Expressnews
Chennai
Chennai-based dancer, composer, choreographer, writer, lyricist, playwright, director, and Artistic Director of Nrithyakshetra, Kalaimamani Madurai R. Muralidaran is set to present yet another extraordinary and ambitious work in the realm of Bharatanatyam – Saptatāla Lahari, premiering on June 19, 20, and 21, 2026.
A one-of-a-kind production by the renowned Bharatanatyam exponent, Saptatāla Lahari is both an artistic and scholarly endeavour that expands the expressive and structural possibilities within the traditional Margam format.
Saptatāla Lahari marks a significant milestone in Madurai R. Muralidaran’s visionary journey of choreographing Margams based on the 35 Suladi Sapta Tāla system, a classical rhythmic framework in Carnatic music that expands the concept of rhythm (tāla) into a highly structured and mathematical form, built using 7 fundamental tālas (called Sapta Tālas) – Dhruva, Matya, Rupaka, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata, and Eka, which are then combined with 5 different jatis (beat structures: Tisra, Chatusra, Khanda, Misra, and Sankeerna).
The Margam, meaning “path,” is the traditional Bharatanatyam repertoire that journeys from the physical to the spiritual: Alarippu, a pure dance invocatory piece; Pushpanjali, an offering of flowers seeking divine blessings; Jathiswaram, a blend of rhythmic patterns (jathis) and melody; Varnam, the central piece showcasing both pure dance (nritta) and expression (abhinaya); Padam, an abhinaya-based piece focused on storytelling; and Tillana, an energetic finale that celebrates rhythm, movement, and joyous completion.
Having already created 18 complete Margams, he continues this unprecedented exploration toward completing all 35, an achievement never before attempted in Bharatanatyam history.
Over three days, spanning 3.5 hours each evening, Sri Muralidaran, along with 11 of his disciples, will present 7 distinct Margams, bringing his total to 25 completed Margams — a remarkable testament to artistic dedication, scholarship, and innovation.
Speaking about the production, Madurai R. Muralidharan shares:
“My students and I have been working extensively and passionately to bring Saptatāla Lahari to life. This production is a culmination of years of research, practice, and deep engagement with rhythm. We are excited to present what is perhaps a never-before-attempted exploration in the field of Bharatanatyam. Each piece celebrates the beauty, complexity, and spiritual energy of tāla. This is not merely a dance recital, but an immersive rhythmic experience. I personally invite rasikas of Chennai to witness this unique and historic presentation.”
The Chief Guests for the event are eminent dancers, research scholars, and musicians: Smt. Nandini Ramani, Dr. Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari, Dr. ‘Ghatam’ Karthick, and Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Sri P. Unni Krishnan, Padmabhushan T.V. Gopalakrishnan, and Dr. K. Suresh, Padmabhushan Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan, Dr. Srinidhi Chidambaram, Padmasree Dr. Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam, Smt. Roja Kannan, Dr. K. Nirmala Nagarajan, Dr. Nithyashree Mahadevan, Sikkil Sri C. Gurucharan, Smt. Priya Murle, Sri K.V. Prasad, and Dr. Sreelatha Vinod.
Madurai R. Muralidharan is the founder of Nrithyakshetra Dance Academy, established in Chennai in 1978. Over the decades, he has trained over 2,500 dancers worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the Bharatanatyam landscape.
His artistic journey is deeply supported by his wife, Smt. Chithra Muralidharan, and continues through the next generation with his daughter, Kavya Muralidharan, who actively contributes to the institution’s vision and artistic pursuits.
● Dates: June 19, 20 & 21, 2026
● Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
● Venue: Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai
All are welcome.
For more details or queries:
📧 [email protected]
