We Hold on to What we Can
A powerful creation brought to life by an ensemble of over 140 cast and crew members from Australia, India, Canada, USA, Sri Lanka, Germany and France telling the poignant story of genocide, art, and Tamil identity
Sem Mann a 3 hour bilingual (Tamil and English) Immersive dance theatre production that unravels the inspiring journey of, a Bharathanatyam Dancer from the Tamil diaspora, Kalaivaani Gunasekaran (Kala) who looks back on a poignant year in Madras in 1989, when love transformed her life and fuelled her unwavering fight to sustain her identity.
The story weaves together love, loss, and the search for identity. When Kala meets a writer and activist in Madras in the 1980s, she is pulled into a journey of discovering her past, her identity, her art and herself. Through live theatre combined with cinematic visuals and vibrant dances Sem Mann explores the deep connections between displacement, art and identity among migrant communities
Synopsis
Sem Mann Production
Sem Mann is an immersive theatre production featuring over 140 participants on screen and in live theatre from Australia, India, Canada, USA, Germany and France set to take place at the Rasika Ranjani Sabha on the 19th of January 2025. This captivating dance theatre experience merges the magic of screen and the live energy of stage, creating a dynamic narrative that travels through time and countries for a truly unique immersion.
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This feature-length production explores Bharatanatyam in a contemporary light, weaving it into the fabric of popular culture, theatre, and cinema. It serves as a heartfelt tribute to the 80s Tamil cinema and music, which provided solace to Tamils fleeing from the ravages of war. All while connecting with Bharathanatyam which served as an instrument to pass on culture among younger members of the Tamil diaspora.
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Shastram, known for blending diverse worlds and mediums, is taking this artistic fusion to the next level with this production.Shastram is going into this venture in Chennai with Chennai’s own Raging Bulls Actors Studio and Poochu’s Productions
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