Sopanam Institute of Performing Arts and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, founded in 1965 in Alleppey, Kerala and registered under the Travancore Scientific, Literary and Charitable Societies Act, 1955, is completing its 40th year. Sopanam, through a series of dramatic productions, workshops, seminars, festivals both national and international, publications and interactions has tried to explore the Indian theatre practices based on the performing traditions of India and Natyasastra theories during these years. It is committed to Sopana Sangeetham (indigenous music of Kerala), Mohiniattam, contemporary recreation of ancient Sanskrit and modern Malayalam plays, dramatization of poems, folk songs and folk tales etc.