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Documentary that traces journey of Radhe! Radhe! across KL India, highlighting cultural exchange through dance storytelling
Documentary Radha Unbound: The Making & Touring of Radhe! Radhe! drew a full house at RexKL last week (April 4), bringing together artists, cultural leaders, media and the public for an afternoon centred on cross-cultural exchange.
The screening highlighted the journey behind the acclaimed dance production Radhe! Radhe! and its tour across Kuala Lumpur and four Indian cities – Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and New Delhi – known as key centres in the revival of Odissi dance.
Directed by Rabby Deyan, the film documented the creative process, challenges and human stories behind the production and its international tour.
The documentary presented an intimate look at the discipline and collaboration that shape the performance. It captured both the artistic vulnerability of the dancers and the collective effort required to bring the production across borders. At its core, the film reflected how tradition adapts within contemporary contexts, showing how classical forms remain relevant through reinterpretation and movement across regions.
Originally rooted in the folk form Radha Prema Leela from Ganjam, Radhe! Radhe! was reimagined through a contemporary lens. The production was co-directed by Ramli Ibrahim and Gajendra Panda, bridging heritage with modern performance language.
The documentary positioned the work as both an artistic production and a cultural exchange, connecting Malaysia and India through shared narratives and movement traditions. Ramli described the film as a living archive of artistic devotion and cross-border collaboration, highlighting how tradition continues to evolve through new interpretations and audiences.
Organised by Sutra Foundation, the screening drew a diverse audience, including students, cultural practitioners and arts supporters, reflecting a growing appetite for storytelling rooted in heritage and collaboration. A post-screening session encourages discussion on preserving classical arts while adapting them for contemporary audiences, reinforcing the role of documentation in sustaining cultural legacy.