For decades, theatre has been the canvas on which local arts veteran and a lawyer by profession Vadivalagan S/O P V Shanmuga Sundaram, better known as Vadi PVSS, has painted his stories on. Beyond the stage, he has also acted, written, directed and produced works for radio and television, his contributions to Singapore’s Tamil arts scene spanning multiple platforms.
His body of work has earned him recognition as a familiar and respected figure in the local theatre community, culminating in this year’s Naatya Kala Nipuna (Theatre Arts Expert) award at Bhaskareeyam, an annual multi-arts festival organised by Bhaskar’s Arts Academy.
“When I was told I had won, I thought it was a mistake. Maybe they meant to give it to my wife,” Mr Vadi, 50, said with a laugh. “But once it sank in, I realised this was not just recognition, but also a responsibility. It has given me fresh enthusiasm to return to the arts scene and create new work.”
Started in 2015 in memory of academy founder K.P. Bhaskar, Bhaskareeyam has grown into a marquee event in Singapore’s Indian arts calendar. This year’s edition, held from August 29 to 31, honoured five artistes across dance, music, and theatre, while also spotlighting emerging performers through the Prasaantham Series. Introduced in 2021, the series featured nine young performers, giving them the opportunity to learn from and share the stage with senior artistes.
Other awardees included Bharatanatyam tutor Mr P.N. Vikas (Natya Kala Acharya), Carnatic vocalist Dr Bhagya Murthy (Sangeetha Kala Bhushana), and senior vocal educator Mrs Rajalakshmi Sekar (Sangeetha Kala Acharya). A posthumous Natya Kala Bhushana was conferred on the late Mrs Usharani Maniam, a pioneering Bharatanatyam dancer who trained under Mr and Mrs Bhaskar before establishing her own academy.
“These awardees represent a wide spectrum of disciplines, but what unites them is their lifelong service to the arts and their commitment to nurturing the next generation,” said Dr Ghanavenothan Retnam, Music Director of Bhaskar’s Arts Academy.
“Bhaskareeyam is about celebrating our masters, but also ensuring that their legacy continues through younger voices,” he added.
For Mr Vadi, the recognition also brought back memories of his early encounters with Mr Bhaskar.
“In my younger days with Ravindran Drama Group, he (K.P. Bhaskar) would often attend our plays and talk to us afterwards. Once, he even invited me to participate in a drama event he was organising. That’s how I came to know him and his wife, Mrs Santha Bhaskar, more closely,” Mr Vadi said.
He recalled how the couple always emphasised the importance of arts schools and structured training to nurture the next generation of performers.
Mr Vadi is particularly heartened by the rise of youth-led theatre groups in Singapore. “It is wonderful to see so many young people taking the stage. But to keep them engaged, we must offer genuine and innovative experiences,” he noted.
He encouraged students to explore theatre formally, through drama programmes offered at school. “Learning the craft deeply opens doors to multiple paths, as performers, technical artists or even teachers. Television and cinema are just one facet of the performing arts, and the stage has so much more to offer.”
An arts education is not just about performance, but about building character and understanding traditions, Mr Vadi emphasised.
“Through the arts, we develop discipline, creativity, and critical thinking. Young people must experience art fully, because when art lives, culture lives,” he said.
RELATED STORIES
4 Sep 2025 11:02
