Fire and Ash ; a thematic multi-genre production by JustUs Repertory, conceived, and directed by Nataka Choodamani Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan

Destroyer in Dreadlocks: The play Fire and Ash explores the modern symbolism and relevance of Shiva from a 21st century perspective, twisting modern issues and ancient mythology into a knot that’s as tight as the god’s famous dreadlocks.

Featuring Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan, Anjana Anand and Savita Narasimhan.

Fire and Ash transforms an ancient myth into a contemporary metaphor. Blending dance (Bharatanatyam), Indian classical and folk music, theatre and poetry, this performance celebrates Siva as the image of primordial creativity and cosmic energy. Featuring leading dancer Anjana Anand, narration by Dr.Gowri Ramnarayan accompanied by Savita Narasimhan on the vocals. Six paintings by Savita Narasimhan, commissioned for this work are displayed on the stage sequentially, to highlight the different segments. Storytelling in English knits and vivifies the performance.

“With her understanding of the essence of the Indian philosophy, Gowri aims at bringing the ancient to the contemporary, and thus succeeding in transporting the Omnipotent and Omniscient to the Timelessness of Space. Gowri’s narration not only made it easier to thread together the whole tapestry, but it livened up the show by successfully communicating the deep philosophy in simple language, which at once reminds us of the role that saints and seers played in ancient times — introducing Bhakti through the language of the common man, as against the orthodoxy of Sanskrit, which was confined to a niche audience. In this journey, Savita Narasimhan successfully wielded the paint brush digitally, even as she rendered the ragas such as Mohanam, Hamsadhwani and Behag in her sweet voice, traversing the varied regions of India, with compositions by iconic Indian poets including Kalidasa, Appar, Akka Mahadevi, Shahji Raja, Tagore and Muthu Tandavar. “ THE HINDU