Nadi Natya Documentary on Rivers& Indian Dance | ನದೀನಾಟ್ಯ ಸಾಕ್ಷ್ಯಚಿತ್ರ

Nadí Nāṭya –  is a First ever of its kind documentary exploring the profound relationship between rivers and Indian traditional theatre and dance. Beginning with sacred river geography, it traces how rivers inspired the origins of Nāṭya as envisioned by Sage Bharata in the Nāṭyashāstra. The film highlights river-centric movements from the Natyashastra like Gangāvatarana Karana, Jala Gatis, Pindibhandhas and Nadí Hastas from other treatises, along with Puranas, Vedic rituals like Kalasha Snāna, and choreographies such as Nadí Alarippu and Kaveri Kauta. Even it delineates the usage of river concepts in contemporary Kannada Cinemas. Through philosophy, rituals and performance, rivers emerge as muse and metaphor—flowing into aesthetics, rhythm, and tradition. Ultimately, both river and dance mirror each other: sacred journeys of devotion, renewal, and timeless humanity. This film is selected, screened and widely appreciated at Nadi Utsav- a national level conference and film festival organised by IGNCA at New Delhi in 2025 November.

Direction, Concept, Research, Script, Screenplay, Voiceover, Presentation, Lyrics and composition of music by :

Dr. Manorama B. N.

Producer:

Noopura Bhramari ®- Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems

Script Editors and Production Managers

Smt. Rohini A R

Sri Vishnuprasad N

Artistic Directors

Dr Manorama B N (Poorvaranga Vidhi kriya, Hastas, Karanas and Gati)

Dr Dwaritha Viswanatha (Nadi Alarippu, Gangavatarana, Dance of river spatial divisions on stage)

Smt Bhavya Manjunath (Cauvery Kouta dance)

Lyrics and Composition

Late Swami Dayananda Saraswati (Bho Shambho, 1930)

Dr Manorama B N (Cauvery Kouta, Ninna Julu Julu Nada)

Dr Dwaritha Viswanatha (Nadi Alaripu)

Performers

Dr Manorama B N

Dr Dwaritha Viswanatha

Smt. Bhavya Manjunath

Smt. Kshitija K.S

Kum.Anusha N K

Kum.Apoorva S R

Smt. Kavya Krishnaraj

Kum. Vibha B S

Kum.Dhriti Bharadwaj

Kum.Shrikirti Raman

Kum.Saanvi Gurudatta Rao

Kum.Srinidhi A

Kum.Mayukha A Koushik

Kum. Shruti V

Singers

Balasubhramanya Sharma (Gangavatarana)

Prasanna Kumar (Nadi Alarippu)

Nagashree Narayan (Cauvery Kouta, Ninna julu julu- end music)

Studio, Videography and Editing

Rajiv & Sumanth Crossfade, Bengaluru, Karnataka