People forget facts, but stories endure. They carry desire, hope, and longing across centuries. Magdalana Mariam reimagines Mary Magdalene as more than legend — a woman reshaped by scripture, folklore, and poetic vision. Branded sinner, hailed disciple, remembered apostle, she embodies the timeless human journey through suffering toward redemption.

Vallathol Narayana Menon with his poetic magic introduced the enigmatic figure of Mariam (Mary Magdalene) to regional literature through his Khanda Kavyam- Magdalana Mariam. Composed in chaste Malayalam, this lyrical poem touches the heart with its imagery and metaphors.

The simple narrative based on St Luke’s gospel begins with the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, in the town of Galilee. In the same town lives Mariam, a beautiful woman who having risen from the depths of poverty, accumulates wealth by succumbing to ego and temptation. One night, she is jolted to the realisation that she has long led a life of spiritual hollowness. Her encounter with Christ and her transformation thorough redemption serve as a background for this exquisite poetic composition.

Music Composition: Dr. O.S ARUN

Lyrics: From Mahakavi Vallathol Menon’s Khanda Kavyam MAGDALANA MARIAM

Choreography and Performance: Anjana Anand

Credits

Musicians on Recording:

Vocal: K.S Vishnudev and Keerthana Vaidyanathan

Special voice appearance: Dr. O.S.Arun

Percussive arrangement and Jathis : Sheejith Krishna

Mridangam: Sivaprasad

Sitar/ Sarod: Kishore Kumar

Tabla: Martin

Violin: Easwar Ramakrishnan

Flute: JB Sruti Sagar

Chorus voices: Sneha Sheejith and Harshini

Research and Translation: Sreelatha Rajan

Recorded At SAHRDAYA SOUND STUDIO (Mastered by Rakesh Pazhedam)

Lighting Design : Sneha Sheejith & Vidhya Venkat

Production Management: Praveen Selvanayagam

Costume Design: Kirthana Ravikumar

Props : T. Amrutha Varshini

Acknowledgements: Sunanda Ragunathan & Anjana S

Anjana Anand

Anjana Anand holds a doctorate in Bharatanatyam and is an independent solo artiste who has performed in major venues in India (Music Academy, Narada gana sabha and Krishna gana sabha) and abroad. An alumna of SIFAS, Singapore and Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, she is also a founder-member of Sahrdaya Foundation, Chennai (2011) where she teaches and performs.

An empanelled artiste with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR, Delhi) and graded artiste of Doordarshan, she has completed a BA in Music (Madras University), Masters in Fine Arts and PhD inBharatanatyam from Bharathiyar University. 

Anjana recently published a book ‘A Grammar of Dance’ based on the ancient Tamil epic Silappadikaram and an e-book ‘Jathis by Smt Kamala Rani’. She is a writing correspondent for Sruti Magazine. Anjana has received the Bharatha Kala Mani award from Apsaras Arts (2022), Sathya Nritta Sundaram Bharatanjali Trust, (2011) and Venkatraman Award for best outgoing student, Kalakshetra (1998)

Her own solo and group choreographic works include ‘Magdalana Mariam’ (2024). ‘Krishna Leela Tarangini’ (2016), ‘Ula – Temple Procession’ (2019). Anjana has been a guest choreographer for Apsaras Arts productions, –Rasa (2023), Nirmanika (2010), Angkor Wat (2013) and ‘Sakhi’ and ‘Fire and Ash’ produced by JustUs Repertory. 

Anjana has danced in significant ensemble and duo productions over the last few years, including those of Sahrdaya Foundation, Prof C.V Chandrasekar, and Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan’s JustUs Repertory. 

Anjana has three decades of teaching experience and is a guest faculty at the Dance Intensive camps at Milapfest, UK, Navadarshana, US led by Priyadarsini Govind and IPAC, Singapore.

Who is Mary Magdalene?

Mary Magdalene is an important biblical figure, whose life is shrouded in mystery and this has led to many controversial versions to her narrative. Mary is believed to be from the city of Magdala – a fishing village on the  western shore of the sea of Galilee. She is mentioned in the New Testament mainly in connection with her presence

at Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection.

The first time Mary Magdalene appears is in the gospel of Luke in chapter 8:1-3. She is introduced as one of the women who was part of Jesus’s entourage as he travelled from place to place preaching and healing. It is said that on meeting her, he ‘cast out the 7 demons’ and she in turn became his faithful disciple.

The ambiguous interpretation of the phrase ‘7 demons’, as well as her wrongful identification with a prostitute who was earlier redeemed by Jesus, led to centuries of fallacy about her persona. It was only in the late 20th century that the Catholic church corrected the misconceptions and recognized her importance as Jesus’s prime disciple. She is now recognized as the ‘apostle of the apostles’. In 2016, the July 22^nd memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene was elevated to a Feast day by Pope Francis.