The second edition of Samskriti, a festival dedicated to celebrating the richness of Indian classical arts, will be held from 15 to 17 August 2025 at the SOTA Studio Theatre and Alliance Francaise in Singapore. Organised by Kalpavriksha Fine Arts, this three-day festival is a tribute to India’s vibrant cultural heritage — blending tradition with innovation through dance, music, storytelling, and community engagement.
This year’s edition holds special meaning, as Kalpavriksha Fine Arts celebrates its 10th anniversary as a non-profit arts organisation in Singapore. Founded in 2016, the organisation has mentored over 200 students and staged acclaimed performances both locally and internationally.
The 2025 edition is also supported by the National Arts Council and the High Commission of India in Singapore. Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of India–Singapore diplomatic relations and SG60 — Singapore’s own independence milestone — Samskriti 2025 aims to foster connection and reflect on the shared cultural values between the two nations.
Art as a bridge between past and present
Launched in 2023, Samskriti was created as a platform to celebrate India’s classical arts in a way that feels personal, inclusive, and meaningful. It brings together performers, choreographers, designers, writers, and audiences in a shared space where tradition and contemporary expression are not seen as opposites but as companions.
Meera Balasubramanian, Director of Kalpavriksha Fine Arts and the artistic force behind the festival, shared that the idea of Samskriti had been forming long before its first edition. “Samskriti was born out of a longing to create a space where Indian classical and contemporary expressions could co-exist and be celebrated without hierarchy. The idea had been simmering for a few years—particularly after the pandemic reminded us of the power of live art in healing and rebuilding a community,” Meera told Connected to India’s Sudipto Maity during an exclusive interview recently.
She said that the inaugural edition offered many valuable lessons. “The inaugural edition of Samskriti in 2023 was a powerful learning experience. We discovered how deeply art can resonate when it’s rooted in authenticity and made accessible across communities. One key takeaway was the importance of programming that speaks to both connoisseurs and first-time audiences. We also learnt the value of partnerships—be it with artists, institutions, or volunteers—and how they shape the energy of the festival. Finally, audience feedback reaffirmed the need for platforms that are community-focused yet artistically ambitious,” she said.
A curated celebration of womanhood
The theme for Samskriti 2025 is ‘A Celebration of Womanhood through the Lens of Tradition’, focusing on three central ideas — Identity, Influence, and Inheritance. Each featured production has been selected to reflect one of these thematic pillars.
Meera explained the curatorial thought process in detail. “Each performance was selected to represent one of these thematic dimensions: Eeram (Identity) is a Bharatanatyam dance-theatre work by a Singapore ensemble that explores the emotional and elemental aspects of womanhood — softness, resilience, transformation — through a contemporary lens. Star Trek (Influence) is a multimedia tribute to two iconic cultural figures, Rukmini Devi Arundale and M.S. Subbulakshmi, whose lives redefined the purpose and reach of Indian classical arts. Madurai Veeran Koothu (Inheritance), performed by the acclaimed Kapila Venu, brings the ancient form of Kutiyattam to Singapore in a rare appearance — highlighting women’s roles as custodians of sacred traditions and oral storytelling.”
This year’s headlining performance, Eeram, is a new Bharatanatyam work inspired by the writings of Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathi. It delves into the themes of freedom, equality, and femininity, set to music composed by Kalyani Nair and Subiksha Rangarajan. The choreography is led by Sri Shyamjith Kiran. Eeram will be performed twice — once during the festival’s opening on 15 August at 8:00 PM and again on 16 August at 8:00 PM at SOTA Studio Theatre.
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On the afternoon of 16 August, at 3:00 PM, theatre director and writer Gowri Ramnarayan will present Star Trek — a storytelling tribute to two iconic women who helped shape modern Indian art as both a spiritual and social force: Rukmini Devi Arundale and M.S. Subbulakshmi.
The festival will close with Madurai Veeran Koothu, a rare Tamil narrative presented in the ancient Kutiyattam performance tradition by renowned artist Kapila Venu. Scheduled for 17 August at 6:00 PM at Alliance Francaise, this stylised classical piece explores themes of love, sacrifice, and destiny through layered storytelling.
Fringe events and deeper engagement
Alongside the main stage performances, Samskriti 2025 also includes community-based fringe events designed to deepen audience engagement and broaden access to Indian classical arts.
A pre-festival panel discussion was held on 19 July at the National Library Building in Bugis, organised in collaboration with AWARE and Kalpavriksha Fine Arts. This dialogue explored explore themes around gender, representation, and the evolving role of women in the arts.
On 16 August at 9:00 AM, Kapila Venu will lead an intensive workshop at Aliwal Arts Centre, offering participants a rare opportunity to learn about the Kutiyattam tradition directly from a master practitioner.
“We’ve expanded the scope of Samskriti both thematically and structurally,” Meera explained. “We’ve introduced new verticals such as Star Trek (a tribute-based dance-theatre segment), more interdisciplinary collaborations, and panel discussions that allow for deeper engagement. Artist curation has been more intentional — highlighting legacy and emerging voices side by side. We’ve also increased accessibility by offering performances with English subtitles and hosting outreach events in community spaces. Most notably, we now have the support of the Indian High Commission, which has helped elevate the festival’s profile.”
A unique artistic voice in Singapore’s cultural landscape
Singapore’s cultural calendar already features Kala Utsavam, one of the largest Indian arts festivals outside India. Samskriti aims to carve out its own identity, rooted in community and creative dialogue.
“Kala Utsavam has been a pioneering platform and continues to do incredible work. Samskriti doesn’t aim to replicate but rather to complement and add a new dimension,” Meera said. “Where Kala Utsavam is a large-scale institutionally driven festival, Samskriti is more community-rooted and artist-led. Our focus is on fostering dialogue between tradition and today—between inherited forms and personal interpretations. We also centre Singapore-based voices and cross-cultural intersections more prominently. There is space—and need—for multiple platforms to represent the vastness and evolution of Indian arts.”
When asked about this year’s focus on cultural luminaries, Meera responded, “These three icons represent different but deeply interconnected streams of Indian cultural identity. Bharathi stands for radical thought and poetic revolution. Rukmini Devi brought dignity, aesthetics, and structure to Indian classical dance, especially Bharatanatyam. MS Subbulakshmi redefined devotion through music and became a global cultural ambassador. Together, they represent intellect, artistry, and soul.”
As Samskriti grows into its second edition, it continues to provide a space for deep artistic reflection and expression — where tradition is not just preserved but actively lived, questioned, and reimagined.
