Beyond Singapore, together with his wife, Shyamjith has travelled widely, performing internationally at various festivals and renowned performing arts venues.
The Production
The Production
An original dance production exploring life with dementia — love, loss, identity, and what endures when memory fades.
About the Show
Unsaid is a dance production exploring themes related to life with dementia. It was born out of the need to convey a mental collection of personal and professional stories of those with dementia and their loved ones.
As Anuja began her career as a medical speech therapist, she encountered a quote:
“A man does not consist of memory alone. He has feeling, will, sensibility, moral being … It is here … you may touch him, and see a profound change.”
These words echoed the emotions she felt as she watched her grandmother change over the years, Alzheimer’s destabilising her experience of time, as the family rallied together to make her feel loved.
What happens when strands of memory start leaving the mind? What happens to the person then? Who are they to themselves, and who are they to their loved ones?
Unsaid explores themes of love and loss, the liminal nature of memory, the search for identity and meaning when one is faced with memory loss, and how the relationship between loved ones changes as a result. The role of memory keeper oscillates constantly till the memories eventually find a new home.
The production seeks to show that despite the changes, confusion, and challenges, love is still present and felt in deep and different ways.
Themes that move through the work
Love
Memory
Identity
Loss
What Endures
Our Objectives
What this work seeks to do.
01
Reduce stigma
Reduce stigma around dementia through art.
02
Reach the community
Reach Singapore's Indian community with culturally resonant storytelling.
03
Move from awareness to understanding
Move audiences from awareness to understanding and support.
04
Expand Bharathanatyam
Push the boundaries of Bharathanatyam as a medium for contemporary stories.
Artists
The people behind Unsaid.
Artistic Director / Choreographer
Shyamjith Kiran
Shyamjith Kiran is an independent practitioner, performer, choreographer and teacher in the style of Bharatanatyam. Based in Chennai, India, he completed his post-graduation at the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai in 2009, excelling in his diploma and post-diploma courses. He also holds a diploma in Bharathanatyam from his Guru V P Dhananjayan’s institute, Bhaskara, where he trained prior to joining Kalakshetra.
While at Kalakshetra, he was part of Bharathanatyam and Kathakali performances presented by the Kalakshetra Repertory Company, performing main roles and touring extensively.
Shyamjith was also a former dance instructor at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society from 2010 to 2013, where he was actively involved in choreographing dance productions. He continues to be artistically involved in Singapore’s Indian arts scene, having staged his productions Mudivil Oru Aarambham and Eeram as part of Kalpavriksha Fine Arts’ Samskriti Festival in Singapore.
Music Composition
Charu Hariharan
Charu Hariharan is a versatile percussionist, singer, composer, and music producer with deep roots in Carnatic music. Daughter and student of renowned Carnatic/Playback singer Dr B Arundhathi, Charu is a disciple of Mridangavidwan Sri Mannarkoil J Balaji and has learnt Hindustani vocal under Smt Abhradita Banerjee.
Known for her artistry of Mridangam, Konnakol, and world percussion, she has collaborated with global artists, including AR Rahman, MM Keeravani, Ale Moller, Pt Debashish Bhattacharya, to name a few. A Fellow of the U.S. State Department’s One Beat program and an artistic mentor for Ethno world music camps, Charu is also a member of the Världens Band, Kriyaa (India), Alma Trio, etc. She has performed at prestigious platforms like the Mahindra Percussion Festival, WOMAD (Abu Dhabi), Milaapfest (UK), and Dubai’s Firdaus Orchestra to name a few. Endorsed by Harman – AKG and Gappu Percussions, Charu continues to innovate, blending tradition with contemporary global sounds.
Producer / Artiste
Anuja Varaprasad
Anuja Varaprasad has been learning Bharathanatyam from the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society for more than 30 years. She has performed in solo and group productions in Singapore and India. In 2012, she conceptualised and performed Svam – My Own, presenting pieces that described what art means to her.
More recently, she performed Prayatna, a dedication to her teachers, as part of SIFAS Festival of the Arts in 2024, and Saranagathi as part of Perumal Temple’s Vasantha Utsavam in 2025. She performed with friends at the Esplanade Outdoor Stage as part of Kala Utsavam in 2021, which led to a full production, Human | Nature, as part of the Raga Series in 2023. The production was a social commentary on human greed and its impact on the environment, and was also staged in Bangalore as part of Medai’s December Marghazhi season in 2024.
Anuja strongly believes that Indian arts can address contemporary themes and social issues while still rooted in traditional form. She is a medical speech therapist and a mother to two very opinionated children, delicately balancing her love for Bharathanatyam with life’s other responsibilities.
Artiste
Lakshmi Krishnan
Lakshmi is a graceful dancer, a nuanced choreographer, and a perceptive teacher who has helmed numerous creative projects for the Temple of Fine Arts. Beyond her leadership, she is a dedicated mentor, guiding students through the evolving stages of their dance journeys and nurturing many into independent artists and educators.
What remains “unsaid” is Lakshmi’s own quest for self-discovery. Driven by an enduring enthusiasm for learning, she constantly expands her artistic vocabulary — whether through the rhythmic intricacies of Konnakol or by exploring dance as a holistic space of wellness for older women. By championing inclusivity and seeking fresh perspectives, she ensures her craft remains relevant and responsive to a changing world.
For Lakshmi, dance is the anchor that brings new color and clarity to every aspect of life.
Creative Team
Programme Credits
Choreographer & Artistic Director
Shyamjith Kiran
Music Composition
Charu Hariharan
Producer / Artiste
Anuja Varaprasad
Artiste
Lakshmi Krishnan
Project Manager
Sugumaran Devaraja
Ready to take your seat?
Performance Venue
By Bus
Hop onto any of the buses: 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 97e, 100, 131, 145 and alight at bus stop no. 14061, Opp Former Railway Station, along Keppel Road. Walk straight for 200m along Tanjong Pagar Distripark Block 37 on your left and turn left at the side entrance to Block 39.
Who this is for
Parking is available at 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Parking fee applies. Parking facility managed by Mapletree.
Weekdays: $2/hour 07:00–16:59, $2.50/entry 17:00–06:59
Saturdays: $2/hour 07:00–12:59, $2.50/entry 13:00–06:59
Sunday / PH: $2.50/entry 07:00–06:59
Grace period: 10 minutes
Motorcycles: Free all day at 37 Tanjong Pagar Distripark
