Kathak artist Bhakti Deshpande and Hindustani classical vocalist Saylee Talwalkar present the India premiere of their collaboration, exploring the meeting of voice and movement through ragas, with devotion at its heart.
In ‘Roopantar’, Kathak exponent Bhakti Deshpande and Hindustani classical vocalist Saylee Talwalkar explore the intrinsic connection between their art forms, as melody finds expression in movement and rhythm flows between music and dance.
The performance unfolds through ragas, each evoking its own mood, from serenity and longing to celebration and devotion. Through melodic explorations, rhythmic exchanges and expressive storytelling, Saylee’s vocals and Bhakti’s footwork and gestures respond to one another, revealing the shared vocabulary of raag, taal and bhaav. Invocations and sacred narratives bring the relationship between the devotee and the divine into focus, placing devotion at the heart of this artistic dialogue.
Bhakti Deshpande trained under Kathak legend Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj and Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Her experimental collaborations across dance forms and disciplines include Sakhi, India’s first all-women classical ensemble. Saylee Talwalkar trained under Usha Deshpande, Arti Anklikar-Tikekar and Pandita Padma Talwalkar, developing a grounding across the Kirana, Jaipur and Agra gharanas. A gold medalist in classical vocal performance from the University of Mumbai, she is also a recipient of the Surmani Award and the National Scholarship for Performing Arts.
This performance is supported by Reliance Foundation.
Event venue
The Cube, NMACC, Jio World Centre, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051, India
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