Suhasini Maniratnam speaking at the REACH programme on Friday.
| Photo Credit: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN
A special performance of “Enchantment”, a bio-play celebrating the life and legacy of legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar, premiered last night at the Museum Theatre here.
The event served as a fundraiser for REACH, a Chennai-based non-profit organisation dedicated to tackling tuberculosis (TB) and other public health challenges.
At the event, actor and filmmaker Suhasini Maniratnam shared her own struggles with tuberculosis. “I know first-hand what tuberculosis does to a person’s physical and mental health. I have had TB twice – at the age of five and again at 37. While I was lucky to have a family who could provide me with the right treatment, not everyone is as fortunate. The work REACH is doing to support families impacted by TB and combat the stigma around it is so important, and I’m proud to be part of this cause,” Ms. Maniratnam said.
Nalini Krishnan, Co-founder and Executive Secretary of REACH, said that despite progress, TB continues to claim thousands of lives in India daily.
The funds raised from the event will support REACH’s 30 ‘Nakshatra Centres’ across Chennai, which serve as hubs for TB care, especially for those in the private sector. These centres strive to provide high-quality, person-centred care for those battling TB, and break the stigma surrounding the disease.
The play, written and directed by playwright and singer Gowri Ramnarayan, featured a cast including Yohan Chacko, Aarabi Veeraraghavan, and Vidhya Subramanian.
The performance also showcased dance by Renjith and Vijna, and music by renowned artists such as Bombay Jayashri, Aditya Prakash, Vignesh Ishwar, and Chaitrra Sairam. The play’s lighting design was done by Sneha Sheejith.
The event was supported by AMARA Homes, Sundaram Finance, and Dodla Dairy.
Published – September 13, 2025 06:00 am IST
