Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's Tamil identity, Bharatanatyam spark Best of the Best debate

Netflix’s Best of the Best has found itself at the centre of another online debate. Soon after a dialogue comparing unwanted attention from men to “the last plane out of Kabul” drew backlash, a clip featuring Canadian actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan discussing her Tamil identity and Sri Lankan roots during the film’s promotions has triggered a fresh debate, this time over cultural representation, Bharatanatyam and who gets to claim or represent Tamil culture.The video, taken from an interview promoting the Netflix film, was shared on X by a user who pointed out that Maitreyi has never claimed to be Indian and has spoken about being Tamil with a Sri Lankan family background. But the post soon triggered a wider argument, with some users questioning why a Sri Lankan Tamil actor was performing Bharatanatyam and appearing in a film centred on Bollywood-fusion dance.Others pushed back, pointing out that Bharatanatyam is deeply rooted in Tamil culture and questioning the idea that Maitreyi's Sri Lankan Tamil identity should prevent her from performing the dance form.The discussion soon moved beyond Maitreyi and Best of the Best, turning into a debate over Bharatanatyam itself, its Tamil roots, its evolution, its association with the Devadasi tradition and pioneering Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer Rukmini Devi Arundale's role in its modern institutionalisation. So, what exactly is the debate about? And why has a promotional interview for a Netflix dance film opened up a much larger conversation about Tamil identity, diaspora and cultural ownership?Maitreyi, who is of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, stars in Best of the Best, a Netflix film set around the world of collegiate Bollywood-fusion dance. The Canadian actor plays Maya, one of two friends whose relationship is tested as they compete in a US dance championship. The actor also underwent Bharatanatyam training for the role. A clip from the film's promotion in which Maitreyi speaks about being Tamil and having a Sri Lankan family background was shared on X. One user defended the actor and wrote, “There wasn’t a single point in the movie where she claimed to be Indian. In fact, she explicitly said that she was Tamil and her family is from Sri Lanka. It’s not her fault that y’all think every South Asian is Indian (sic).”The post, however, drew criticism from another user, who questioned the use of Bollywood and Bharatanatyam in the film.“Then why use Bollywood and Bharatanatyam? Ask her to use her Sri Lankan origin dance. No one is claiming her as Indian. It’s because a non-Indian is always portraying Indian on every other show. So many talented Indians, including Tamilian NRIs, exist. They deserve the chance,” the user wrote.It is interesting to note that not only non-Tamils but also non-Indians, such as China’s Lei Muzi, Argentina’s Silvia Rissi and Sophia Salingaros from the US, have dedicated their lives to mastering and performing Bharatanatyam, the traditional Indian classical dance form.That comment led to another debate, this time over Bharatanatyam.“You f***g idiot. Bharatanatyam is not Bollywood dance. It is a Tamil dance. Bollywood knows Bharatanatyam because of Vyjayanthimala and Padmini, who are from South India,” another user replied.Others also pushed back against the suggestion that Maitreyi should not perform Bharatanatyam because of her Sri Lankan Tamil background.“Bharatanatyam is Tamil and she is Tamil. What is this great confusion you have? Do you want to stop Tamilians from doing Tamil culture and dance now?” one user wrote.Another said, “Bharatanatyam is Indian Tamil originated, not outsiders.”A third user argued that the distinction itself was unnecessary, writing, “Bharatanatyam is Tamil, not Indian Tamil, Kerala Tamil etc. There is no dispute on this. She is Tamil, again no dispute.”The discussion then widened into a debate over whether Bharatanatyam should be described as an Indian, South Indian or specifically Tamil dance form.One X user wrote, “Tamil is language. Its origin is in India.”Another post brought the debate into the larger conversation around South Indian identity, saying, “This is why South India continues to separate politically from North India. Yelling about this girl not being Indian and stealing ‘Indian culture’ when they’re both Tamil showing Tamil dance and dress.”Another user disagreed, writing, “That’s Bharatanatyam, not ‘Tamil dance’.”Social media users debate the history of BharatanatyamThe debate also brought up the history and evolution of Bharatanatyam. Several users also brought up the history of the dance form, including its earlier association with names such as Sadirattam.There is also a long history of debate around the dance's association with the Devadasi tradition, its social history and the changes it underwent during the 20th century. Rukmini Devi Arundale played a significant role in the institutionalisation and revival of the dance through Kalakshetra, although the history of Bharatanatyam is more complex than a single renaming or revival narrative.Some users on X, however, made stronger claims about this history. One post alleged that “Sadhiraattam was renamed as ‘Bharatanatyam’ by Brahmins” to distance the dance from its Devadasi history. Another wrote that Bharatanatyam's modern development was contributed to by Tamil Isai Vellalar communities and later propagated by Rukmini Devi Arundale.These claims formed another part of the social-media discussion, with users disagreeing over how the dance's history and cultural ownership should be described.Maitreyi's connection with Tamil cultureMaitreyi has previously spoken about her Tamil identity and has incorporated Tamil culture into her work. Her Never Have I Ever character, Devi, performed to the Tamil version of Saami Saami from Allu Arjun's Pushpa: The Rise in the show's final season, while Maitreyi has also appeared in videos featuring Tamil music and dance.More recently, Best of the Best has brought that connection into focus again. The film features Tamil music alongside its Bollywood-fusion setting, and Maitreyi and co-star Priyanka Kedia were seen dancing to the Tamil song Maamadura from director Karthik Subbaraj's Jigarthanda Double X..Maitreyi has also spoken publicly about her Tamil identity. In an interview around the film, she discussed how audiences may pick up on references to Tamil identity differently, particularly those familiar with the Tamil diaspora.The online debate around the viral clip has therefore become bigger than the actor herself. What began as a discussion about whether Maitreyi, a Sri Lankan Tamil actor, should perform Bharatanatyam has expanded into questions about Tamil identity, the Tamil diaspora, cultural representation and the complicated history of one of India's best-known classical dance forms.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 15:50 IST