`WITHOUT MUSIC LIFE WILL BE A MISTAKE'--NIETZCHE

Music, Sangeetham, Sur.... Priya Sakhi...

What is this life without music?

When I am  down it revives me, when I am excited it calms me... 

Not one kind of music. From Classical to Folk-- Western, Indian, Spanish , Reggae....

 Dear Sakhi, as a youngster I would think to myself how lovely it would be if the background score in movies was present in real life too. Imagine then when you are watching the moon rise, you hear  some romantic music..when you see shades of green as you travel-- the violins play along...

(Well it does nowadays , what with I-pods,  phones, earphones and downloading  your favourite music-- that too for   free!)

When someone asks me what my favourite colour is... I am stumped!Love green, red, orange, blue, black, white...almost everything.

Favourite food-- stumped! Love Bhel, North Indian, South Indian, Mexican, Italian, French-- I am hungry! 

Who is your best friend?- stumped-- and that is another story! But you my Sakhi is closest to my heart.

I can write about each one of them for pages! 

But this is about Music. Favourite Music?

Growing up with Music-- both Western and Indian- all parties at home I remember were parties with music!

Guitars strumming, The beat of drums in a bucket or table, food and ....Do I miss those days. `Every shalala....its yesterday once more!'

I remember me going berserk with the Chariots of Fire theme music. Mahesh and Srikanth (my brothers) and my cousins exposed me to Beatles, Pink Flyod, Jean Luc Ponty, Shakthi, Earl Klugh, Jethro Tull... an endless list. 

(Oh I have to tell you that the One Annual day that they attended in my school, I was dancing for `Come September'!  They had to see me do a t`a tei tei ta' and of course `tei ha tei hi' for it ! Never heard the last of it!).  

We listened to Hindi Film songs, Ghazals, Hindustani, Tamil Film songs,  Beautiful Carnatic music of my Athai (Seethalkashmi Venkatesan) and other greats. We knew Semmangudi mama, lived in the same road as Chembai...I learnt music from Madurai N. Krishnan. 

Then, attended endless kutcheri-s with my  dear gang of friends during the season. Made our own lists of artistes  and venues, years before the music reckoners came during the `December Season'.

It was music that brought us together.

Without music where would I be as a dancer? If my Smarathinamam made an impact-- it is because of Valson's genius version of it! His Saagara sayana Vibho.... Jayashri's Jo Jo Jo-- sung so softly... she actually makes Rama sleep in front of our eyes! Just her soft music!  

The sweet voice of Padmavalli teacher, Nandini, G. Srikanth.. that phrase of Sruti Sagar on the flute--- the ragamalika of Vijayaraghavan sir... Oh!the list is long, the genres varied. 

So I am totally baffled when a dancer tells me that she does not know Music! Not learnt! Does not listen!

Ah?  Really? Yup! Who is this? Keep Guessing! 

Now, Now Sakhi---  when are you going to sing to me? 

Till then .... I have to tell you this.. Praana...

                                           Sakhi Praana....

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” 
― Bob Marley

 

 

MAYA --- you colour my thoughts!

 Priya Sakhi...

It has been a long time dear friend....

In these days--  of over a month and a half-- I have met many wonderful people,  taught, learnt from these experiences, performed, toured the US-- a myriad of experiences, of thoughts and emotions!

But is this about our workshop- performance trip of the US? NO

But  the trip has put me in  reflective mode... from the people I observed in our Layovers at different airports to the different kinds of students that we (Roja and I) met..to our wonderful Hosts....

Hey as I said this is not about our trip!

It is about being a dancer, a teacher, choreographer... the cliched labels that I so pompously give myself!

As you know, ever so often, I question my reason to be a dancer... what is the efficacy about being one. The Self, the dancer Self in me is always subjected to a lot of tests.

Having my  training from one of the best guru-s, my conviction about my style (bani), my learning is a 100 percent.
As students of Natya, we are constantly being evaluated..

From the micro level of the teaching process to the various tests that we face-- say-- The Junior Scholarship, Senior Scholarship from the Centre, the Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram `4' programmes from our State, Grading at Doordarshan, Empanelment at ICCR... the list goes on...

My Senior scholarship interview was the scariest--- entered a room at Kalakshetra (where the interview was held) to actually see Guru Kittappa Pillai, Padhukka, Shantha Akka, Chitra Akka  in the panel of judges!
But it was a challenge. You think I could breathe straight? But when I got that Scholarship it was something I treasured/treasure even now.

Of course we  are constantly being evaluated by the Press. When I was younger I remember that a good review from NMN of the Hindu meant something. To be written about by Sri. Subbudu... K.S. Mahadevan... well it was the Ultimate! The feeling on a Friday morning, after a programme-- to be written about by Leelaji, Nandini Akka,  Sunil ji, Chitra, Rupa, Vidya and of course Veejay Sai (Ayyo) -- then we have portals now-- the views of Vincent, Anita.... Then, we have to face the comments couched in vindictiveness and anonymity in other blogs and portals-- criticisms, comments and stray praises for your art, your appearance.

Phew! Is it not a wonder we are even sane or are we?

But Sakhi I have always wondered how does one evaluate Art absolutely? Is Art Absolute or Relative? For that matter the concept of Time being a very relative concept hits you when you travel abroad. Well, as a student of Indian Philosophy and as an ardent admirer of Sankara, I do know that there is only ONE! But `Maya ' still colours me!

 Oh yes that is why I react to this news of being evaluated  by `One Body' for performances abroad for  a government-sponsored tour abroad. I think it would be exciting and fair if there is a panel of Senior guru-s-- a panel for each of the varied classical styles. A panel of artistes, officials. That would be unbiased and acceptable.

Sakhi ! I know you want to ask me whether I have  been invited by the government to perform? Whether I have shifted my base to New Delhi? Whether my opinions matter?

Let me just say I am a positive person living in my delusional world!