Exploring the sacred, fun-filled or sinful significance of seven through dance and music
By ASJAD NAZIRNov 17, 2021
ACCLAIMED choreographer, dancer and teacher Nina Rajarani MBE has regularly delivered dynamic stage productions that have left audiences enthralled around the world.
The latest offering from her Srishti dance company is Sevens, which is currently on a UK tour. The triple bill of classical Indian dance explores the sacred, and sometimes sinful, significance of the number seven.
The entertaining production sees her heading an ensemble cast of four Indian classical dancers (performing in the Bharatanatyam and Kathak styles) and three musicians.
Eastern Eye caught up with dance maestro Nina to find out more.
What inspired the pieces in Sevens?
The first piece, Seven Steps, is based on saptapadi – the most important rite of a
Hindu marriage ceremony, during which the couple take a vow with each step. I was inspired to create this piece because contrary to expectations, they are simple, practical, and beautiful promises of togetherness, with little religious connotation. They could be applicable to any two people who are committing to each other, irrespective of their background or the time period. I perform this piece with my vocalist husband Y Yadavan, who is also its composer.
What about the other two pieces?
By contrast, the second piece, Seven Sins, focuses on the harsh reality of life, where we are all judged by what we do. But in this interpretation, we take an empathetic view of what are classified as sins and treat them as a result of one’s unmet needs. To complete the triple bill, Seven Snags is a short, fun-filled, flirtatious piece, with a teasing quality. Overall, I wanted to create a variety of flavours for the audience and showcase various facets of dance and music.
Tell us about the accompanying music?
The music is by composers Y Yadavan and Shammi Pithia, who are collaborating for the first time. Yadavan is a Carnatic vocalist and Shammi plays the flute, keyboard, and various percussion instruments. As they have a classical Indian and non-classical background, respectively, the output is very interesting. We also have Vijay Venkat, an Indian classical musician who plays the flute and the viola.
As someone who performs Bharatanatyam, you have collaborated withKathak dancers on many occasions, but this is the first time you are working with an ensemble incorporating both styles. How do you feel being able to tour again?
This is the first time that I am working abstractly with the narrative, which is
challenging but also exciting. It feels wonderful to be on tour again and very exciting to be back in rehearsal with dancers and musicians. Despite the fatigue I am experiencing right now, I wake up every morning looking forward to seeing my team and performing live at venues.
What are you hoping audiences take away from this production?
Something different from each piece. From Seven Snags, I would like them to smile at the joy of youth, and the carefree adventure it brings. With Seven Steps, I would like them to experience something pure and beautiful – how idealistic the notion of love is. With Seven Sins, I would like to leave them with food for thought – how responsible are we being when we judge people with our notions of right and wrong without knowing anything about the underlying, unseen truths.
Has the pandemic and lockdown changed you creatively?
It has taught me that anything is possible. We conducted classes over Zoom, showcased online performances and even created a whole new dance work entirely remotely. In this way, we have reached a global audience like never before. It has also made me realise how much we thrive on live interaction with other artists. It has made this project all the more exciting.
What does dance mean to you today?
Dance to me is not only about movement of the body, but it also serves as a medium to express feelings and emotions. Even though I never intend to make the work about me, in some way or another, it ends up speaking of the inner me, and serves as an emotional release.
Finally, why should we come and see your new show?
To be moved. I feel that any form of art should move the spectator in some way and can do that if the artist is invested emotionally. As a team, we have made this work through a process of sharing with each other our personal experiences and feelings, and these have shaped the creation of this work through the medium of some very exciting dance and music.
Visit www.srishti.co.uk to find out more and for details of tour dates
Whether it is her cool songs like Checka, Piya Piya Calling and Siste Dans, cutting-edgeEP Running Deep, or acclaimed 2024 debut album Shahrazad, Delara has consistently crossed creative horizons and collaborated with global talent.
The award-winning Norwegian singer has lit up the live scene, clocked millions of streams, and connected with diverse cultures through her eclectic music. The fabulously forward-thinking talent has added to her impressive achievements with the newly released Kalash Reimagined, a bold collaboration with Indian singer Charan, Pakistani producer Talal Qureshi and Jamaican-American rapper BEAM.
Eastern Eye caught up with Delara to discuss her music, inspirations, future hopes and unique new single.
Her new track, Kalash ReimaginedInstagram/ amandadelara
What first connected you to music?
I think music was always part of my life before I even knew what it meant to me. I grew up in a household where my parents would talk about life and politics around the dinner table. That energy of emotion, reflection and curiosity somehow found its way into the songs I started writing. Music became my space for understanding myself and the world around me.
How do you reflect on your music journey so far?
I’m proud of how much I’ve dared to evolve. From the start, I didn’t take the easiest route. I sang about politics and personal struggles when people told me not to. But I’ve always trusted that staying true to myself would lead me to where I’m meant to go. That has shaped me into the artist I am today – a mix of experimentation, boldness and vulnerability.
Which of your songs is closest to your heart?
That’s a hard one, but Unbound will always be very close to me. I wrote it during a time when I was thinking a lot about the impermanence of life, and how nothing and no one lasts forever. The relationship I have with my mother, who means everything to me, inspired much of that song. Having her in the music video made it even more emotional and personal.
How much did the acclaim your debut album received mean to you?
Of course, I’m grateful for the recognition, but I try not to get too caught up in critical acclaim. What means the most to me is the feedback I get from listeners – people who send me messages or come up to me after shows saying a song helped them through something. That’s what gives me confidence and keeps me creating.
Tell us about Kalash Reimagined.
Kalash Reimagined takes the original track to new heights by merging powerful voices and sounds from different parts of the world. After working on Piya Piya with Coke Studio last year, it felt natural to expand on this fusion of cultures. The remix blends south Asian sounds, Jamaican energy and Norwegian–Iranian influences to create something bold and deeply emotional. It is a celebration of what can grow when different worlds collide.
What was it like collaborating with Charan, Talal Qureshi and BEAM?
Collaborating with Charan, Talal and BEAM was an amazing experience. Charan brought his unique perspective and fresh energy to the track. Talal’s creativity and musical vision really helped elevate the sound, while BEAM’s raw intensity added something special. It felt like a real meeting of different worlds, with voices that had something real to say. The collaboration was a true exchange of energy and ideas, and it came together beautifully.
How would you describe this track?
It’s a powerful fusion of sounds and emotions. Kalash Reimagined is bold, raw and unapologetic – yet playful and full of energy. The track exists in the spaces between cultures, not trying to represent everything but highlighting what can grow when worlds collide. It celebrates shared experiences and the beautiful complexity that emerges from blending different backgrounds.
Who are you hoping this song connects with?
I hope this track resonates with anyone who feels caught between cultures or identities. It is for those who do not fit neatly into one box. Whether you are from south Asia, the diaspora, the Caribbean or anywhere in between, I want the song to speak to those who feel empowered by blending different worlds – and who are open to the beauty that comes from that fusion.
What can we expect next from you?
There is a lot on the horizon. I’m about to announce my biggest headliner show yet, which I’m incredibly excited about. I’m also working on new music and visual projects that will push boundaries, along with more cross-cultural collaborations like Kalash Reimagined. The goal is always to connect sounds and stories in unexpected ways. I’m exploring fresh creative paths, keeping things organic and letting ideas flow freely.
Who would you love to collaborate with? There are so many, but right now I would love to work with artists who challenge genres and tell strong stories – people like Bad Bunny, Rosalía, Frank Ocean or even Raveena. Artists who are not afraid to blend cultures and sounds.
What kind of music dominates your personal playlist?
It’s a mix of many things. But with summer approaching, there is a lot of Afro, reggaeton, salsa, r’n’b and hip hop. I’ve actually created a personal playlist that I share with my listeners.
What inspires you as an artist?
Life itself – my family, friends, conversations with strangers, travelling, latenight thoughts, missing home, or wondering what home even means. I get inspired by contradictions, and those quiet moments of reflection when I’m not even trying to create.
Why do you love music?
When I’m creating music, I feel the most free. It is a space where only your mind, creativity and ideas matter – not how you look or how others see you. Music was the first place where I felt truly seen and heard. It’s a powerful force of connection, the closest thing we have to real magic – a universal language that everyone understands. In just seconds, music can make us feel a little less alone. How can you not love that?
With the release of Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem on 8 May, award-winning author Serena Patel brings young readers a heartwarming new series that combines humour, friendship, and cultural representation. Known for her Anisha, Accidental Detective books, Patel spoke to us about her inspiration, the writing process, and why visibility in children's literature matters.
From PowerPoint slides to pet chaos
The origins of Pia’s Pet Club are rooted in a familiar family negotiation. Patel recalls, “My son was trying to persuade us to get a bigger pet. He made PowerPoint slides, showed us TV programmes, did all his research. Eventually we gave in—and now we have two ragdoll cats.”
That experience inspired Pia, a young girl desperate for a pet of her own. When her parents say no, Pia sets out to prove she’s responsible by helping her friend Hari train his unruly puppy, Luna. Predictably, chaos follows—and so does the idea of forming a pet club.
One of Patel’s favourite scenes to write involved a spectacularly failed attempt to train Luna. “It was really fun to write. The kids think it’ll be easy, but the dog has other ideas,” she laughs.
A heroine with heart and flaws
Pia is Patel’s latest strong-willed lead character. “She doesn’t always get it right, but she’s trying her best,” she says. “She’s flawed and real, just like any child.”
Patel, who grew up in a South Asian household, shares that she never saw herself in books as a child. “I never came across South Asian characters in funny stories. Seeing yourself in a book gives you a sense of belonging—it’s validating,” she explains. Pia’s cultural background is woven naturally into the narrative, from home-cooked meals to family dynamics and familiar words.
A visual world, brought to life
The illustrations in Pia’s Pet Club are by Emma McCann, who has worked with Patel for several years. “Emma’s brilliant. It’s like she has a camera inside my brain,” Patel says. “She adds humour and detail that isn’t even in the text. It’s a real collaboration.”
Set in the communal garden of an apartment block, the book explores the power of community, teamwork, and belonging. Patel describes it as a departure from the mystery genre that defined her previous work. “This one feels more like a warm sitcom—funny, but full of heart.”
The first book took nearly three years to develop, from idea to finished manuscript. “There were moments I doubted myself, but I wanted to make it the best it could be,” she admits.
What's next for Pia?
The series is already expanding. The second book, The Secret Kitten, is due in January 2026, and the third, Guinea Pig Showtime, will follow in July 2026. Readers can expect more mishaps and humour as Pia and her friends take on new pet-related challenges, including a pet talent show.
From page to screen?
With Anisha, Accidental Detective in development for television by BBC Studios Kids & Family—featuring Emmy-winning actress Archie Panjabi as executive producer—it’s no surprise that Patel has considered a screen future for Pia as well.
“It’s the dream,” she says. “The setting, the characters, the themes—they’d all work brilliantly on screen.”
Ahead of the launch, Patel is preparing for a number of school visits and events. “It’s a new series. You never know how it’ll be received,” she says. “But the early feedback has been great.”
For readers young and old, Pia’s Pet Club offers a story of determination, friendship, and cultural pride. “Books are powerful. They stay with us,” Patel says. “And if Pia makes just one child feel seen or brings a smile to their face, then I’ve done my job.”
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Badyal brings a wide breadth of experience across the creative industries
Saxton Bampfylde has announced the appointment of Jonathan Badyal as senior advisor to its arts, culture and creative industries practice. The firm, which has supported this sector for nearly four decades, works with some of the world’s most respected cultural organisations on senior leadership appointments.
Badyal brings a wide breadth of experience across the creative industries, including roles in both the public and private sectors. He is currently a partner at Trafalgar Strategy, a global advisory firm, where he provides strategic and communications counsel to CEOs and leading creatives. With a particular interest in India, Badyal is also working to develop the UK’s cultural ties with the country, exploring opportunities for collaboration in the arts and creative sectors.
During his career, Badyal spent eight years at Universal Music UK, most recently serving as director of communications. In this role, he managed key relationships across the creative industries and government. Prior to this, he spent five years advising the UK government’s culture and digital minister, gaining deep insight into arts and creative industries policy.
His board roles include deputy chair at the Black Country Living Museum and interim chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing. He has previously served on the Tate Modern advisory group and was recently listed in the PRWeek UK Power Book 2025.
Saxton Bampfylde’s arts, culture and creative industries practice has partnered with a wide range of organisations across the sector, including the National Theatre, British Museum, V&A, BBC, SXSW, and the GRAMMYs. The firm has also worked with a number of prominent theatre institutions, including the Almeida Theatre, Trafalgar Entertainment, Punchdrunk, Young Vic, Sheffield Theatres, Birmingham Rep and Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Ed Bampfylde, head of the arts, culture and creative industries practice, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan to our team. His breadth of experience across the creative industries gives him a unique perspective that will be invaluable to our clients. Jonathan's commitment to the sector, coupled with his vision and depth of understanding of the evolving creative landscape, perfectly complements our mission to identify and support transformative leaders."
Commenting on his appointment, Badyal said: "I’ve always had a real passion for putting people together, particularly when it comes to boards and CEOs looking for exceptional individuals who can bring something different to their organisations. I’m delighted to now be doing this in a formal capacity, advising the team at Saxton Bampfylde as they continue to work with some of the world’s most important organisations in sectors I care so deeply about."
BITING POINT is “a desire to find goodness in a difficult and uncertain world,” its British Indian playwright has said, adding that he hopes it will resonate with audiences in Hull and beyond.
Written by Sid Sagar, the play is a sitespecific production performed in car parks and examines how anger can turn good people ugly.
“The play is deeply rooted in examining how anger can transform ordinary people – individuals simply going about their lives, dealing with everyday stresses that audiences will relate to, whether that’s work pressure, family stress or relationships not functioning as well as desired.
“It also explores how being caught in city centre traffic and congestion in Hull can affect people’s temperament,” Sagar told Eastern Eye in an interview.
He added, “In recent years, particularly during and since the pandemic, there has been a general rise in rage among the public. This anger partly stems from the less formalised, less polite conduct we now see in mainstream politics, which trickles down to ordinary people who feel so disempowered and disenfranchised that venting – often in problematic ways – seems their only recourse to be heard.”
Directed by Paul Smith, Biting Point centres around a road accident and its knock-on effects. John (played by Marc Graham), a white British delivery driver, and Anita (Katie Singh), a British south Asian property manager, have grown up in the same city with both similar and differing experiences and frustrations of keeping pace with modern life. When they collide at a roundabout in relentless rush-hour traffic, their frustrations and anger boil over, leading them to react in ways they never thought possible.
Biting Point’s running time will be 75 minutes without an interval.
“The unique aspect of this production is that it’s touring to car parks of various shapes and sizes rather than conventional theatres. The actors will perform live, while audience members entering the car park will be given headsets through which they’ll hear poems and thoughts from local artists before the show begins. Suddenly, viewers will be thrust into the characters’ world, who sometimes communicate with each other, but more often replay memories, telling us about various interactions with important people in their lives,” said Sagar, who took four years to write the play.
“Through the headphones technology, audiences will experience numerous characters and an entire world of voices, adding to the sense of people being weighed down by information overload. This overwhelming nature of societal demands fuels the rise in rage, or at least creates a sense that people don’t quite know how to manage stress, which, if left unaddressed, can quickly develop into something more worrying.”
In his opinion, without the conventional “fourth wall” of darkened theatres, actors will directly engage with viewers, creating an immediate connection that makes the audience feel part of the storytelling process.
According to Sagar, the novel approach of performing the play in car parks emerged through collaboration with himself, the director and the production team. The play also received support from Without Walls, a UK charitable foundation that funds site-specific art projects in unexpected locations.
He said, “The car park setting aims to make theatre more inclusive and accessible, bringing stories to communities who might not typically attend traditional venues. It transforms an ordinary, functional space into something that can tell meaningful stories about the place people find themselves in.
“Upon arrival, audience members will receive headphones, a cup of tea, and a magazine featuring works by local artists. The immersive experience includes memories, sound design, and unique perspectives from the top floors of car parks, offering spectacular city views rarely appreciated.”
Though acknowledging it’s a challenge and perhaps a risk, Sagar said the most rewarding outcomes often come from embracing such challenges.
The actor-writer is from Delhi and grew up in Hertfordshire.
Asked how his Indian background influenced his writing, he said, “I was born to parents from Delhi and grew up in Nairobi, Barcelona and Moscow until I was eight, when my family moved to England in 2001. I settled in Hertfordshire, just outside London, where I spent my formative years before later relocating to north London.
“This experience of movement and feeling ‘slightly different’ heightened my selfawareness from a young age, making me more attuned to how people respond to differences. My own background fostered my interest in storytelling about ‘big themes from small places’ and examining ordinary people’s experiences.
“As with many artists from ethnic minority backgrounds in the west, my work is underpinned by a desire to understand my place in a society that presents itself as inclusive, whilst acknowledging persistent troubling views about integration and immigration.”
Biting Point was commissioned in 2023, prior to the 2024 summer riots that swept through Southport, Hull and other towns and cities across the UK.
Sagar added, “For the play, I created Anita, a character with south Asian heritage born and raised in Grimsby (northeast England), who sounds local, but looks Indian.
“The play’s 2025 performance comes less than a year after the UK riots of 2024 – events reflecting both legitimate expressions of despair and more nefarious forces, resulting in attacks on minorities. While I resist reductive classifications of ‘British Asian’ identity, I believe engaging audiences with these complex stories of belonging and community might help them leave the theatre feeling differently than when they arrived.”
The innate human tendency towards goodness and acceptance is often forgotten as we navigate adulthood, Sagar said.
“When this fundamental nature intersects with today’s globalised, increasingly unequal world, the consequences for ordinary people can be devastating. Our political systems frequently leave those without a voice feeling more disenfranchised, while those at the upper end of the scale control media and politics. This power imbalance can lead fundamentally decent people to develop resentment. When communities change and opportunities diminish, people naturally search for explanations. However, the true causes are often more complex than we wish to believe. The 2024 riots, for example, cannot be attributed solely to asylum seekers in hotels; these communities’ grievances stem from decades of governmental neglect – closed libraries, underfunded schools, and relocated hospitals. These systemic failures can transform good people’s outlook, with potentially devastating results. Ultimately, this play aims to offer communities hope that goodness remains possible, even when circumstances seem stacked against us.”
Sagar trained with the Soho Theatre Writers’ Lab, the INSPIRE scheme at Hampstead Theatre, the London Library Emerging Writers Programme, and the Channel 4 Screenwriting Course in 2023.
The writer, who also plays Mr Praed in Mrs Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre, London, later this month, said his acting journey also helped him with his writing. “I think acting is always useful. It gives you insight not only into how other creatives work – what directors and writers need – but ultimately, because you’re the one who must stand up and deliver the lines, it gives you a sense of how dialogue works and what makes for good dialogue. It also helps you understand what makes for good characters.
“Actors are naturally drawn to playing complex characters. We want to play people who have a journey in a play. You don’t want to just stand there and say one line over several hours - you want to have something to hold on to. That informs the way I write. I want to create interesting people doing interesting things, even if, at first glance, they don’t come from particularly interesting places.
Sagar added, “For example, in Biting Point, you have John, who is a delivery driver - someone doing a job most people might not pay much attention to. Then there’s Anita, a property manager, which might sound dull or ordinary. But their inner worlds, the things affecting them every day, are complicated, messy, knotty, and sometimes funny too.
“So, I think my acting background - my experience on stage performing, making people laugh, moving people - means I want to give actors the opportunity to shine and tell exciting stories. My performance background informs the way I write, and vice versa. The way I write also draws me, as an actor, to work that is challenging, provocative, and says something about the world, rather than shying away from it or accepting things as they are.”
Biting Point opens in Hull next Saturday (10) and will tour north England until June 22.
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Dylan has previously described painting as a way to “relax and refocus a restless mind”
Bob Dylan will exhibit a new series of original paintings at the Halcyon Gallery in London from 9 May. The collection, titled Point Blank, features 97 recent works and will be open to the public free of charge.
The exhibition follows renewed interest in Dylan’s life and career following the release of the biopic A Complete Unknown earlier this year. Now aged 83, the musician remains active, both as a touring performer and visual artist.
Point Blank comprises works based on original sketches Dylan created between 2021 and 2022. The subjects include musicians, couples, sportspeople, interior scenes, and locations Dylan has spent time in. The sketches were later transformed using vivid colours, which Dylan describes as “living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance”. He said the colours act as “weapons and mood setters” and serve as “a means of storytelling”.
Commenting on the intention behind the series, Dylan said: “The idea was not only to observe the human condition, but to throw myself into it with great urgency.” Some of the images include a saxophonist, a cowboy standing before a rising sun, and a mirror reflecting a set of lips. A number of the works use blue, red, and neutral monochromatic tones, prompting comparisons to Pablo Picasso’s early Blue Period.
The Point Blank collection also originated as a book and features accompanying prose. According to Kate Brown, creative director at Halcyon, “These works on paper feel like memories, intangible windows into the life and imagination of one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived.” She added that the exhibition is likely to engage viewers' imaginations, encouraging them to consider the lives of the characters portrayed and the spaces depicted.
This is not Dylan’s first collaboration with Halcyon Gallery. In the past, the venue has showcased his Drawn Blank series, which featured graphite sketches made between 1989 and 1992 during tours across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Those works were also later reinterpreted with colour.
Dylan has previously described painting as a way to “relax and refocus a restless mind” during the demands of touring life.
Paul Green, president and founder of Halcyon Gallery, said: “It is nearly 18 years since Halcyon first started working with Bob Dylan and it has been an extraordinary experience to watch this cultural icon develop into such a critically revered and important visual artist so closely.”
He added: “This latest body of paintings feels like a more intimate connection to the artist than in any of his previous work and it is a great privilege to share them with the public for the first time.”
The Point Blank exhibition will be on display at the Halcyon Gallery on New Bond Street, starting from 9 May. Entry is free.