1. Invocation song

On the eve of Indian Republic Day, we are starting our celebration tonight with our national song Vande Maatharam written by Shri.Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (Translated in English by Shri.Aurobindo). ‘Vande Maatharam’ means ‘Mother, I bow to thee!’

In this song we praise our motherland’s glorious beauty and bow to her mighty strength.

Sung By: Mouli Subramanian, Shivani, Rajagopal, Ratna, Sangeetha and Neeraja.

Organized By: Mouli Subramanian

Want to know more about Vande Mataram History, click -->Vande Maatharam Creation History

2. Dola Re

Girls dancing with lamps to the rhythm of drum beats creating an enchanting atmosphere. They are dancing to the fast beat of "Dola Re" from the movie 'Devdas', which is nominated from India to the Oscar screening process.

3. Kids fusion dance

Performed by our younger generation, presenting a fusion dance for classical and Hindustani music forms. The Bharath Natyam classical form developed in Southern India while the Hindustani form of Indian classical developed in the Northern India.

Presenting the fusion are: Ashley, Varsha, Vasundara and Priyanka.

Choreographed by: Sudha Vasu

4. Play - "An Awakening"

A comical rendition to the life of a couple living in Seattle, who have convinced themselves that they can't make a difference in the plight of the poor in India. They argue that with the corruption and problems running so deep and they living so far, its impossible to effect change. But a chance visit to a village in India brings about AN AWAKENING when they experience zits true state.

Casts: Arun, Ashley, Geetanjali, Mayura, Mayuri, Mouli, Pary, Parth, Sameer and Veera.

Production Assistant: Sameer Vaidya.

Playwright & Direction: Nishant Sinha.

5. South Indian folk dance

Karakam is a folk art developed along with the cult of Mariamman. The word Karakam denotes a pot or kumbham filled with sacred water for purificatory purposes.

Kavadi consists of a semi-circular wooden structure with a central shaft placed on the shoulders of the pilgrims who dance their way to Lord Muruga’s holy sanctum. The carrying of Kavadi by pilgrims is symbolic of Idumban, a principal devotee described in mythology, carrying the hillocks, the abodes of the Lord slung on a pole.

In this, Guys are performing “Kavadi” and Girls are performing “karagam”.

Dancing to this are: Naga, Shyamala, Raja, Shivani, Arul, Tresa, Velmurugan, Jyothi, Vikram, and Ratna.

Choreographed by: Naga Chandrasekaran, Shyamala Ganesh.

6. Slide Show on India

Presenting various cultural insights and facts on India.

Prepared By: Jayan Krishnan

7. Jugal Bandhi

The crossover between Indian classical and western contemporary music has been going on for decades. Fusion is what the world calls it. But ``contemporary'' and ``world'' music is how this group of musicians likes to describe it. That they play instruments that carry the tag of being ``traditional'' in a musical world that is fast moving towards the modern area of ``ready-made'' popular packages is something that does not really bother them. Striking the right notes is, after all, what these musicians do best.

It is not often that one gets to hear the melodies of the Sarangi mingling with the pulsating tunes of the guitar, the rhythmic beats of drums and Tabla and the captivating and soothing notes of the Kantele.

Presenting the Musical Fusion are:

Mahesh and Rajeev on Guitar

Sunny on Drums

Mukesh on Tabla

Mouli on Mridangam

Srihari on Flute

Rajagopal on KeyBoard.

Directed By: Mahesh Mahanti

8. Dandiya dance

Gujarat has a unique distinction of having a legendary origin of her folk dance forms.

Most of the art traditions of Gujarat trace their origin to the mythological times of Lord Krishna. He is said to have been an exponent of art of dancing. Raas Nritya is a form of dance performed by lord Krishna with Gopikas. The Dandia variety of the Raas Nritya of Gujarat is generally performed by a group of youthful people, who move in circles to measured steps, beating time with small sticks (called dandia) singing to the accompaniment of Dhol, flute and various musical instruments.

Dancing to Dandia are: Prarthana, Anjani, Deepali, Geetanjali, Akkamma, Pooja, Leena, Shivani, Nisha, and Rudmeela.

Choreographed by: Prarthana Kashikar.

9. Fusion dance

A fusion dance between the classical and western dance forms. We have selected the famous song number Made in India by Alisha Chinai for this dance.

Stylistically different group of youth dancing to the tune are: Naga, Natalie, Mouli, Taylor, Raja, Daznella, Vel murugan, and Emina.

Choreographed by: Naga Chandrasekaran & Sudha Vasu.

10. Punjabi Gidda Dance

Folk-dances of the Punjab virtually hold a mirror to the characteristic Punjabi fortitude, forthrightness and gaiety. Giddha is the folk-dance par excellence of women. It leaves plenty of margin for the depiction of feminine grace and elasticity. Women perform this dance mainly on festive and social occasions especially marriages.

Performing the Gidda for us are: Sameeta, Kamini, Seema, Roma, Nisha, Shilpa, Priyanka, Ashley and Vasu.

Choreographed by: Sameeta Sahni.

11. Independence theme dance drama

Indian aspirations to remain as an independent entity has always remained scattered till the second half of the 19th century. The socio- religious movements brought forth by various social reformers all over the country inspired national consciousness to improve their social condition and invoked the spirit of patriotism in the Indian masses. Throughout the British rule in India there was a section of Indians who were discontented and exploited politically, socially economically and spiritually. They took up the mission of subduing the British diplomacy and hoped to revive self-rule.

The Indian national movement was dominated by the Gandhian ideology; non-violence, non co-operation and civil disobedience movement. All these, at that period of time worked or failed, but were revoked and modified and reapplied ultimately resulting in the freedom in 1947.

Its time to have a glimpse of our historical past through the eyes of a freedom fighter.

Presenting this dance drama to us are: Naga, Shyamala, Raja, Shivani, Arul, Ratna, Vel Murugan, Mayura, Rajagopal, Hari, Vinod, Kiran, Satya, Mouli, Arun, Varsha.

Directed by: Naga Chandrasekaran.

Indian Freedom Struggle - Refrerences

The Struggle For Independence - Brief History of Indian Frredom Struggle.

Freedom Movement Of India - Look on right hand side for different sections of Indian Freedom Struggle.

Indian Freedom Struggle - Categorized decriptions and timelines of Indian Freedom Struggle History

MCs

Ashwini Vittal and Seema Raj

Sanjay Singh and Vikram Koka