Renowned Bharatanatyam artist and scholar, Bala Devi Chandrashekar, achieved a historic milestone at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris as her film centered on the Thanjavur Big Temple, also known as Brihadeeswara Temple, was unveiled in France.
Titled Brihadeeswara – Form to Formless, the film provides a profound exploration of the UNESCO heritage site in Tamil Nadu, dating back 1000 years, through the perspective of a temple dancer, or Devaradiyal considered the high priestess of the temple. Ambassador Vishal V Sharma, the Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO, inaugurated the film in Paris earlier this month.
Chandrashekar emphasized, “The temple is a testament to India’s craftsmanship and cultural philosophy, standing as an architectural marvel for a millennium and garnering admiration from people worldwide.”
The film pays homage to this ancient Brihadeeswara temple situated southern state of India, Tamil Nadu. By intense research and under the guidance of the scholars this research shed light on the temple’s historical significance and vital connection between the physical and metaphysical.
Using state-of-art technology and high-quality production, the film production is aimed at preserving the essence and energy of the live performance, creating a genuinely engaging and unforgettable experience. “All ancient texts from our region have messages that are very relevant in today’s world. My mission is to take on topics and present them to diverse audiences across the world,” she said.
The Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur in the southern state of India was built by the Chola King, Rajaraja I of the Chola dynasty.
