Heritage does not just live in textbooks; it beats through the skin of a Urumi Melam and dances in the rhythmic stomp of a warrior’s feet.
A new vodcast series, ‘Nam Marabu: An Insight’, brings the vibrant world of Indian heritage arts to life through a special collaboration with tabla! and ATAM.
Picture a victorious king returning from the battlefield, his chariot flanked by fierce warriors and proud subjects dancing in a trance of triumph.
Rooted in the Sangam era, Devarattam, or “dance of the gods” in Tamil, is fundamentally about the community. Whether performed at a village temple festival or an auspicious community occasion, it remains the rhythmic heartbeat of its people.
Today, that same infectious energy has travelled from the heartlands of Tamil Nadu’s southwest to the spotlight-lit stages of Singapore.
In Aug 2025, the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade hosted, Ananda Kondattam, a grand showcase of 20 traditional Indian art forms.
Among the ensemble of dancers who brought Devarattam to life was Manikandan Srinivasan, 44. A digital services program lead and a dedicated dance enthusiast, Mr Manikandan was one of the performers who picked up this art form for the first time.
In this vodcast series, Mr Manikandan shares the transition from curiosity to mastery of the unique community art form. He describes the challenge of navigating the dance’s unique body language, where every hand gesture carries the sharp precision of a martial art.
For the dance team, performing Devarattam was about coming together to channel the raw energy of an ancient lineage.
While traditionally a male-dominated practice, Devarattam has evolved into a vibrant, inclusive art form. Performers stand shoulder to shoulder in striking linear formations, the anklet bells on their feet creating a metallic symphony.
Devarattam traditionally relies much on its rhythmic lifeline, the Urumi Melam. It begins slowly and builds into a high-octane frenzy, dictated by the drum’s tempo.
‘Nam Marabu: An Insight’ functions as a living archive of these enduring traditions, capturing the sweat and the struggle of keeping the cultural flame alive in a fast-paced world.
Dive into the full video series here.
