‘Lori’, an evocative solo Bharatanatyam performance, is set to shine a spotlight on the suffering of children in conflict-ridden Gaza, while raising funds for their aid. The 18-minute piece is choreographed and performed by Bengaluru-based dancer Aranyani Bhargav.
Inspired by ‘Falastini Bachche Ke Liye Lori’, a poignant poem by late Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the production portrays a woman who discovers a crying child beneath the corpses outside a Palestinian refugee camp. She rescues him and sings a lullaby—rendered over haunting drone music, not traditional ragas—blending classical form with raw emotional resonance.
The performance is part of the Indian Dancers for Gaza’s Children (IDGC) campaign, founded in May last year by Aranyani and Donovan Roebert, a South African dance scholar. Since then, IDGC has organized 28 global performances, including storytelling events, workshops, and concerts — all focusing on displacement, survival, and childhood in conflict zones.
What began as a social media post lamenting artistic silence, soon turned into a wave of global solidarity. Over 850 artists and organizations across 30 countries have joined in, contributing voluntarily. Notable collaborators include actor Shabana Azmi, who recited Faiz’s poem, and music duo Fragment of Light, who created the original score.
With Rs 15 lakh already raised for a WHO-affiliated pediatric charity, Aranyani affirms, “The goal was never political—it was always humanitarian.”
Read also: