From Homer’s muses to Kalidasa’s Shakuntala, the feminine connection to art has a long tradition and is almost psychological. Shubha Mudgal will explore this historical nature of art with her upcoming performance at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, tomorrow. The Padma Shri awardee will open Mukta: The Voices of Women Festival, with Jayanthi Kumaresh and Kaushiki Chakraborty to perfom in the following days.

The performance, titled Mukta: Women, Sexuality and Song will explore the portrayal of women in Hindustani literature and classical music. “A large number of khayal and thumri compositions portray women as goddesses and as earthly nayikas [heroines],” she says. A majority of the compositions are the creations of male poets though. “My selection is based on the inherent musicality of the texts and the possibilities they offer,” the singer tells us.