FLO Coimbatore hosted a panel discussion titled “Creative Journeys” at Podhigai Hall, PSG College of Arts & Science (PSGCAS), bringing together four practitioners from across the performing and creative arts for an open conversation with an audience of PSGCAS students and FLO Coimbatore members.
The panel featured Lavanya Shankar, a Bharathanatyam dancer, Founder of Abhyasa Academy of Classical Dance, and a Kalaimamani awardee, who spoke to both the artistic and entrepreneurial dimensions of running a classical dance academy; Suraj Shankar, a flautist, musician, actor, and dancer whose multi-disciplinary career illustrated the value of versatility in the arts; Akshita Nichani, a filmmaker, director, and producer, who offered a contemporary lens on building a career in visual storytelling; and Mr. V. Jeevanathan, an artist, author, President of Chitrakala Academy — an association of artists in Coimbatore — and also a Kalaimamani awardee, who brought a visual arts and institutional leadership perspective to the panel.
The conversation moved through each panelist’s individual journey — the choices, risks, and pivots that shaped their careers — before opening into a broader discussion on the state of creative careers in India today, the balance between tradition and innovation, and practical advice for young people considering a life in the arts. Students and members actively engaged in a Q&A segment, asking the panelists about everything from managing financial uncertainty early in a creative career to building an audience and finding mentors.
Bringing this panel to PSGCAS reflected FLO Coimbatore’s broader intent to expose 250 students to career paths beyond conventional academic and corporate tracks, while also creating a shared learning space for its own members interested in the creative and cultural sector. With two of the four panelists holding the prestigious Kalaimamani award, the session offered students and members rare, direct access to some of the region’s most recognised creative talent — reinforcing the chapter’s belief that creative careers deserve the same institutional support and visibility as any other professional path.