Coming to bookstores in 2027

Sepia sculpture of Shiva as Nataraja, lord of dance, inside an ornate temple arch, flanked by a drum-playing bull-headed attendant and a standing goddess

Bharatanatyam:
A Dance of Patrons, Gods & Brides

By Swati Gupté Bhisé

An evocative exploration of Chola artistry, dance, royal patronage, devotion, temple sculpture, and living tradition through the lens of one of India’s foremost cultural voices.

Coming Soon

Ta Dhi Tōm!

Indian Heritage Arts Fest 2027

Inspired by Swati Gupté Bhisé's upcoming title, Bharatanatyam: A Dance of Patrons, Gods & Brides, Ta Dhi Tōm! is a multi-disciplinary, cultural festival focused on the lost and surviving arts of India’s epic Medieval era. India is witnessing a vibrant resurgence of pride and…

Inspired by Swati Gupté Bhisé's upcoming title, Bharatanatyam: A Dance of Patrons, Gods & Brides, Ta Dhi Tōm! is a multi-disciplinary, cultural festival focused on the lost and surviving arts of India’s epic Medieval era. India is witnessing a vibrant resurgence of pride and fascination with the Chola dynasty and a newfound appreciation for its fine and performing arts.

Inspired by themes from Bharatanatyam: A Dance of Patrons, Gods & Brides, the programmes spotlight the patronage of the Imperial Chola era and the successive Nayak and Maratha reigns, and their stronghold of Tanjavur.

For the first time, audiences are set to engage with a universe of experiences that hark back to the cultural heritage of one of India's most powerful empires.

Welcome to Ta Dhi Tōm!, where a 1000 year-old history, grand Dravidian architecture and living art forms collide in the heart of urban India.

Through vibrant programming, the festival seeks to highlight the importance of patronage for the arts, drawing in a fresh, young audience and inspiring them to become patrons of tomorrow.

Cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Chidambaram, Goa and NewYork.

India’s metros thrive on cultural synthesis and new experiences. We are keen to target a generation that values authenticity, history, and aesthetic brilliance through a fresh interactive way to engage with a landmark period of India's medieval history and its built and intangible cultural heritage.

Dates: January - December 2027
Mumbai Delhi Jaipur Pune New York Los Angeles Chidambaram Bangalore Chennai Goa

SwatiguptéBhisé

Bharatanatyam Exponent
Filmmaker
Author
Educator

Portrait of Swati Gupté Bhisé

Biography

Swati Gupté Bhisé is an award-winning Hollywood filmmaker, writer, and cultural advocate known for her contributions to the arts over four decades. A classically-trained, distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent, she has worn many hats throughout her career, including choreographer and educator. She founded the Sanskriti Center, aggressively led women’s empowerment programmes and taught 50,000 girls across U.S. public and private schools.

Swati Gupté Bhisé is an award-winning Hollywood filmmaker, writer, and cultural advocate known for her contributions to the arts over four decades. A classically-trained, distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent, she has worn many hats throughout her career, including choreographer and educator. She founded the Sanskriti Center, aggressively led women’s empowerment programmes and taught 50,000 girls across U.S. public and private schools.

Three years ago, she embraced the role of children’s book author, inspired by the birth of her grandson. She is dedicated to promoting Indian culture globally and advocating gender equality through her artistic and philanthropic endeavours. By blending traditional Indian arts with contemporary media, she creates transformative works that drive social change.

Her upcoming work includes Bharatanatyam: A Dance of Patrons, Gods & Brides, a richly-illustrated title that traces the extraordinary bond between Dravidian temple architecture, royal patronage of the mighty Cholas, Nayaks and Maratha Bhosles, and the dance form it birthed and nurtured over the centuries.

The Blue Boy Chronicles, a much-anticipated global animated children’s series that offers a reimagined take on stories of Krishna while focusing on themes of courage, identity and friendship, is developed as a partnership between Singapore-based PowerKids Entertainment and Las Vegas-based Cayenne Pepper Productions founded by Swati Gupté Bhisé. She assumes the role of co-creator and co-producer on the project.
Swati Gupté Bhisé portrait with performance photographs

Key
HiGhliGhtS

pRoduceR
&
DIRECTOR

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Author &
PuBLIsheR

Swati Bhisé is an accomplished author with a diverse portfolio of written work across various genres, reflecting her wide-ranging interests.

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MultifAceTeD PeRfoRmer & EducAtoR

Swati Bhisé - Performance & Interviews:

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PRoMoteR of TheAteR & Other Artists

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Awards &
Media

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi wins Impact Award at Vancouver International Women In Film Festival .

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Asia Society’s tribute to Swati Gupté Bhisé, recipient of the 2023 Asian Arts Game Changer & Visionary Award.

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