Organised by Shailusham Arts & Creations®️
📅 10 May 2025 | 4th Edition
The Yuva Kalotsava 2025, curated and presented by Shailusham Arts & Creations®️, unfolded on May 10th @ Bangalore’s Prestigious Kalagrama Auditorium with grandeur, devotion, and rare artistic brilliance. Celebrated for its unique positioning as India’s only classical dance festival featuring Bharatanatyam performances with a live music ensemble, the 2025 edition carried forward a 15-year legacy of authenticity, grace, and innovation.
Since its inception, Shailusham has proudly curated 32 festivals featuring live-music-based classical dance – a feat unparalleled in the Indian cultural landscape.
🎭 The Visionaries Behind Shailusham
At the heart of Shailusham are its founding pillars:
🔸 Vid. Ananth Vikram – An accomplished vocalist, nattuvanar, and Bharatanatyam guru, who not only spearheads the festival’s curation and direction but also lends his resonant voice to every performance.
🔸 Smt. Chaitra Ananth – A vibrant actress, dancer, and anchor, who brings charisma and creative depth to the platform’s cultural vision.
Their combined passion has elevated Shailusham into a premier arts institution and performance stage for emerging and established artists alike.
🙏🏻👏 Guests of Honour
- Sri Shivakumar Nagaranavile – President, Karnataka Press Club Council
- Naadoja Dr. Umesh Kumar – Industrialist & Philanthropist
- Sri Lepakshi Santosh Rao – Senior Journalist & Art Critic
Their presence and blessings added gravitas and encouragement to the young artists and the institution alike.
🎙️🎼🌟 Festival Highlights – Dance with Live Music🎙️❤️
For the past 15 years, Shailusham Arts & Creations®️ has remained India’s only platform that consistently presents Bharatanatyam performances with a live music ensemble. Across 32 editions of festivals, this rare and immersive format has been its hallmark — a conscious commitment to preserving the spontaneity, emotional depth, and collaborative spirit that live music brings to classical dance.
This year too, the tradition continued with every performance enlivened by a stellar orchestra:
🎤 Vocals: Vid. Ananth Vikram (Chief Organizer)
🥁 Mridangam: Vid. Arun Kumar – a revered name & sought-after percussionists & rhythm accompaniment
🎶 Flute: Vid. Ganesh – known for his unique expressive & melodic artistry
This musical team’s seamless collaboration elevated each dancer’s narrative, offering audiences an authentic and spiritually rich experience.
💃 Captivating Performances:
- Smt. Madhuri Bhat (Disciple of Guru Vid. Bhavana)
Pushpanjali in Aarabhi (Adi Talam)
A soulful Devaranama in Hamsanandi
A poised and spiritual solo presentation to begin the evening. - Trio by Disciples of Guru Vid. Archana Punyesh
Durga Kautvam, Kavadi Chindu, and Saraswati Kriti
Displayed coordination, bhava, and expressive elegance. - Disciples of Guru Vid. Dr. Sagar T. S.
Presented the exquisite Varnam – “Bhuvana Sundarana” in Khamach (Adi Talam)
A precision-filled performance showcasing technical mastery. - Disciples of Guru Vid. Akshara Bharadwaj
Performed the powerful Varnam “Maathe Malayadhwaja Pandya Sanjate” in Khamach (Adi Talam)
Devotion and emotion blended seamlessly in this exceptional recital. - Disciple of Dr. Archana S. Rao
Energetic Shiva Tandava Kriti in Lathangi
Followed by a Thillana on Kalinga Mardana Krishna – a truly graceful finale.
🎙️ Anchoring with Artistry
The anchoring was a perfect balance of knowledge and charisma:
Dr. Raghasree Bharadwaj – A dentist by profession and dancer by passion, and a devoted disciple of Vid. Ananth Vikram, anchored with grace and insight.
She was joined by Kum. Mahati Ananth – a 13-year-old child prodigy, actress, and dancer, now exploring emceeing with natural flair.
🎥 Creative Capture
Videography: The dynamic Sri Satish captured every moment with cinematic finesse.
Candid Photography: Handled by the artistic eye of Sri Aashrith Mallur, whose frames radiated the soul of each performance.
🎖️ Shailusham Ratna Awards
A key highlight of the evening was the conferring of the Shailusham Natya Ratna Award on the eminent Dr. Sathyanarayana Raju, honoring his immense contributions to Bharatanatyam and Indian classical arts.
Other Ratna awards recognized excellence across music, social service, astrology, and allied fields.
🕊️ A Living Celebration of Tradition
Yuva Kalotsava 2025 wasn’t just a festival – it was a revival of natya’s purest form, a celebration where movement meets melody, live, and legacy lives on stage.
With continued support from rasikas, gurus, and connoisseurs, Shailusham Arts & Creations®️ pledges to keep this unique tradition alive — where every step is sung, and every note is danced.
