Shah Sharabh Nuta

In Praise of the Kings of Thanjavur

“Nuta — to praise. Shah Sharabh — the kings who gave Bharatanatyam its golden age.”

Before a dancer lifts her hand, history lifts her. SHAH SHARABH NUTA — meaning ‘Praise of the Kings of Thanjavur’ — is Apeksha Niranjan’s distinguished solo Bharatanatyam tribute to two visionary monarchs: King Shahaji Maharaj II and King Serfoji Maharaj II, whose reigns marked the golden era of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music.

The Thanjavur Maratha rulers were not merely patrons — they were architects of an artistic renaissance. For over three centuries, their court became a vibrant crucible of classical excellence, where Bharatanatyam evolved into its most refined form and where art was understood as a sacred duty, not a luxury. Their legacy lives in every gesture of this recital.

Guided by the pioneering research and choreography of Guru Dr. Sucheta Chapekar — Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient and founder of the Nritya-Ganga style — this production brings forgotten Marathi compositions of the Thanjavur Maratha rulers back to life with historical authenticity and artistic depth. Apeksha’s command of Sanskrit, Tamil, and Marathi enables her to deliver genuine emotional and cultural nuance to every composition.