Anuradha Venkataraman’s ‘Bound by Soil’ is a an exploration of social injustice through Bharatanatyam

Anuradha Venkataraman’s ‘Bound by Soil’ is a an exploration of social injustice through Bharatanatyam

In 2016, a haunting headline in The Hindu, ‘Landless families have no place to bury their dead,’ jolted Anuradha Venkataraman. The article detailed the plight of landless families, especially Dalits, in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, who were forced to bury their loved ones on riverbanks, only to have the bodies washed away by rain. The stark imagery deeply disturbed her and stayed with her. As she delved into the topic, it became evident that this was a widespread issue, not an isolated incident.

“Coming from an urban, privileged background, this reality was both uncomfortable and distant. Empathy felt inadequate as I was removed from their experience. Yet, the stark contrast between my lifestyle and theirs compelled me to respond,” says Anuradha.

The response culminated in ‘Bound by Soil: A Requiem for the Forgotten,’ her upcoming Bharatanatyam performance with music by DS Srivatasa and Lalgudi R Sriganesh

Anuradha explored the complex interplay between environment and development, influenced by books like Sarah Joseph’s Gift In Green and P Sainath’s Everybody Loves A Good Drought. She still struggled to transform this weighty issue into the language of Bharatanatyam. Then, a friend suggested reading ONV Kurup’s Malayalam poem, Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham. That provided the breakthrough she needed.

“The poetry provided an invaluable resource. As a movement artist, creating and working with imagery is crucial. The poem offered potent visual metaphors that aligned perfectly with my thoughts. While there’s no strict narrative, the abstract imagery — forests vanishing, farmers losing their land, the manipulation of water and earth — resonated deeply. I saw a clear path to translate these images into movement.”

Apart from literature, she sought inspiration from Nature itself. Whenever she got the chance, she tried to connect with it.

Anuradha’s choreography for ‘Bound by Soil’ is a deliberate departure from traditional Bharatanatyam. “I’ve intentionally minimised the use of text,” she says, opting for a more abstract narrative. The performance is a visual and auditory experience with movement, sound, and an installation of a human represented as a parasite.