One of the highlights of this evening's performance:The gopis carried tales to Yashoda, complaining time and again about how Krishna stole butter from them. But naughty little Krishna convinced his mother not to believe any of the complaints the other gopis made about him.When Krishna stole butter in his own house, however, things changed – because Yashoda herself saw him.Yashoda wanted to catch her little boy out and asked him, out of the blue, “Kanhaiya, did you eat butter?”Taken aback, the words escaped from Krishna’s mouth, “Main nahin maakhan khayo – I did not eat butter! Ma, how did you think I had eaten the butter? I don’t even have the time to eat it! All day, I herd the cows. From dawn to dusk, I’m out grazing the cattle. When could I possibly eat butter?”The argument did not work. So, Krishna thought of another justification. “Maiya mori, mother mine, I’m such a … [Read more...]
Kasturitilakam
Timeless, beautiful, expressive. Dance is all three, and much more. Classical dance in India is a language. With its ancient origins, it is a medium of communicating knowledge, expressing emotions and creating aesthetic pleasure. Kasturitilakam – conceived and choreographed by Guru Mythili Raghavan – explores each of these dimensions.Lord Krishna, playing his divine, melodious flute, has touched the hearts of millions. Stories of this beloved god find their way into languages, music and culture all over India. His naughty pranks as a child, his strength and bravery as a young man, his divine love for Radha and the other gopis, his accompaniment of the Pandavas during their exile, and ultimately, the Bhagvad Gita, the immortal treatise delivered to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra – these stories strike a chord in hearts everywhere.Guru Mythili Raghavan’s Kasturitilakam will … [Read more...]
Performing at Indore
The Academy of Indian Dances will be presenting Kasturitilakam - episodes from the life of Lord Krishna - everyone is welcome! Venue: IIM, Indore Date: 6th July, 2013 Time: 18:30 Credits: Choreography: Guru Mythili Raghavan Make-up: Shri Mohan and Smt Lakshmi Music compilation: Friends Studio, Pune Dancers: Ashwini Sashital, Charulatha Ramesha, Dhwani Lalai, Nisha Seshan, Pooja Shetty, Rashmi Shetty, Resham Abdagiri, Riddhi Joshi, Tejashree Natu, Suguna Nair and Varsha Seshan … [Read more...]
On Being Modern
With older relatives, I often get high praise for my ability to use technology efficiently. With great pride, my grandparents and great-aunts and great-uncles, sing praises of my abilities. Some of my abilities that my family advertises:Varsha can fix the speakers! (I put the cable into the socket) Varsha can fix the camera! (I uploaded photographs)Perhaps I could add to my resume - I can find 'Contact Us' on a website. I can change a printer cartridge. I can download and use Skype. I can burn a CD (and a DVD). I can use a pen drive to carry files from the computer to the laptop. I can send music via email. I can use a DVD player. I can attach speakers to a music system. I am, apparently, the source of knowledge and information about everything technological, including how to use Bluetooth, 'Download App', touch-screen, wireless internet . . .What an interesting resume that would … [Read more...]
Performing in Renage
A very dear friend of my sister's organised a performance for us at a chapel in Renage. That was when we learned what effective publicity is.Michèle, who, I should mention, is in her seventies, did absolutely everything to make people come for our performance. She, helped by two friends, went (literally) from pillar to post putting up posters. She made signs to direct people to the chapel, and went and put them up on lamp-posts. When we drove towards the chapel, we saw our own faces everywhere. Every wall, every lamp-post, every pillar had a poster of our performance thanks to this formidable lady. She sat and folded the programmes for the performance - easily a hundred or more - insisting that she had nothing else to do, while we, the dancers, ought to rest. She went individually to each neighbour and convinced all her friends that they would not get the opportunity to watch a … [Read more...]
Oranges
I do not like oranges. I'll write that again - just to make it very clear. I do not like oranges.In Athens, orange trees grow on either side of the road, utterly unwanted.It is true that juice companies are gradually beginning to market Greek oranges with eye-catching notes on their packs saying 'Made from real Greek Oranges!' As a normal thing, though, Greek oranges often have the reputation of being so sour that only the British could possibly want them. And even the British can use it only for marmalade. As a result, piles of oranges are swept to the side of the road, much like we have dead leaves waiting to be burnt. While in Greece, my sister often stole oranges silently and self-consciously from rubbish heaps and defiantly ate them.Needless to say, I never did.I've voluntarily eaten a whole orange once in my life. Orange-eaters everywhere are wide-eyed at the story.I was … [Read more...]
Arangetram!
Anushka Iyer and Riya Dash will be performing their Arangetram today!The Arangetram is the maiden performance of a dancer, during which she attempts to convey her understanding of her art form to a discerning audience in the presence of her guru.Venue: Tilak Smarak Mandir Date and time: 28th June 2013; 17:45 Credits Nattuvangam: Guru Smt Mythili Raghavan Vocal: Shri Sivaprasad Mridangam: Shri Shankar Narayanan Violin: Shri Bala Subhramanyan Make-up: Shri Mohan and Smt Lakshmi Comperes: Aishwerya Sudarshan, Nisha Seshan, Varsha Seshan … [Read more...]
Monsters University
When humour, action, plot, story, character and setting are all rolled into one, how can I not leave the cinema hall smiling like I have a tummy full of food and am ready to sleep?Monsters University made me happy. Why should anyone (particularly me) pretend to write a review? I like Mike (and Sullivan). I love 'OK'. I love the story. I love the Monsters University campus. I love the idea - and hugely respect the fact that such a grand prequel was made for a movie like Monsters, Inc.In short, I like animated films and this one did not let me down! … [Read more...]
Can this be true?
In Nigeria, my grandfather was once invited to dinner for some 'special festival'. Alone and interested, he decided he would go - but someone warned him against it. My grandfather doesn't know who these people were who warned them. "We heard that you were invited for this function, but please take some sincere advice from us - don't go."My grandfather, puzzled but obedient, decided not to go.The next day, he found out what the 'special festival' was. Apparently, at midnight, there is a blackout. Innie-meenie-mynie-mo --- and one person is selected at random. That person becomes the human sacrifice.My grandfather also insists that human flesh was sold in the market, just not displayed. It was hung behind leaves, but openly sold.The 1950s, not 'modern'. The impression of 'uncivilised Africa' was particularly strong. Was this a tale told to my grandfather to frighten him? Or would … [Read more...]
The Lost Years
When I first read Mary Higgins Clark, I remember how amazed I was. All Around the Town remains one of the most powerful books of all time in my memory.Yet, when I read this, there was the sense of something artificial. As craft, detective fiction shines. I enjoyed the intricacy of the narrative. Romance within a detective novel adds a little sugar and a little spice. Wondering who-what-why keeps the brain alive. Following Mariah's life as an investment advisor with a mother who has Alzheimer's is absorbing. I was curious about the precious parchment, supposedly the only letter ever written by Jesus Christ.But The Lost Years did not touch that core of my being that I want fiction to touch. The romance was interesting, not exciting. Mariah's life was absorbing, not moving. The history was background, not intriguing.Detective fiction remains, for me, craft - not art. 'Syntactic' … [Read more...]