Since my early childhood, I naturally gravitated towards classical dance forms. This sentiment is deeply rooted in my memories, as I vividly recall returning home from school and ardently tuning into a televised program on Doordarshan that showcased the mesmerizing beauty of classical dances. Whenever a song played on TV, I couldn’t resist dancing spontaneously. These moments left a memorable impression on my father, as he would often fondly reminisce about them in later years. Notably, my talent was acknowledged by my school principal, who summoned my parents to convey her belief that I possessed the potential to become a trained classical dancer. However, at that particular juncture, I perhaps lacked the unwavering conviction required to pursue this passion wholeheartedly, consequently choosing not to pursue it. Nevertheless, these small yet significant incidents became etched within me, and it was only much later that I finally realized my profound longing to embark on this artistic path.

To be candid, during that stage of my life, I lacked a discerning understanding of the distinctions between Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and other classical dance forms. It almost seemed as though Bharatanatyam had chosen me, rather than the other way around. In the locality where I resided, Bharatanatyam held sway as the most popular dance form, with numerous revered teachers specializing in it. Nonetheless, when I approached a local teacher in 2018, she declined to instruct me on the basis of my age (I was 34 at the time). Ironically, I now feel thankful for those rejections. Those rejections led me to meet my wonderful mentor, Dr. Subashree Narayanan, who now supports and inspires me in my artistic journey.