The Hidden Legacy Of The Thanjavur Maratha Rajas

Born into a family deeply connected with music and theatre, Indumati Raman grew up in an environment where artistic traditions were both practiced and patronised.

- Sandip Soparrkar

In 1966, she joined the renowned institution Kalakshetra in Chennai, where its founder Rukmini Devi Arundale was still actively guiding the institution's artistic vision. Rukmini Devi had a deep fascination for the Bhagavata Mela natakams and adapted some of them into dance-dramas within the Kalakshetra repertoire. This exposure left a lasting impression on Raman and shaped her deep commitment to the tradition. Over the years, her journey evolved from performer to mentor, arts writer, and researcher, eventually leading her to play a significant role in reviving and documenting the Bhagavata Mela heritage of Melattur in Thanjavur.

Speaking about her new book, Raman reflects on how her research journey unfolded. "My first book, Bhagavata Mela: My Tryst with Tradition, explored the history of Thanjavur and the ten Telugu natakams composed by Melattur Venkatarama Sastri. While researching and working with the Bhagavata Mela tradition, I encountered another fascinating layer of theatre history connected with the Thanjavur Maratha rulers," she explains. In 2002, Raman produced, staged, and directed the Marathi Yakshaganam Sakuntalnatak Yakshaganam, written in 1736 by Bavasaheb Ekoji II, a Thanjavur Maratha ruler. The experience sparked her curiosity about the Marathi Yakshaganams composed by the Maratha kings of Thanjavur.