Lavani amcha jivan aahe,” believes 49-year-old Seema Pote, whose parents were tamasha artistes. Pote, who was born in a tamasha tent in Solapur district, learnt the nuances of lavani from her mother, Shantabai Savlaram Kale. Having danced to the rhythm of the dholki since she was 11 years old, for Pote, lavani is more than just art — it’s a way of life. The folk artiste, along with other lavani performers, will weave together the journey of the art form, from its early days in the 1800s to its modern avatar in theatre-maker and documentary filmmaker Savitri Medhatul’s upcoming production, Lavanya Katta. The documentary theatre piece will premiere at the Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) on December 17.

Sudhakar and Seema Pote during rehearsals