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Santosh Nair presented The Mystical Forest at Kamani Auditorium on Tuesday.

Scenes from Santosh Nair’s The Mystical Forest.

Delhi-based dancer-choreographer Santosh Nair has returned to his favourite haunt, the forest, and this time, he has taken the audience with him into its throbbing heart. Five years after Nair depicted the horrors of global warming through the dystopian We Can Make a Difference, he presented The Mystical Forest at Kamani Auditorium on Tuesday. The piece premiered at the Kalanidhi Festival in Toronto last year, and the India opening was a collaboration between Nair’s dance group, Sadhya, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

“I have always been fascinated by nature because it gives me a scope to escape into an imaginative world,” said Nair. Through contemporary movements based on Mayurbhanj Chhau, 11 dancers depicted a day in the life of a tribe in a mystical forest. The hour-long piece began with the tribe waking up at sunrise before tip-toeing, swaying and skipping through routines such as praying to a deity to keep them safe, performing rituals before eating, stalking prey in the dark forest and — because recreation is as important to forest people as to their urban counterparts — getting together for a round of vigorous sports.

“Over the one year that I spent preparing this piece, I researched the habits of tribes, including those of the Amazon forests. Their lives have a pure and earthy quality that I sought to depict in my work. I wanted The Mystical Forest to focus more on choreography and the music, so I had no sets and used props such as flowing fabric ,and intense lighting,” said Nair, who will bring the production back to Delhi this winter. It will also travel to various cities in the next few months.

Curated For You

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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