What happens when a student casually asks, “But… where’s the proof?”

ForDr. Nithyakalyani, that single question became the spark for a journey that refused to let her sleep — until tradition met data.

What followed was rigorous research that brought scientific validation to what practitioners of Bharatanāṭyamhave intuitively known for generations:

• How consistent Alarippu practice, supported by modified eye exercises, can contribute to major improvements in eyesight !
• The effect of the heart in assessing cardiovascular endurance in Bharatanāṭyam dancers and the striking reality that there is very little — if any — documented data on the number of Bharatanāṭyam dancers affected by cardiac arrest !

These insights formed the core of“Third Eye: Viewing Bharatanāṭyam Through a New Lens”, a lecture that unfolded not as a performance of ideas, but as a carefully reasoned conversation between movement, medicine and meaning.

Delivered byDr. Nithyakalyani—
Chief Scientist & Lab Director, Islet Transplant Program
Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital & Madras Medical College—
the talk challenged assumptions, bridged worlds of science and dance and reminded the audience that tradition does not resist inquiry; itinvitesit !

The event that happened on 8th January 2026 at the KSRI premises was presented under the auspices of the
Sri R. Srinivasa Tatachari | K. Chandrasekharan | T. V. Viswanatha Iyer Endowments,
and left behind more than answers — it left behind new ways of asking questions.

Because sometimes, one honest doubt is all it takes to open thethird eye !

The recorded video of the event will be out in the KSRI youtube Channel soon!