Across the Ghats | The Registry, Richmond Town, Bengaluru

Across the Ghats is an evening of music, stories, traditional performances, workshops and conversations presented by Vaayo Fest and ARPO (The Archival and Research Project). Hosted at The Registry, Richmond Town, Bengaluru, the event explores South India's cultural histories, heritage, artistic traditions and indigenous communities through a programme featuring Koodiyattam, Jenu Kuruba artists, documentary screening and a talk by historian and author Dr Manu S. Pillai.

The programme begins with a Koodiyattam Workshop, an introductory session exploring the fundamentals of one of India's oldest surviving theatre traditions. Through guided instruction and practical exercises, participants can engage with the art form's distinctive techniques and theatrical vocabulary. This is followed by a Musical Storytelling Performance by Jenu Kuruba Artists & Documentary Screening, featuring artists from the Jenu Kuruba community, Udaya, Nitin, Kumara, Sudeep from Kodagu, and Bindhu and Shiny from Kerala. The performance brings together indigenous music and storytelling rooted in their traditions, followed by a documentary screening offering another perspective on the community.

The programme also features The Real Kerala Story: Talk by Manu S. Pillai, a session by historian and author Dr Manu S. Pillai exploring Kerala's heritage, culture and history, inspired by his SAGA series with ARPO. The evening concludes with a Koodiyattam Live Performance featuring an art form sustained through generations of practice, performed by Dr Kalamandalam Charu Agaru, Kalamandalam Reshmi, Kalamandalam Rahul Aravind, Kalamandalam Harikrishna, Kalamandalam Rajesh and Kalamandalam Sarath.

Across the Ghats takes place on Sunday, 22 November 2026, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at The Registry, Richmond Town, Bengaluru. Presented by ARPO, the event is supported by Samagata.

Event Details

• 📅 Date: Sunday, 22 November 2026
• ⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• 📍 Location: The Registry, Richmond Town, Bengaluru
• 👤 Organizer: ARPO – The Archival and Research Project
• 🤝 Supported By: Samagata
• 🎤 Featured Speakers & Artists: