ICS Night:‘Kalakshetra’ 2025

Swords meet in disastrous union, golden bangles clink together. Tales of love and war reverberated through the theatre as gasps and cheers rang in our ears. To say that the experience of Indian Cultural Society (ICS) Night 2025 was exhilarating would be an understatement. 

General Vikram vanquishing his enemies. Photo by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

The production, named ‘Kalakshetra’, meaning a holy place of arts, was indeed an apt representation of the night overall. From the fluid grace of cultural dance sequences to the intensity of the battle scenes that overflowed with tension, every moment on stage was a tribute to the rich tapestry of Indian tradition. The seamless fusion of music, movement, and storytelling brought the student-created drama to life, transforming the theatre into Indraprasht, a kingdom where culture, kindness, love and war were all intertwined. Each character was portrayed with conviction, playing integral roles in the story that excited and inspired. 

The king and his disloyal minister discuss state affairs. Photo by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

The storyline hooked attendees from the start. The audience was introduced to a multifaceted kingdom where valor clashed with vengeance, loyalties were put to the test, and where love bloomed in the most unlikely of places. This undoubtedly piqued our interests. The main protagonist, General Vikram(Aemir Ahmad Khan of 25S55), was portrayed as a loyal and skilled warrior, while the cunning antagonist, Minister Adheera (Chris Saju Mulakkal of 24S64), schemed to overthrow the kind king (Palanivelu Madhiventhan of 24S44) in pursuit of control. The clashes of values, grit and intellect, displayed through the character’s conversations and battles, were not just entertaining, but also wholly exciting and visually spectacular. 

Tense dispute between General Vikram and Minister Adheera. Photo by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

Another layer of this production that was widely appreciated was the romance between General Vikram and Princess Aishwarya (Uthayakumar Uthayathara of 25S33). The swoon-worthy dialogue and playful witty banter electrified the audience, eliciting ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the engaged crowd. This subplot added emotional depth to the performance, with smooth transitions into song and dance that echoed the charm and undeniable style of classic Bollywood films. The romance also provided a softer contrast to the tension of war and politics, allowing  the characters to seem more relatable and the audience more invested in the storyline. 

Romances between General Vikram and his pursuits. Photos by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

Dharnitha Aravindhan from 24S34, one of the talented scriptwriters, provided great insights regarding the team’s creative process. “As a Tamil Language and Literature (TLL) student who often analyses cultural period stories as well as Indian tales and epics, we had pretty solid ideas that kicked off our brainstorming process. Our team consists of other TLL students as well as extremely talented and creative writers. Together, with our deep knowledge of Indian films, culture, history and stories, we crafted a plot that we personally found exciting and adventurous. Additionally casting the characters who had the right energies was extremely important to us. We are so lucky to have found wonderful Victorians who embodied the characters that we visualised in our minds.” The scriptwriters, the backbone of this production, had a clear vision. 

The musical numbers were a true celebration of India’s cultural richness and diversity. They beautifully blended Hindi and Tamil songs, symbolising a fusion of North and South Indian traditions. This thoughtful selection highlighted the cultural breadth of India, moving beyond the usual Tamil-dominant narratives often seen in Singaporean representations of Indian culture.  

Talented singers displaying their craft. Photos by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

Additionally, the accompanying separate dances were executed beautifully. The steps, gestures, and formation reflected not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of the music and narrative. Together, the music and dance brought a rich emotional texture to the performance, making it both culturally meaningful, thoroughly engaging and visually appealing.

Dancers expressing Indian culture through their art. Photos by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

As captivating as the performances were, the audiences’ reception of the fight scenes were on another level. Even though the majority of the props were handmade, it was the energy, commitment, and timing of the performers that made the scenes genuinely entertaining. The sword fights, dramatic face-offs, and group formations were all executed with intensity and clarity, making it easy to stay engaged, and not a single person in the crowd could tear their eyes away from the stage. The cast’s chemistry added to its impact, especially during moments of high tension. 

Intense battle moments between the opposing forces in the play. Photos by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

Cast member Yaalni Chandirasekar (24S43) talked about her appreciation of behind-the-scenes roles, like blocking and stage direction: , “It’s such an underrated part of it… but it does play a huge impact on the play,”. She also spoke about the strong bonds among the cast, saying, “There’s a lot of respect given to other people’s thoughts and ideas, and the fact that the performance turned out better than our expectations was just the cherry on top”. 

As the production drew to a close, everything came together in a truly cohesive and memorable way. The final group dances brought all the performers, leads, supporting roles, and ensemble, back on stage to have a final dance. This created a totally vibrant and unified visual. Despite the complexity of the storyline and the variety of characters, the closing scenes tied everything neatly together through choreography, music, and emotion. The energy was electric, and it was clear that every performer, regardless of their role, was fully immersed in the moment. 

The entire ICS committee basking in the spotlight together. Photo by Kabir Vasudevan (24S39) from VJC Photography Society 

To sum it up, the world of Kalakshetra was not built upon castles and riches like how the story was portrayed. Instead it was built upon blood, sweat and tears; some fake on stage, plenty real off stage. From script to spotlight, every moment was fuelled by passion, dedication and a whole lot of heart. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.