How Divya Hoskera visualised Sita as Nature’s force

‘Vanavaasini’, presented by Divya Hoskere, a student of Praveen Kumar, at Kalavaahini’s Dance for Dance festival, was a thoughtfully imagined exploration of Sita as both woman and elemental presence, rooted in the Valmiki Ramayana, yet filtered through poetic introspection.

The evening opened with an evocative invocation that set the conceptual tone. Sita was imagined as a spark of lightning, with Rama as the dark, rain-bearing cloud, inseparable forces whose union soothes the scorched earth. Lakshmana appears as the gentle breeze, completing a delicate natural triad. Divya’s choice to frame the epic’s protagonists through elemental metaphors immediately foregrounded the production’s central idea: Sita as Vanavaasini, one who belongs to the forest as much as to the narrative.

Divya Hoskere’s training was evident in the precision and rhythmic integrity of her adavus, executed with a good sense of timing .
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

One of the most effectively conveyed moments was the depiction of Sita’s radiance drawing the forest towards her.

The episode of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana arriving at the hermitage of Atri and Asnasuya was handled with restraint and warmth. Atri’s austere tapas, Anasuya’s welcoming embrace, and the land nourished by their spiritual discipline were portrayed with clarity.

Divya’s training was evident in the precision and rhythmic integrity of her adavus, executed with a good sense of timing. While her movement retained lightness and buoyancy, it was consistently anchored by a deeply grounded body awareness, giving stability to even expansive passages across the stage.

Divya Hoskere’s portrayal of the Abhisaarika Naayika was confident and graceful
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

The dialogue between Sita and Anasuya formed the emotional core of the work. Anasuya’s reflections on companionship and fulfillment in marriage were rendered without sermonising, allowing Sita’s curiosity as a newlywed to surface organically. The gifting of flowers and ornaments became symbols of enduring wisdom rather than ritualistic exchange. Sita’s recollection of her swayamvara and reliving the moment Rama held her hand unfolded like poetry. Divya succeeded in capturing Sita’s emotions with sensitivity, relying on nuanced abhinaya rather than overt gestures.

In the end, as Sita steps out of the ashrama in search of Rama, Nature once again comes alive. Divya’s portrayal of the Abhisaarika Naayika was confident and graceful. The music track used in the production aided her efforts.

Divya Hoskere captured Sita’s emotions with sensitivity, relying on nuanced abhinaya rather than overt gestures.
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR