About · Our People

The people
behind the practice.

Anthardhaari Arts Foundation is a collective of value-driven individuals who believe in the transformative power of the arts rooted in humanity.

The Anthardhaari Collective
❧ ❧

Different disciplines.
Shared values.

Anthardhaari is built on the intention to create meaningful spaces where artistic practice goes beyond performance, becoming a medium for reflection, connection, and shared experience.

Guided by sensitivity, honesty, and a commitment to what truly matters, the foundation seeks to nurture environments where art becomes a way of understanding ourselves and the world around us.

Leadership · Advisors · Musicians

Meet the full team.

From artistic direction and theatre to literature, wellbeing, technology and music — every perspective contributes to the foundation’s evolving work.

Manjula Ponnapalli — Founder & Artistic Director 01
Founder & Artistic Director

Manjula Ponnapalli

For over two decades, Manjula’s journey has been deeply interwoven with music through teaching, performing, and facilitating workshops across India and internationally. She has engaged with universities, institutions, individuals, and diverse communities, witnessing first-hand how the arts awaken sensitivity and cultivate a shared sense of belonging.

Anthardhaari Arts Foundation emerged from this lived understanding that art, when offered with kindness and intention, holds the power to reconnect and strengthen bonds within communities and renew our relationship with the natural world.

Shyam Mohan Ponnapalli — Co-Founder & Director 02
Co-Founder & Director

Shyam Mohan Ponnapalli

Shri. Shyam Mohan Ponnapalli’s professional journey spans decades in banking, bringing with him decades of leadership, discipline, and organisational insight. Alongside his distinguished professional career, he is a deeply passionate audio engineer with over 50 years of hands-on experience in sound and audio practices.

A lifelong lover of the arts, Shri. Ponnapalli is also a proficient Telugu writer, known for his thoughtful short stories and poems that reflect cultural depth and human sensitivity. As Director – Strategy & Advisory of Anthardhaari Arts Foundation, Mr. Shyam Mohan Ponnapalli offers invaluable mentorship and guidance. His presence strengthens the foundation’s vision with wisdom, balance, and a deep respect for creative processes.

Prof. Rajaravivarma — Advisor — Theatre & Performing Arts 03
Advisor — Theatre & Performing Arts

Prof. Rajaravivarma

Prof. Rajaravivarma is a theatre artist and academic with decades of experience in performance and theatre pedagogy. He serves as a Professor in the Department of Performing Arts at Pondicherry University.

At Anthardhaari Arts Foundation, his guidance as an advisor in theatre and performing arts draws from his long-standing experience in artistic practice, pedagogy, and performance traditions, adding value to the journey.

Pravin Vendhanraj Lewis — Technical Advisor — Media & Digital 04
Technical Advisor — Media & Digital

Pravin Vendhanraj Lewis

Pravin Vendhanraj Lewis is a musician, passionate science enthusiast, educator, and humanitarian with decades of experience in sound and audio engineering. His deep engagement with science, and his ability to connect its applications to everyday life especially in his work with children and diverse communities along with his humanitarian efforts to make education accessible to as many as possible, deeply resonate with the core values of Anthardhaari Arts Foundation.

His guidance in technical and digital platforms is invaluable to the growth of Anthardhaari Arts Foundation.

Sreenivasu Varanasi — Advisor — Arts & Literature 05
Advisor — Arts & Literature

Sreenivasu Varanasi

Sreenivasu Varanasi is an IT professional from Hyderabad with a deep passion for the arts and Telugu literature. A skilled communicator, he brings strengths in Telugu content writing and professional voice-over artistry, among other creative pursuits. His enduring interest in cultural expression and literary traditions adds a thoughtful and nuanced perspective to the foundation’s artistic vision.

As an advisor, Sreenivasu contributes to conversations around arts, language, and cultural engagement, helping foster meaningful dialogue within the initiatives of Anthardhaari Arts Foundation.

Dr. Anbu Dorai — Advisor — Mental Health & Wellbeing 06
Advisor — Mental Health & Wellbeing

Dr. Anbu Dorai

Dr. Anbu is a practicing psychiatrist with extensive experience in the field of mental health and wellbeing. As Advisor for Mental Health & Wellbeing, his perspective helps strengthen the human connection, supporting the development of arts initiatives that are sensitive, inclusive, and nurturing for participants.

His interest in music and perception, along with his belief in the arts as a powerful medium for wellbeing and harmony, deeply aligns with and adds value to the core of Anthardhaari Arts Foundation.

Imamuddin — Guitar 07
Guitar

Imamuddin

Imamuddin is a passionate musician and guitarist whose gentle and patient approach, especially in working with children and within a team, reflects his belief in music as an honest and inclusive medium for all. His sensitivity, combined with his talent and strong work ethic, adds meaningful value to the productions and artistic processes of Anthardhaari Arts Foundation.

Aaron Prabaharan — Keyboard 08
Keyboard

Aaron Prabaharan

Aaron is a versatile and passionate musician as well as a rap artist, known for his dedication and disciplined approach to his craft. He views art as a powerful medium for meaningful expression and as a way to contribute towards a more harmonious world. His positive spirit and musical sensibility bring great value to Anthardhaari Arts Foundation and its original creative work.

Nature · Arts · Humanity
A collective shaped by how we listen, learn, create and contribute.
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