artists to continue learning, innovating, and performing in ways that transcend tradition.
As Chennai gears up to host this cultural confluence, the festival stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of CAPA and its role in nurturing India’s rich artistic heritage.
