New Delhi, September 21st, 2026: Tara Padmanabhan, disciple of Padmashri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Guru Geeta Chandran, presented her Bharatanatyam Arangetram on Saturday evening at the Delhi Tamil Sangam Auditorium, Sector VI, R.K. Puram, New Delhi. Presented by Natya Vriksha, the recital marked an important milestone in Tara’s eleven-year journey of learning, performing and growing with her guru and the institution.
The evening was attended by several distinguished dignitaries, artistes, academics, members of Delhi’s cultural community, family, friends and well-wishers. Prof. (Dr.) Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal and Professor, Department of Political Science, Miranda House, University of Delhi, was the Chief Guest, while Dr. Nila Mohanan, IAS, Joint Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, was the Guest of Honour.
Tara’s Arangetram was particularly significant as her association with Natya Vriksha began at the age of seven. What started with a paavadai for Vijayadashami and her first pair of ghungroos grew over the years into eleven years of learning, rigorous training, performances, friendships and experiences. Her Arangetram brought this long journey to an important milestone as she presented her first full solo recital under the guidance of Guru Geeta Chandran.
Following the traditional Bharatanatyam Margam, Tara presented Pushpanjali, Alarippu, Jatiswaram in Kanada Ragam, Shringara Varnam in Ragam Purvikalyani, Mirabai Padam Chakar Rakho Ji, Tamil Padam Taaye Yashoda, Tillana in Brindavani Ragam and Mangalam. The repertoire brought together the different aspects of Bharatanatyam that Tara has worked on during her years of training, from pure dance and rhythm to abhinaya and expression.
An Arangetram is more than a debut on stage. In the guru-shishya tradition, it is a moment when years of practice come together in performance and when a student begins to take greater ownership of the art she has learnt. For Guru Geeta Chandran, whose approach to Bharatanatyam places equal importance on rigour, detail and understanding, such performances are an important part of nurturing young dancers.
“Tara has grown up with Natya Vriksha, and that has made her journey very special. Over the years, I have seen her move from the excitement of a young child learning her first steps to a young dancer who is now ready to take responsibility for what she presents on stage. An Arangetram is a culmination of training, but it should never be seen as the completion of learning. I hope Tara carries the same curiosity and discipline into the years ahead and continues to discover what Bharatanatyam means to her,” said Guru Geeta Chandran.
Dance has grown alongside Tara’s academic and other interests. She is currently pursuing B.Sc. (Hons.) in Mathematics at Miranda House, University of Delhi, and has cleared the CA Foundation examination this year. She has trained in classical music for twelve years and is a member of her college’s Dance Society. She has also been involved in student initiatives and leadership roles through her school and college years.
The Arangetram featured a live orchestra led by Guru Geeta Chandran on Nattuvangam, with Vidwan K. Venkateshwaran on vocal, Vidwan Manohar Balatchandirane on Mridangam and Vidwan G. Raghvendra Prasath on violin.
“Having imagined this day for so many years, it is difficult to put into words what it means to me. What began with the excitement of wearing a paavadai for Vijayadashami and putting on my ghungroos for the first time slowly grew into years of stories with Akka, friendships that became family, performances and memories that have stayed with me through the years. For me, this Arangetram marks the beginning of a deeper relationship with dance, of discovering, learning, unlearning and finding new meaning in an art form that has grown alongside me. I can only look back at this journey with immense gratitude,” said Tara Padmanabhan.
The recital marked a significant transition in Tara’s journey—from the seven-year-old who first arrived at Natya Vriksha with her ghungroos to a young dancer taking greater responsibility for her art and beginning a new chapter in her relationship with Bharatanatyam.
Tara Padmanabhan is the daughter of G. Ponnammal and the late Arvind Padmanabhan and granddaughter of Shantha Padmanabhan. Her Arangetram is both a celebration of eleven years of training under Guru Geeta Chandran and the beginning of a continuing journey of learning, exploration and artistic growth.