Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated a dance drama featuring the life and times of freedom fighter Velu Nachiyar of Sivagangai, who was the first woman to take on the British colonists 75 years before Rani of Jhansi put up a valiant fight in northern India.
The dance drama, enacted by a team of 64 trained dancers, would tour the State in the coming days and the first show was held in the presence of the Chief Minister at the Kalaivanar Arangam on Saturday.
A joint production of the Government Art and Culture department, the Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram and the Information Department, the dance drama tells the story of the woman who mobilized the people of Sivaganga, along with some local chieftains, to resist British invasion.
After ruling Sivagangai for 7 years, she died on December 25, 1896 as an epitome of courage.
