What happens to our relationship with nature when we take more than we give? This question lies at the heart of Āntarīṇī – An Awakening Call, a presented by HCL Concerts and choreographed by Bharatanatyam artiste Rama Kshirsagar and her team. Weaving together Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, contemporary movement and music, it traces how far we have drifted from living in harmony with the natural world. Excerpts from a chat:‘Awareness is not the same as action’Shedding light on the hypocrisies we practise in our daily lives, Rama says, “I felt that just telling people to reduce waste was a very typical approach. In this production, we hold a mirror up to the audience.” One episode features a character who is deeply involved in protecting animals and wildlife but is drawn to a crocodile-leather bag. “The contradiction reflects how environmental awareness does not always translate into everyday choices,” she adds.‘We have moved away from nature’s rhythm’Āntarīṇī contrasts a time when people lived in closer harmony with nature and today’s culture of consumerism and individualism.“The production draws on verses from the Rig Veda’s Nasadiya Sukta and the Atharva Veda’s Bhumi Sukta, along with folk songs from Karnataka and Saurashtra, to reflect this connection between people, nature and community. Initially, we show a natural flow, and then we show how, suddenly, we begin to go against the flow of nature,” says Rama.The shift in the performance reflects how human desires and patterns of consumption disrupt the rhythms of the natural world.‘Art can encourage people to reflect on their choices’Rama believes art must do more than raise awareness. It must inspire introspection and change. “I strongly believe that art can inspire meaningful psychological and behavioural change. With Āntarīṇī, the intention is not merely to highlight environmental problems, but to encourage people to reflect on their own choices and recognise the contradictions in their lifestyles. We have moved from living in harmony with nature to working against it. Rather than prescribing a fixed set of solutions, the production invites audiences to consider what changes they can make in their own lives and circumstances,” she says.
