Purushartha, Attakkalari’s recent multimedia production was performed to a packed house for the first time in India on February 8 and 9 at Ranga Shankara, in Bangalore.  

Purushartha is the result of an intense collaborative effort between Jayachandran Palazhy, artistic director Attakkalari and Kunihiko Matsuo, musical director and digital artist from Japan.

Choreographed by Jayachandran Palazy and performed by Attakkalari’s repertory company, the movement language is reflective of contemporary India, yet like most of Attakkalari’s work influenced by traditions ranging from the Keralan martial art form of Kalarippayattu to the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam.

A stark Zen-like, pristine white stage and backdrop designed by Hamanaka was transformed by Kunihiko Matuso’s digital wizardry. 

The dancers led by Jayachandran took the audience through an electrifying and moving experience. Matsuo’s unusual and innovative score, further embellished by Matsumoto’s live digital sounds, combined with the seamless layers of light and shade took the audience back and forth between the real and the imaginary through a unique sensorial journey. 

Performed to packed audiences, Purushartha had its world premier at the Biennale Bonn in May 2006 and toured most of the major festivals in Europe, including the Venice Biennale, Frankfurt Book Fair, Munich Contemporary Dance Festival, the Monaco Dance Forum and the Julidans Festival, Amsterdam. It  was also performed in Japan.