It all comes down to those moments before getting on stage. Time for some last-minute touch ups.
Margazhi 2026
Mylapore Fine Arts Club
Jan 2026
Looking forward to my last Margazhi 2025-2026 performance under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts @kartikfinearts at Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall on January 9 from 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM. All are welcome! Grateful for the amazing orchestra ensemble.
Guru Padmashri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj on Nattuvangam
Kaushik Champakesan on Vocal @champakesan
Nagai Narayanan @nagainarayanan on Mridangam
Thaiagarajan Ramani @thiagarajanramani on Flute
Durai Srinivasan @duraisrini_18 on Violin
Inviting one and all on January 6th as I am grateful to perform in Brahma Gana Sabha @brahmaganasabha from 6:15 PM - 7:15 PM with my Guru Padmashri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj on Nattuvangam, Concept & Coordination: Shakthi Bhaskar Akka; Vocal: Smt. Bhavya Hari @bhavyahari.music; Mridangam: Shri Nagai Sriram @nagai_sriram_mridangam; Flute: Shri Thiagarajan Ramani @thiagarajanramani; Violin: Smt. Srilakshmi Venkataramani.
It was such a memorable experience @mylaporefinearts to perform in front my family, friends and well wishers and to have my Guru do Nattuvangam was a blessing. Thank you Narthaki Akka and Shakthi Akka for your love, support and blessings. It means the world to me. Thank you to my amazing family, support system, well wishers who continue to shower me with their love and encouragement. I felt the presence of காமாட்சி in the audience. Thank you to the amazing orchestra who supported me last evening.
Starting from my guru Padmashrl Dr. Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj on Nattuvangam
Bhavya Hari @bhavyahari.music on vocal
Nagai Narayanan @nagainarayanan on Mridangam
Thiagarajan Ramani @thiagarajanramani on Flute
Durai Srinivasan @duraisrini_18 on Violin
Concept and Coordination - Shakthi Bhaskar Akka
Family and Friends - THANK YOU. To the many San Diego families who came - THANK YOU. 🙏🏽
✨ Happy New Year! ✨
As we step into 2026, my heart thinks about the foundations that shaped me—the quiet strength, precision, and depth of the Thanjavur lineage of Bharathanatyam. Every adavu carries the wisdom of generations who danced not for applause, but for anubhava.
This past year has reminded me that the journey of a dancer is never linear. It spirals—much like the korvais we inherit—always returning to the core, yet revealing new layers each time. I enter this new year with renewed commitment to sadhana, to honoring the tradition that raised my art, and to exploring the depth of Thanjavur choreography.
May 2026 bring all of us the courage to refine our craft, the humility to keep learning, and the grace to move through life with the same intention we bring to the stage.
🌺 Wishing everyone a year filled with light, rhythm, and the timeless beauty of our art.
— Aarthi Narain
Grateful to be back in Chennai for Margazhi. As the kutcheri season fills the air with ragas before sunrise, where dance listens, and music moves.
🌺 Rooted in tradition, carried by the music and dance of the month that makes Chennai come alive.
Hope to see you all on Jan 2nd; Jan 6th or Jan 9th.
PC: @fotozone_dance_photography
An Evening to remember at Bharath Kalachar!!!
Last night, watching my guru Padma Shri Narthaki Nataraj Akka @narthakinataraj perform felt like stepping into a living manuscript—where every movement had such deep expression. Her choreography wasn’t just dance; it was layered scholarship. Decades of Literature embedded in abhinaya and natya - such fierce authenticity. Grateful to have witnessed a performance like this.
#NarthakiNataraj #BharathKalachar #bharatanatyam
Thiruchindrambalam Siva Sidambaram. Welcoming one and all to Mylapore Fine Arts Club @mylaporefinearts to ring in the new year on January 2nd for a Margam featuring Thanjavur classics passed on to me by my guru Dr. Narthaki Nataraj and Shakthi Bhaskar akka. Blessed to have Narthaki Akka @narthakinataraj on Nattuvangam, Bhavya Hari @bhavyahari.music on Vocal, Nagai Narayanan @nagainarayanan on Mridangam, Thiagarajan Ramani @thiagarajanramani on Flute and Durai Srinivasan @duraisrini_18 on Violin. See you all soon. @aarthinarain @archanaschoolofdance
What a special evening with family, friends and well wishers at RK Swamy Auditorium with Pushpanjali Cultural Trust kicking off Margazhi. Grateful to my Guru Narthaki Akka and Shakthi Akka and the amazing musical ensemble. @narthakinataraj @nagainarayanan @duraisrini_18 @randhini82 @thiagarajanramani @nandita.natyam @seethaj10 @archanaschoolofdance
Looking forward to kicking off Margazhi performances tomorrow with blessings from the almighty, my family and my Guru. Welcome one and all. 🙏🏽
Thiruchitrambalam Siva Sidambaram Velliambalathaan Padham Charanam. With blessings from the almighty, my family and my Guru Padmashri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj and Shakthi Bhaskar akka, I want to invite each and every one of you to Pushpanjali Cultural Trust at RK Swamy Hall tomorrow (December 20) from 7 PM - 8:30 PM as I kick off my Margazhi season. Grateful for @narthakinataraj akka for Nattuvangam, the amazing orchestra of @randhini82 on vocal, @thiagarajanramani on Flute, @nagainarayanan on Mridangam and @duraisrini_18 on the violin. Inviting one and all.
Great start to the Natya Darshan Conference curated by my guru Nritya Kalanidhi Kalaimamani Padma Shri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj ! Enjoyed meeting amazing people, soaking in the Margazhi vibes and getting energized for a great season. Looking forward to Day 2 today!
With great support from my family and blessings from my Guru Nritya Kalanidhi Padma Shri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj I would like to invite each and every one of you to my performances during the Margazhi season in Chennai this year 🙏🏽. I would be thrilled to have you attend. Thank you so much for your continued support. #bharathanatyam #margazhi
Wanted to share that my student Nandita Anantharaman @nandita.natyam from Archana School of Dance @archanaschoolofdance will be performing in Chennai’s Margazhi Season for the very first time this year! Watching her step onto this stage with dedication, discipline, and love for the art makes me immensely proud. If you’re in Chennai, please come shower her with your blessings during one of her programs. Seeking blessings from my guru Nritya Kalanidhi Padmashri Dr. Narthaki Natraj @narthakinataraj
#margazhiseason #bharatanatyam #chennaiarts
May Ambal bless our home, our hearts and our art ❤️ PC: @sundarclicks
During the season of Navarathri, i pray to Durga for Shakthi, to Lakshmi for Grace and to Saraswathi for Wisdom. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to dance ❤️ #blessedandgrateful #bharathanatyam #indianclassicaldance @archanaschoolofdance
What a blessing to perform in front of goddess Lakshmi during Navarathri Vaibhavam at Banu & Jai’s home. Thanks to @samaaartsllcusa @vvsmurariofficial sir and @banu_jai for organizing this event. Special thanks to @niviksbrj_music @vmaganti22 and @nikhita.kaushik for an amazing live orchestra. Blessed and grateful for my Guru Narthaki Nataraj @narthakinataraj akka 🙏🏽 Jewelry from @adithi_collections_ thank you for helping me find a piece on such short notice
