The Indraprastha Nritya Mahotsav concluded in grand style at Delhi’s historic Purana Quila, celebrating the rich and diverse tapestry of India’s traditional dance and art forms. Among the many stellar performances, one of the standouts was the solo Kuchipudi presentation by acclaimed dancer Amrita Lahiri.
Amrita captivated the audience with her rendition of Tarangam, a central piece in the Kuchipudi repertoire. Traditionally dedicated to Lord Krishna, her unique interpretation paid homage instead to Goddess Durga, using verses from the Shri Krishna Leela Tarangini, a 17th-century text by Shri Narayana Teertha. The piece vividly portrayed Durga’s fierce battle and triumphant victory over the demon Mahishasura, culminating in the iconic pose of Mahishasura-Mardini. Her performance concluded with the signature Kuchipudi sequence—precise footwork executed atop the edge of a brass plate, leaving the audience spellbound.
Amrita Lahiri is widely recognised as a leading exponent of Kuchipudi, a classical dance form she has devoted herself to since childhood. Her journey began under the guidance of Anuradha Nehru in Washington D.C., where she trained for a decade, laying a solid foundation in the art. Over the years, she has continued to deepen her practice under several renowned gurus, including Jaikishore Mosalikanti and Sharmila Biswas. She has also trained in Bharatanatyam under the eminent Leela Samson.
Blending tradition with innovation, Amrita has performed across India and on global stages such as the Esplanade in Singapore, ‘Dancing the Gods’ in New York, and Museum Rietberg in Zurich, as well as on ICCR tours in Southeast Asia. Her artistic vision strives not only to preserve the essence of Kuchipudi but also to expand its horizons and reach new audiences.
In an exclusive interaction with Dilip Guha of Sasraya News, Amrita Lahiri reflects on her artistic journey, her thoughts on the next generation of classical dancers, and her continuing mission to bring Kuchipudi to the world stage.
Excerpts:
Q. Where did you spend your childhood, and what are some fond memories of that time? Looking back, what do you consider the most defining aspects of your early life?
Amrita Lahiri: I grew up in the USA- in Washington D.C., because that’s where my father was working. When I was 16, he decided to change jobs and work for the Indian government, and so we moved to New Delhi. I had a wonderful Kuchipudi teacher in Washington- Anuradha Nehru. Dance class was my favourite activity, and as a teenager, I discovered that time just flew by when I practised dance. In Delhi, I started learning dance from Leela Samson. In Delhi, I also got the opportunity to watch a lot of performances, of great dancers including Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Madhavi Mudgal, Leela Samson, Malavika Sarukkai, Alarmel Valli, which influenced me a lot.
Q. How do you think your upbringing and family background have contributed to your current successes and challenges? What sparked your interest in your art form?
Amrita: I do not come from a family of artists. I come from a Bengali family of service people, academics, and bureaucrats. But everyone in the family values art and encourages me. They also give a fresh perspective on my work- they do not have biases because they are not conditioned in the form. This has been helpful. There is also a very strong work ethic- hard work is valued most. My teachers are what sparked my interest in the form.
Q. Please tell us about your training background in Kuchipudi and how it has shaped your approach to the dance form.?
Amrita: I learnt from Anuradha Nehru in the USA for 10 years. That set a very strong foundation for me. She was strict, and it was precious to spend several years as a child perfecting the basic steps and jatis of Kuchipudi. This laid a good foundation for me. After that, I learnt Bharatanatyam for some years under Leela Samson, went back to Kuchipudi under Swapna Sundari, Seetha Nagajothy and Kishore Mosalikanti. Some years ago, I got an opportunity to create a piece under Odissi guru Sharmila Biswas, and she has been an influence as well.
Q. Who have been some of your most influential gurus or mentors, and what lessons have you learned from them?
Amrita: Anuradha Nehru started me off on this journey. She showed me beauty and joy in dance, and also to respect it and to keep learning always. Leela Samson has mentored and nurtured me the longest, from when I was 16. Her intellect, capacity to love and to critique, to innovate, and to teach deeply are extraordinary. Each teacher is outstanding and I’m very fortunate to have been able to learn from them.
Q. How has your experience performing globally influenced your perspective on Indian classical dance and its relevance in international contexts?
Amrita: Amazingly, a dance form like Kuchipudi, that started out in a small village in Andhra Pradesh, has such a global appeal. I have performed in the USA, Europe, South Africa, Southeast Asia, and Korea. I’ve also danced in small rural areas of Rajasthan and Bengal. Dance touches all souls. It is a gift that we have this dance form in our country.
Q. Your performances often showcase intricate footwork and abhinaya. Can you tell us about your approach to mastering these complex elements?
Amrita: It takes many years of practice! Repetition is key to making dance a fluent language of the body. For Abhinaya, one has to go deep into the mood of the poetry, the bhava of the piece.
Q. How do you balance tradition and innovation in your performances, and what role do you think this balance plays in keeping classical dance forms relevant in Artistic Expression?
Amrita: We have to stay rooted in tradition, yet find wings in innovation. It’s a delicate balance. There is also something universal and timeless about the poetry that we dance to, the stories that we tell, and the movements. One has to believe in the art form that’s been passed down over centuries.
Q. Regarding your solo Kuchipudi presentation at this Indraprastha Nritya Mahotsav: please tell us your creative process when preparing for this performance, particularly the Performance with the Tarangam piece?
Amrita: This tarangam is choreographed by Jaikishore Mosalikanti. He taught it to me with a lot of care and attention to detail. I’ve been performing it for many years. However, I adapted the choreography to the space to suit the setting of Purana Qila. The entry, the large movements, and the jumps had to suit the spectacular space and ambience. I also worked with a new and young orchestra for this performance- Adarsh Nair (vocal), Jasmine Kaur (Nattuvangam), S. Vignesh (violin) and MV Chandershekhar (Mridangam). It took some coordinated rehearsals with them to get the piece to the stage.
Q. What inspired you to choose the theme of Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura for your solo Kuchipudi presentation? How did you adapt the traditional Kuchipudi style to convey the powerful narrative of Goddess Durga’s triumph?
Amrita: The program was just after Dussehra, so Durga is an obvious choice. The way that Jaikishore Mosalikanti has used the jati to depict the battle between the goddess and the demon is particularly unique. The plate dance has become a trademark footwork pattern in Kuchipudi, and that is in this tarangam too.
Q. What message do you hope audiences take away from your performances, particularly in the context of Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura?
Amrita: I hope audiences see the beauty and power of the dance, and the beauty and power of the goddess.
Q. How do you see your work contributing to the preservation and promotion of Kuchipudi, and what initiatives have you taken to support this goal?
Amrita: I create and choreograph new pieces, teach, and try to present my dance to as many varied audiences as possible. Kuchipudi is thriving- it’s become a globally recognised dance form. I also curate performances and help to organise festivals and programs. I’ve worked in arts management for 20 years, in an effort to promote dance widely.
Q. Say something about this Indraprastha Nritya Mahotsav of Delhi Tourism held recently (your overall experience).
Amrita: It was a spectacular setting. The audience was packed and enthusiastic. It was one of the most memorable performances of my life to dance in front of such a historic monument.
Q. Are there any upcoming projects or events that you’re excited about, and how do you see your work evolving in the future?
Amrita: I’ve just completed some new pieces and look forward to performing them. After Indraprastha Nritya Mahotsav, I went to Hyderabad to perform, and that was a great experience. On 15 Oct, I presented a new Swathi Thirunal composition in Delhi at the Habitat Centre. My next show is on 1 Nov in Trivandrum for Soorya Festival, where I will present a new tarangam.
