'Profoundly thoughtful' - Mani Ratnam
Mesmerized by the vibrance of classical dance, young Zaheer yearns to be a Bharatanatyam dancer. Yet, in his small but multi-cultural village community, he finds encouragement only in his aunt, Anandhi, and faces ridicule from his immediate family and extended social circle. In the course of his struggle, as he transitions from being a member of a conservative Muslim family that is outraged by his unusual interest, into becoming a part of the charming world of a classical dance form that imposes its own religious typecasting, he encounters different facets of faith. The novel explores the legitimacy of the space that Zaheer wishes to carve out for himself beyond stereotypes of black and white, amidst gaping social disparities, and in between Hinduism and Islam. Interwoven with his narrative is one of Andal, the Vaishnavite savant poetess who rebels against the orthodoxy of her faith and creates her own idiom of devotion.
The Dance of Faith is a vibrant and brilliantly crafted tapestry of art, dance, cinema and religion of the Tamil region in which the sordid and spectacular shine through equally.
'The story begins with endearing anecdotes and gradually moves into questions for deep introspection. The narration has a light touch, yet is profoundly thoughtful.'
-Mani Ratnam, film director, screenwriter and producer
'Seshasayee's gift of language, of turns of original phrasing, minting figures of speech, is captivating. But that gift yields place to his masterful understanding of life. From the carved truths on temple walls and in muezzin's calls, to the scarred realities of police lock-ups, greasy sculleries and railway sidings, he takes us through the furnaces of conflict, division and anguish to there, where seeker meets the sought.'
-Gopalkrishna Gandhi, author and former governor of West Bengal
'Consumed by the fervour of dance, but shackled to identities and labels, and indeed to the human need to belong, this is the story of how Zaheer found the sanctum sanctorum of his own god, Bharatanatyam. Seshasayee's deft telling of this life leaves us stirred, yet disturbed. And the uncomfortable and unanswered questions it throws up stay with us long after the last page has been turned.'
-T.M. Krishna, musician, author and activist
'The story is sketched in a very visual style, capturing the vibrant hues of Tamil Nadu, its society, art and religion. The protagonist Zaheer's unusual passion and personal beliefs, juxtaposed with his received faith, sociology and cultural locations, result in unfolding a great human story.'
-Rajiv Menon, filmmaker and director
