Prasiddha@40 Celebrating Four Decades of Cultural Excellence
Text By: M.Bharathi
Source By: Prasiddha Foundation
Prathibha Prahlad: The Driving Force Behind India’s Cultural Renaissance
Prathibha Prahlad, a pre-eminent danseuse, choreographer, educator, author, speaker, arts administrator, and cultural visionary, has had an illustrious career spanning over four decades. With more than 5,000 performances in India and over 80 countries, she has carved a niche for herself as an artiste extraordinaire. Her contributions to the field of arts have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri in 2016 and the National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2001.
Prathibha Prahlad’s journey began in 1985 when she established the Prasiddha Foundation, a premier cultural organization dedicated to fostering love and appreciation for all forms of art. The foundation’s mission is to work through the medium of arts for the promotion of national and international cultural contact. Over the years, the foundation has organized several festivals, including Sharad Vaibhava, Eka Aneka, and Hampi Vijayotsav, which have become synonymous with artistic excellence.
One of Prathibha Prahlad’s most notable contributions is the Delhi International Arts Festival, which she conceived and founded in 2007. The festival has become India’s most iconic festival of arts, showcasing the country’s soft power and branding India as a cultural superpower internationally. The festival has featured performances by over 10,000 artistes from India and abroad, making it a premier platform for cultural diplomacy and cultural tourism.
Prathibha Prahlad’s choreographic works have been hailed as path-breaking productions in Indian dance. Her recent productions, such as Bharat After Mahatma, Warrior Women of Bharat, and Ekam Sat, have been widely acclaimed for their technical brilliance, emotional connect, and contemporary approach. Her latest production, Saamarthya – Women of Ramayana, premiered on March 10, 2025, at the Stein Auditorium, Habitat Centre, New Delhi, as part of the Prasiddha@40 celebrations.
Saamarthya – Women of Ramayana is a landmark dance theatre production that retells the story of Lord Rama through the kinetic energy of the women of Ramayana. The production features a unique blend of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, and Mohiniattam styles, giving it a pan-Indian flavor. The choreography is conceptualized and designed by Prathibha Prahlad, who has woven together the stories of Seeta, Kaikeyi, Urmila, Shoorpanika, and Mandodari to create a compelling narrative that highlights the importance of women in the epic.
The production features a talented cast of dancers, including Alekhya Punjala, Sanchita Bhattacharya, Ayswaria Wariar, Haripriya Nambudari, Rahul Ray, Kuleshwar Thakur, Nitin Kumar, Ram Gautam, Senyai Meitei, Ramhari Mohanty, Kavya Kashinath, Rachana Karnik, and Aashna Priyamvada. The music is an integral part of the production, with original compositions that blend classical and contemporary elements.
Saamarthya – Women of Ramayana is not just a dance production; it is an experience that aims to redefine the presentation of Bharat’s sacred arts. The production is a testament to Prathibha Prahlad’s commitment to preserving and promoting India’s rich cultural heritage. As she says, “Culture is the wealth you pass onto future generations. It is our identity and is the only truly unifying force in this divisive world. It is our collective duty to invest in culture.”
The Prasiddha@40 celebrations, which marked the 40th anniversary of the Prasiddha Foundation, featured a three-day festival titled Ramayana Chaitraval. The festival included performances by renowned artistes, including Surya N. Rao, P. Praveen Kumar, Nidhaga Karunad, Satyanarayana Raju, and Mithun Shyam. The festival was inaugurated by distinguished luminaries, including Respected Sri. Dattatreya Hosabale, Sarkaryavah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and Respected Sri. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon. Minister of Culture and Tourism, GOI.
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