Mad and Divine is a powerful Bharatanatyam dance-theatre production by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Rama Vaidyanathan, exploring the extraordinary spiritual journeys of two medieval women mystic-poets—Janabai, the 13th-century Marathi saint-poet devoted to Lord Vitthala, and Lal Ded (Lalleshwari), the 14th-century Kashmiri poet-saint who sought enlightenment through the union of Shiva and Shakti. Through expressive movement, poetry, music, and storytelling, the production portrays women whose intense devotion challenged social conventions and was often perceived as madness by the world around them. Mad and Divine ultimately invites the audience to question where madness ends and divinity begins, celebrating the courage, surrender, and spiritual freedom of women whose devotion transcended the boundaries of their time.

Rama Vaidyanathan is one of India’s leading Bharatanatyam dancers and choreographers, known for combining classical tradition with expressive storytelling and innovative interpretation. Trained under legendary dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and renowned Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan, she has performed extensively across India and internationally for more than four decades. A recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Rama is admired for her technical excellence, artistic depth, and original choreography. As President of Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi, she also continues to mentor and inspire future generations of Bharatanatyam artists.