On October 3, the Littleton High School stage came alive with an extraordinary celebration of devotion, dance, music, and storytelling through Soodi Kodutha Sudar Kodi, a spectacular dance production presented by the students of Hema Iyengar (Nritya-Anjali School Of Dance) on the occasion of celebrating 20yrs of her dance school.

Featuring more than 60 dancers, the production beautifully brought to life the story of Andal, her unwavering love and devotion toward Lord Krishna, and her spiritual journey toward union with Lord Vishnu. The production was not simply a dance performance—it was an immersive journey through mythology, devotion, emotion, and Indian cultural heritage. The breathtaking choreography and musical compositions were masterfully crafted by Kalaimamani Sri. Madurai R. Muralidharan, with visionary artistic direction and production by Smt. Hema Iyengar.

The evening commenced with grace and energy as Preeti Dhvani took the stage as the master of ceremonies, setting an inspiring tone for the event.

Following the warm welcome, Preeti invited Parveen Minocha, President of the New England Region and Ranjani Saigal, from Ekal Vidyalaya, to the stage. They shared powerful insights into the mission and impact of Ekal Vidyalaya, shedding light on the organization's dedication to bringing education, empowerment, and holistic development to rural and remote communities.

Building upon the spirit of community service, the gathering then welcomed the chief guest, Kavita Chibber. In her engaging address, Kavita shared her profound thoughts on the vital role of art and culture in uniting people and serving the community, emphasizing how creative expression can be a powerful vehicle for social good.

The inspiring speeches left the audience motivated, deeply connected to the cause of Ekal Vidyalaya, and reminded of the transformative power of culture and community collaboration.

From the very beginning, the audience was captivated. The opening dance was spectacular, immediately establishing the grandeur and artistic excellence of the production. The story then unfolded through a series of beautifully choreographed episodes, beginning with the birth of Andal and moving through the divine story of Lord Krishna’s birth.

The production vividly portrayed some of the most beloved stories from Krishna’s childhood—including Putana, his playful camaraderie with friends, and his tender relationship with the Gopis. Each segment was brought to life through expressive abhinaya, intricate choreography, powerful music, and the remarkable energy of the dancers. Furthermore, the vibrant folk dances and stunning costumes added a magnificent burst of color and visual splendor to the entire production. 

One of the major highlights of the evening was the Kalinga dance where the senior students:Tarika Sridhar,Nirupama Bhatt, Divyanjali Shivashok, Prisha Nambiar, Mahi Kulkarni & Sakthi Adhira Panchabakesan  presented with tremendous energy and dramatic intensity. The choreography captured the strength and divinity of Krishna as he conquered the serpent Kalinga, creating one of the most memorable moments of the production.

The production also beautifully showcased Andal’s Maargazhi Thiruppavai, bringing forward the depth of her devotion and her spiritual connection with Lord Krishna. In a truly special presentation, Hema Iyengar stepped into the role of Andal, with Kalaimamani Sri. Madurai R. Muralidharan portraying her devoted father, Perialwar. The final portrayal of Andal’s wedding with Lord Vishnu provided a deeply moving and magnificent conclusion to her journey of love, faith, and devotion. 

What made the evening particularly special was the exceptionally high quality of the production. Choosing a narrative centered on Andal—a subject and story of devotion that has rarely, if ever, been showcased in the New England area—this theme was chosen because Andal and Lord Vishnu hold a deeply personal place in Hema Iyengar's heart and life journey. The choreography, costumes, music, lighting, staging, expressions, and synchronization came together to create a professional production of a caliber rarely seen in the region. The performance demonstrated the extraordinary talent and dedication of every dancer—from the youngest performers to the adults. 

Every dancer gave their very best, and that commitment was evident throughout the evening. The young dancers brought enthusiasm and innocence to the stage, while the older dancers demonstrated maturity, strength, and artistic expression. Together, they created a production that was both visually spectacular and deeply moving.

Beyond its artistic significance, the event also carried an important message of community and service. The evening was graced by Kavita Chibber and Ajit Acharya as chief guests, alongside many esteemed New England dance teachers and community leaders who joined to support the occasion. Special heartfelt thanks go to Shailesh Kumar from the Divine Heart Center and Archana Lavana from New England Dental for being the grand sponsors. Together, the production served as a powerful fundraiser for Ekal Vidyalaya, beautifully connecting the celebration of Indian arts and culture with an enduring effort to support education and opportunity. 

The evening concluded with a special moment of recognition. Senate and State recognition was presented to Hema Iyengar and Madurai R. Muralidharan by KG Narayanan and his wife Radha Narayanan honoring their contributions to the arts, culture, and community.

Soodi Kodutha Sudar Kodi was truly a celebration of devotion, heritage, talent, and community. It was an awe-inspiring and delightful evening—one that left the audience with admiration for the artistry on stage and appreciation for the countless hours of dedication behind the production.

From Andal’s devotion to Krishna and her journey toward Lord Vishnu, to the spectacular Kalinga dance and the beautiful Maargazhi Thiruppavai, every moment reflected the passion of the artists and the power of Indian classical dance to tell stories that continue to resonate across generations.

No grand production comes to life without the heart, soul, and tireless dedication of a remarkable community. Special appreciation goes to Preeti Dhanvi for her exceptional emcee work and flawless stage management, and to Pragya Gaur, who worked day and night to create stunning lighting and decorations that set the perfect mood.

Our deepest gratitude also goes to the dedicated team of volunteers who seamlessly managed ticketing, vendors, setup, and cleanup; Rukmini Gowda for capturing the magic through her photography; Krish Vel for exceptional videography; and Mark for managing the sound and lights at the Littleton Auditorium. We warmly thank the entire Littleton crew for their invaluable support on October 2nd and 3rd.

Finally, heartfelt thanks go to the dance parents, whose unwavering support, patience, and encouragement through every practice session and journey have been the true backbone of this entire milestone.

It was more than a dance production. It was a celebration of faith, culture, artistry, and the enduring beauty of devotion.

These were the dancers who participated: Hema Iyengar,Tarika Sridhar,Shilpa Aravind, Aishwarya Khaire, Archana Menon, Sugathri Srinivasan, Isha Shah, Rutuja Patil, Kodhanayake Bangalore Selvaraj, Akila Bharathy Mohan, Raji kundeti, Nithya Sundaravelu, Pavithra Simh, Priyanka Bhalla, Sunitha Krishnapillai ,Akshara Pidaparthi, Dhanyalakshmi Tamilvanan, Deekshitha konidala, Sarakshi Hodarkar, Reya Chari, Maanya Simh,Aanika Jaywant, Pari Patel, Aarohi Sakalikar, Kashish Patel, Srinithi Saravanan, Mishika Basu, Sakthi Adhira Panchabakesan, Navya Satishkumar, Niralya Edwin, Aretha Aravind, Amrita Prakash, Daya Ragesh, Hasini Pydimarri, Aanvi Simh, Mahathe Logesh, Evelyn Shreya Roshin, Nirupama Bhatt, Divyanjali Shivashok, Prisha Nambiar, Mahi Kulkarni, Shivani Shah, Anaita Bala, Keerthana Sivakumar, Kashvi Samaga, Mahi Patel, Haripriya Tolety, Dishita Iyer, Cherisha Raju, Anika Mukherjee, Reina Manini Kale, Kirti Logesh, Kavinayalakshmi Tamilvanan, Vanya Sood, Vrishaa Senthil, Bharathi subramanian, Malobika Bhattacharjee, Vijayalakshmi Mahendran, Archana Chadavarapu, Maheswari Chandrasekaran, Geetha Sundararajan, Devi Patel, Mohit Mohan Kale