Angels and Demons

Bharatanatyam dancer Savitha Sastry raises questions about destiny, divinity and doubt in her work.

Savitha Sastry in The Prophet.

What does one call an ex-Pope, for isn’t the pontiff’s office for life? Bharatanatyam dancer Savitha Sastry and her husband A K Srikanth, a corporate executive, found themselves tackling this riddle last year as news spread from the Vatican that Pope Benedict XVI had stepped down. While the robed officials at the Catholic seat of power dealt with the event, Sastry and Srikanth began taking their first steps towards a new work of art. Away from office, he is an author of stories and she is a dancer keen to tell new tales. The ripple effect of the papal resignation would result in the duo creating a dark and introspective dance piece titled The Prophet: Destiny, Divinity and Doubt. After successful runs in several cities, the work will be presented in Delhi this evening. Sastry spoke to us from her home in Mumbai. Edited excerpts:

Matter of Faith

Most of our narratives come from personal experiences. When the Pope resigned, the compelling nature of the story hit us. We began to wonder if prophets come with an expiry date. After further discussion we began to feel that humans have put prophets on a pedestal to deal with the monsters that they have created for themselves, and when prophets are less than adequate, we send them to the gallows. This led to the story of Devaduta, a dancer who hears the Voice of god in her head.

Dance of Divinity

The Prophet opens with Devaduta looking back at her life, at the darkness of an abused childhood, when the Voice begins to speak to her and guide her. She reaches the pinnacle of fame and prosperity and begins to reach out to the less-privileged and uplift them, much as a prophet would. Until the day, the Voice speaks to her for the last time, telling her that she has one year to live. Twenty-four hours before she is destined to die, Devaduta begins to question everything in her life, including, ‘Am I a prophet?’.

Music and Lyrics

The piece is a soliloquy, with voice-overs of English narration and Hindi poetry. The stage is occupied by me alone as Devaduta who is confronting her mortality. To bring about the hypnotic power of the piece, we found no parallel in Carnatic music. Trance, however, could create the right mood so we used the elements of trance and House and wove these into the classical genre. The piece also uses shehnai to create angst as Devaduta reveals parts of herself that are riddled with doubt.

Classic Contemporary

I had to renegotiate new movements. Using the classical grammar, I created contemporary moves to depict the huge emotional content of the piece. I borrowed the feel from the contemporary vocabulary but stayed away from avant-garde. The body creates the mood and tells the story the audience can understand and feel.

The performance will take place at Kamani auditorium today at 7 pm; entry free

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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