Provoke Art Festival 2026 was held on October 31st October and November 1st, 2026 at the Music Academy, Royapettah, Chennai.
This year’s Provoke Art Festival 2026 showcased unforgettable nights of mesmerising performances and honoured distinguished artists with Lifetime Achievement Awards in the field of Arts. The two-day celebration brought together an extraordinary blend of music, dance and cultural expression, captivating audiences with world-class performances. Renowned artists and creative visionaries took centre stage, making the festival a vibrant tribute to artistic excellence and heritage. The event also served as a platform to recognise legendary contributors whose work has left an enduring impact on the arts. With packed halls and enthusiastic applause, Provoke Art Festival 2026 once again reaffirmed its place as one of Chennai’s most anticipated cultural gatherings.
DAY 2 Sunday – November 1, 2026
Attendees will witness fascinating performances by:
– Jayanthi Subramaniam & Troupe
Jayanthi Subramaniam is a distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent and guru. Her extensive training in Indian classical dance began at the age of five. As a senior disciple of Adyar K. Lakshmanan, Jayanthi Subramaniam has established herself as a prominent figure in Bharatanatyam. She has performed globally and holds the distinction of being an A-grade artist of Doordarshan and an empanelled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Jayanthi Subramaniam showcased the philosophy of life, inspired by the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. The performance blended the philosophical novella Jonathan Livingston Seagull, with the Shanti Mantra (Asat ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya) from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. It explored moving from darkness to light, breaking limitations, and the pursuit of excellence beyond mere survival -paralleling the journey with the guru-sishya parampara (the teacher-student tradition). Classical movements like gati bhedam, navarasas, and spatial techniques such as bhoomicharis and akashcharis were used to portray the flight of the seagull.
– Carnatic vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan and independent music ensemble Urupaanar will enthrall the art lovers with their special collaborative project called “Tamizhin Meiyoli” (The Living Sound of Tamil). The performance brought together classical Carnatic vocals, ancient Tamil sounds, traditional instruments, and original contemporary compositions in a celebration of South India’s rich musical heritage.
Honouring Icons
Recognising extraordinary contributions to India’s cultural landscape, Provoke Art Festival 2026 also honoured some of the nation’s most distinguished artistic personalities with Lifetime Achievement and other prestigious awards. From the worlds of classical dance, music, and choreography, these trailblazers have inspired generations through their talent, dedication, and enduring impact on the arts.
Honouring excellence through Lifetime Achievement and other Prestigious Awards in the field of arts were presented to:
– Ms. Revathy Asha Kelunni, actress, film director, Bharatanatyam dancer and philanthropist is one of South Indian cinema’s most accomplished actresses and a woman of substance. Revathy was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
– Smt. KS Chithra, acclaimed playback singer and Carnatic musician who has had an illustrious career spanning five decades, recording over 25,000 songs in various Indian languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Awadhi, Marathi, Tulu and others as well as foreign languages. The Royal Albert Hall, London, has recognised her with the honorific title the Golden Voice of India. Smt. KS Chithra was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
– Mr. Mano, a renowned playback singer, voice-over artist, actor, and television host, has recorded songs for film and private various Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Tulu, Konkani and Assamese films. He has also performed for over 3000 live concerts across the continents and recorded many songs for music director Ilaiyaraaja. Mr. Mano was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
– Smt. Desa Mangaiyarkarasi, a well-known Tamil spiritual orator, scholar, writer, and motivational speaker. Smt. Desa Mangaiyarkarasi was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Paulsons Group of Companies presented the Provoke Art Festival 2026, which was started with a simple vision – to celebrate Indian art and the incredible artists who bring our culture, stories, and creativity to life. Through this festival, they aim to create a platform that showcases artistic excellence, encourages dialogue, and inspires a deeper appreciation for India’s rich and diverse artistic heritage.
Provoke Art Festival 2026 is open to all. Everyone is welcome. Seating is on first come first serve basis.
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