Google Doodle
I had the honor of illustrating a Google Doodle to commemorate the 100th birthday of Mrinalini Sarabhai—an icon of Indian classical dance whose influence transcended generations. Trained in both Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, she developed a distinct artistic voice, choreographed over 300 dance dramas, and founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts to shape future generations of dancers.
Service
Illustration
Client
Year
2018
Link
Having learned Bharatanatyam as a child, completed my Arangetram, and later studied in Ahmedabad—the very city where Sarabhai built her legendary academy—this project felt deeply personal, like a full-circle moment.
In conceptualizing the Doodle, I wanted to showcase two defining aspects of Sarabhai’s legacy: her spirit of playfulness and curiosity, as well as her lifelong role as a teacher and mentor.
Dance, Memory, and Meaning
After extensive research, I sketched multiple concepts, each highlighting a different facet of Sarabhai’s legacy. One explored her global impact in bringing Bharatanatyam to the world stage, another focused on her role as the ‘looking glass’ (Darpana) through which audiences experienced the dance form. A third option emphasized her influence as a mentor and educator in dance, which ultimately became the chosen direction. Another interesting challenge was seamlessly integrating the “Google” wordmark into the composition without compromising its integrity or legibility.
Bringing the Vision
to Life
The final artwork depicts her standing with her signature parasol in the auditorium of Darpana Academy, watching over her students as they perform on stage—an ode to her dedication to dance and education.
