Every tradition survives because someone chooses to carry it forward. And for the first conversation in The Living Archive, I spoke with Radhika Raasarathe, a Bharatanatyam artist whose reflections reminded me that classical art represents empathy and how we see the present more deeply.

Thank you, Radhika, for trusting Naadarasika with your story, and this is Issue 01 of The Living Archive!

Has there ever been a character you've struggled to portray? What did that teach you?

To be honest, I haven't really struggled with a character yet, as I have absolutely loved stepping into every single role and portraying all the different characters up until now. However, art is a continuous journey, and there may very well come a situation in the future where a particular character challenges me in ways I haven't yet experienced.

Has Bharatanatyam changed how you view emotions or relationships in any way?

Exploring the layered depths of navarasa and nayika bhava has shown me that our feelings and connections are rarely just one-dimensional. Because of this, I now look far past the surface of daily interactions, approaching relationships with a much deeper sense of empathy, honesty, and true presence.

If you could keep any one thing about Bharatanatyam, what would it be? And if you could change anything, what would it be?

What I’d keep: The profound depth of abhinaya, because a single timeless gesture can instantly cut through modern noise and deeply connect us to universal human emotions.

However, here's what I’d change: The rigid traditionalism surrounding accessibility, opening the art form to all backgrounds and body types so its incredible soul can be shared freely.

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out our other interviews and essays!