Mythili Prakash and Soumik Datta collaborate for ‘Sahaj’, a two-day festival of music and dance in Chennai

In the practice of meditation, ‘sahaj’ refers to the idea of blending — where the spiritual and worldly are so integrated that it is like a line drawn on water. “Earlier in my dance journey, it felt like dance was an oasis, free from the fragmentedness, chaos and violence of the world we live in. But increasingly, I see that all of it exists and there is space to experience multiple truths at once, and for me art is the way to express the beauty and power in embracing that,” explained Los Angeles-based contemporary Bharatanatyam dancer Mythili Prakash.

It’s probably what prompted Mythili to collaborate with award-winning sarod artiste and composer Soumik Datta to create a two-day festival of music and dance in Chennai this weekend. ‘Sahaj’ is presented by Aalaap and Amethyst, and supported by Soumik Datta Arts, Arts Council England and BNP Paribas. “As a community of artistes too, I see that we are seeking ways to be in dialogue with the rich heritage of our artistic practices and our rapidly globalising world; to use our art forms not just as expressions of celebration and harmony, but also allow them to express the disturbance that we feel about the state of humanity,” she added.

As first-generation children of immigrants living in western countries, Mythili and Soumik share a lot of common ground in terms of their artistic journeys — being deeply immersed in classical art forms, while trying to negotiate their relevance for international audiences. Growing up in artistic families, it was this shared experience that led to friendship, critical conversation and observation about each other’s work. The duo first performed together in 2021 at Anoushka Shankar’s festival in Germany. Since then, they have become constant “thought partners.” “As NRIs practicing traditional Indian arts, we share a fascination with how heritage and innovation communicate across borders,” said Soumik. “Sahaj came about because we both want different possibilities of presentation for the art forms we practice, outside of the conventional proscenium setting,” shared Mythili.

On February 12, Mythili will perform ‘AR | DHA’ and on February 13, Soumik will present ‘Travellers’. Both these pieces, which were created in residence at and co-produced by G5A in Mumbai, are attempts to converse through art with the cultures of legacy and present-day society.

Choreographed and directed by Prakash, ‘AR | DHA’ is an exploration of the iconic mythical dance competition between Shiva and Kali. A two-part work told from both Shiva and Kali’s perspectives, it looks at the dynamics of love and power in this relationship that is at once human and divine. The piece has taken many shapes, including one presented in Qatar during the World Cup, in which Mythili looked at the competition from the angle of “game.” That piece was called ‘One | All’ and centred around the idea of why we are so driven by competition and the desire to name a winner and loser. When Mythili came back to this piece two years later, she wanted to see it through the perspective of both characters. “To me, at the heart of this piece lies something that is fundamental to us as beings, but — just like Shiva and Kali — when we get caught up in the race that is life, we forget!” she said.

‘Travellers’ moves across places, conflicts and emotional terrains, exploring themes of displacement, immigration and identity. According to Soumik, “It’s a deeply sonic experience where Hindustani and Carnatic roots meet sound design, theatrical scenes and rhythmic speech.” The sarod weaves through recordings of war, migration and historical warnings, while tabla, violin and percussion create a constantly shifting sonic landscape. Soumik will be joined on stage by Sayee Rakshith on the violin, Debjit Patitundi on the tabla, and Sumesh Narayanan on the mridangam and percussion. Apart from Chennai, ‘Travellers’ will also be presented at Spoken Fest in Mumbai (February 22). Soumik is also scheduled to perform a sarod recital at the Sacred Festival in Amritsar on February 21.

February will also see Soumik present a project very close to his heart, ‘Mone Rekho’, in Ahmedabad. Initiated in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society, and inspired by conversations with people living with dementia, ‘Mone Rekho’ is an immersive audio-visual exploration of memory and the sacred bond between teacher and student. It centres on Soumik’s relationship with his late guru, Pt Buddhadev Das Gupta. The show has Soumik transitioning between the roles of student, storyteller and master-musician in a space that shifts from concert hall to classroom, care homes and the streets of Kolkata. “It is also a story about the tricks the human mind plays on us. It’s a demanding piece, I narrate, play the sarod and trigger live visuals simultaneously,” explained Soumik.

Soumik is also designing the soundscape for Mythili’s upcoming dance play ‘Durga’s Daughters’, a fictional exploration of two women living in present times, holding within them the secret that they are indeed the estranged daughters of goddess Durga. Currently, he is midway through his seven-month long India tour called ‘Melodies in Slow Motion’, which will see him travel to all the four corners of the country to perform, collaborate with young musicians and record in unusual spaces. Post that, Soumik will collaborate with schools, NGOs, British Council and Earth Day Network. “We’ll be using music to support mental health in the youth and environmental awareness, making the arts more accessible to the next generation,” he said.

Sahaj will take place on February 12 and 13 at The Folly, Amethyst in Chennai.