12/04/2026
Amirthini Sivaharan’s Nadhi – The Flow of Life at the second night of Darshana 2026 was a deeply evocative and immersive experience that lingered long after the performance concluded. With remarkable sensitivity, she wove together the fading story of the Vaiyai river and the evolving voice of the Puthumai Pen, creating a narrative that was both poetic and politically resonant.
Her movement vocabulary was fluid yet powerful, embodying the river’s vitality, memory, and eventual stillness with striking clarity. There was an emotional honesty in her abhinaya that drew the audience inward, allowing us to witness not just a river’s decline, but a shared human condition.
A particularly striking moment was the lesser-known tale of Gundodharan, who devoured the waters of the Vaiyai in an attempt to quench an unending hunger and thirst. Brought to life with vivid theatricality, this episode introduced a compelling dramatic layer, allowing moments of Hasya rasa to surface within the poignancy of the narrative, offering the audience a brief yet meaningful emotional contrast.
The live musical ensemble elevated the work beautifully. Sarvesh Karthick’s nuanced score, Roshini’s soulful vocals, and Kavitha Jeyaraman’s veena created a rich and textured soundscape that supported the choreography with depth and sensitivity.
Nadhi stood out as a thoughtful and compelling work one that seamlessly bridged Sangam poetry with contemporary reflection, leaving the audience in quiet contemplation of both nature and self.
Thank you again Amirthini for your wonderful performance and your efforts in creating an original work for Darshana 2026
Mohanapriyan Thavarajah
Curator - Darshana
Photo Credit - Lijesh
Lights - Vidhya Venkat
