Saturday, April 23, 2011
Tears of Love - An unforgettable evening of our life !
On April 19th ,our dear friend music composer Praveen D.Rao promptly called us in the morning to remind us about the
conference which we had to attend with him in the evening.
We had cancelled our classes, even cancelled the rehearsals & was about to get ready to go to the conference with Praveen.
Then that day to our misfortune my mother fell ill seriously & was in semi conscious stage.
It disturbed me greatly.
We called Praveen & told him that we were NOT going anywhere & he could take anybody else he wished.
He kept insisting ,he kept insisting & i told him very firmly that WE WERE NOT GOING !
Then Praveen softly said :
" mmmmmm........you know.....just few of our friends are getting together to wish you for the
Kalashree Award....so would you please come .......just for a little time........." so sooooft was his request that our
hearts just melted. How sweet of him to have taken the trouble ! but then, my mother was not in good condition ....
With great hesitation & guilt i requested my mother if we could go just for a short while & in her broken voice & half conscious state she said "Waaaaaaaow so niceeeeee & agreed (what a fantastic mother ! )
The noble gesture of a student's mother who offered to stay for my mother saved us from the guilt & we set out with Praveen in his car ,casually dressed...
It was pouring very heavily outside.Well...we didnt know we would encounter a much BIIIIIIIIIIIIG POUR!
In fact the BIGGEST POUR of ......love !
Tears of love ,Fulfillment & Gratification !
Its very hard to describe the experience we underwent that evening.
Hope i am not making a fool of myself by wording the precious evening.
But i WANT to write ,because the world should know about these people who brought the POUR!
Praveen took us to this hotel -well decorated with flowers & lamps ( like a wedding) &...
as we stepped inside the hall we notices it was all quiet .....
Then a soothing music started like the chorus ,it was sweeeeeet like honey.
We saw so many smiling faces ,familiar faces ,beautiful faces ,loving faces welcoming us.
We saw almost 30 of our students on either side of a little stage singing alaaap like the choir &
eight of the beautiful prima ballerinas from our Abhinava started dancing.
We were seated right in front (VIPS) & as the song went on we started shivering ,they were singing & dancing
ON US , OUR JOURNEY IN DANCE & WERE DEDICATING THIS EVENT SPECIALLY FOR US !
Wow ! Jaggu (Jagannath of Prabhath) what a fantastic creation ! The song you wrote brought tears to us.
It speaks volumes of your talent & love for us.Thanks.
(Dr.Ganesh said he was envious of Jaggu as HE wanted to write the song :)
What to say about the music composed by none other than our Genius Praveen ? simply soul stirring !
All our dear students dressed elegantly singing ,dancing with supreme love & joy created an overwhelming experience.
Time stood still ......so did our eyes....filled with tears.
As each of our friends, walked towards us with flowers ,wished us for the Kalashree Award ,we felt hundreds of gushing waves coming one after the other , drawing us deep into an ocean/an unknown world filled with light.There were smiles everywhere.
Our joys knew no bounds when we saw all our dear artist friends who are all people of eminence.
There was Faiyaz Khan with his talented sons, Uday Raj ( Tabaliya) Dr.Shathavadhani.R.Ganesh,
Popular dancer duo Kiran & Sandhya with their princess Rasika, Ekavyakthi Streevesha Yakshagana expert Mantap Prabhakar with family, Ace cameraman G.S,Bhaskar , Our very dear friend -accomplished Animator Vinod Gowda ,Renowned Astrologer Jayarama Acharya,Singer Manasi Prasad,Flautist Mahesh,Dancers Praveen Kumar, Veena Murthy, Anupama Hoskere,Ashok Kumar,Nandini Mehta, Subhashini with her gorgeous daughters, Shadakshari & several young dancers were there for us.
Our family members Srinivasa - Lakshmi,Malathi Vijayasimha,Raghavendra -Shakuntala, Jaggu ,Lata & friends like Prakruthi Banawasi, Ambarish with family were present.
I deeply missed my parents who were at home, my sister Anu who was in the USA & my dearest brother who recently left us to the heavens.
My sister in law Anitha along with her Children Keerthi & Avinash were present.
However people from the art field were there to uplift our spirits.
Our first student who did Arangetram with us - Anuradha Vikranth who is now a popular dancer conducted the evening most beautifully.Faiyazji with his divine rendering of Thumris,Bhajans & Devaranamas simply mesmerized all of us.
His Khayal singing on the values of a Guru brought the memory of all our dear Gurus.
And believe me, our beloved GURUs really appeared !
Yes ...Maya Didi & Chitradidi came to participate in this celebration.
When ever we see them , we feel so complete.Our day was done by their elegant presence.
In the presence of our Gurus our shishyas once again presented the song & dance.
What a unique connection of Parampara ! beautiful harmony between past & present.
"It is said that when one is in love it lights up the face "
Well....each of these beautiful students were radiant ,their eyes glittering, their personalities exuding pure love !
It was so infectious that all the people that evening were brimming with Brahmananda ...Bliss!
Our hearts wept when we heard about the trouble taken by our students who had devoted themselves for over 3 weeks.
They had designed the invitation & strictly told the guests NOT to breathe a word to us about this function.
They had invited everyone in person & followed up with phone calls, got a song written , auditioned under Praveen's guidance ,choreographed the same,spent a lot of time on rehearsals,money of course on the event for the hall, food & all the arrangements.Each student created an art work & wrote their vision of dance/us in a book & presented the same to us at the end of the evening.
Everybody who came that evening had all praises for the efforts of the students.
Our dear friend Vinod who was with them throughout the preparations said that it was amazing to see our students
EVER CREATIVE & NEVER GIVE UP approach to work.
He said like how people have RBCs & WBCs in the Blood for a healthy body ,our students have ADCs ( Abhinava Dance Company) in their Blood.
So how does ADC add i asked ?
oh, it adds LOVE & ENERGY was the answer :)
Well....if thats what ADC stands for ,then our words for the students would be:
You took completely a new avatar at this evening !
You became embodiments of GOD's LOVE !
The nobility of your soul & goodness of your beings created so much harmony that,
all those who were present there felt truly expanded from within including Rajendra & myself.
The Awards,The Achievements, The Artists, Art....everything dissolved....that evening.
Everything dissolved & became ONE divine energy called LOVE.
Your love ! dear students !
Congratulations to YOU for being the creators of Life's biggest Award
" Manushree " which we wish to confer on everyone of you.
God Bless you !
A gratified Nirupama & Rajendra.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Kalashree Award Ceremony - April 15th 2011
Smt.Nirupama Rajendra & Sri.T.D.Rajendra were conferred with the prestigious State Award for their services to the dance field.
They were Awarded with the title " Karnataka Kalashri " by the Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy-Government of Karnataka.The Award ceremony took place on April 15th at 6.30 pm at Ravindra Kalakshetra , J.C.Road ,Bangalore.
The artists speak:
Dear Friends,
We had quite a pleasant evening yesterday at the Kalashree Awards ceremony in Ravindra Kalakshetra.
What actually happens inside of an artist with this whole thing of AWARD.
REWIND..........
One evening while we were buying ( at Mantri Mall) beautiful gifts to our artists who had performed with us ,we were distracted by a phone call...(I really dont like answering phones specially while i am doing something i love ... shopping ! Yes ...i love shopping :)
Well this phone i took as it was from an artist who also happened to be the Sangeetha Nrithya Academy member who said " Congratulations ! you both are chosen for kalashree Award this year ,please rush your pictures before 5 pm to the registrar with 20 of your duet pictures.
When i heard this news, my heart just expanded but i didnt show it , with a gentle smile i told Rajendra & my heart was racing to feel his response.Rajendra simply smiled & i said we had to go & deliver the required materials .....both of us left the mall quietly.
Now, why was the shiver ? was it the temptation of the EGO ? Well...its hard to say but it came as a lightening flash & consciously i quietened the emotion.We were just quiet in the car as i observed the gentleness ,calmness in rajendra I calmed down 90 %.
The 10% shivers continued but not about the AWARD but that it was already 4 pm & calculating the travel time,the print of photos & the bio datas it was a big challenge to delivering this program in such a short time.
Well heres where our managerial skills helped majorly.
We made several phone calls & had people ready at the door step, one to print the pics ,other to reach the materials.
We quickly chose the pics from our computer ,sent it to the photo studio to print within ten mins.
We re-created our bio data & took 20 print outs & within 15 mins 20 huge covers with all details left our house to the Academy.
Mission accomplished ! wow !
We sent the info & didnt worry about what they would do with it.Our focus is to do the work sincerely.
We actually enjoy the activity/process more than the product :)
Having known of many stories that go around the Awards we kept quiet till it was published in the News papers.
Then finally when it was out in the media ( Mainly Kannada Newspapers & Television Channels) & we also received the official letter ,we slowly took the courage to inform our family members & close friends.
Many thoughts kept bombarding me on this matter of how to handle this?
Should we tell people at all, wouldnt it be like as if we are blowing our own trumpet ?
Mentioning it ,would it look like a display of a pompous character ?
It is deeply ingrained in our systems that true artists dont pay much attention to the awards & many seniors have been so who have even inspired us.But then , if we go quiet,wont it reflect a tuff attitude on our part ?
These questions are i suppose questions rise in every artist.
If an Institution like Sangeetha Nrithya Academy which upholds Art & Culture had recognized our work ,wasnt it our Dharma as Cultural Ambassadors to gracefully accept & honor the gesture ?
The truth is that WE LOVE OUR JOB & WILL ALWAYS DO SO.
Awards is actually not just a pat on the shoulder for the Artists alone, it is for all those to feel good about the work of this artist, it is for the family & well wishers who have supported & who have taken pride in this achievement. It is a reaffirmation to the younger generation for looking up to the Awardees( Well...the artists) faithfully.
For me this Award ( Rather the Event of Award ) was very significant because i kept my mother alive with hopes of having her at the function.
She is ailing with several complications & was almost giving up in the hospital with oxygen supplement & treatments,this Award function gave her sustenance to LIVE just to see the daughter & son in law being felicitated.
On the evening of the Award function,i was nervous (of looking over dressed with my specially designed Sari ) & my mother walked in confidently with her stylish dyed black hair & elegant silk saree with silk shawl with the nurse accompanying & NO WHEEL CHAIR !!! GOSH!
The function was interesting as we met many artists from different places & i was even more embarassed as most of them were MUCH older ,some with walking sticks,some needed assistance,they were musicians of yesteryears ,some retired, some still active & they were all brimming with Joy -Naturally ! It was a pleasure to meet all of them. It was fun to see some feeling elated by the attention of Paparazzi :)
It was time to be seated on the stage.
While we walked on the Dias everybody sat in their seats with their names written on it & then ...
We noticed something really strange !
There was only ONE CHAIR with both our names written on it.
I thought " How Romantic" The Academy wanted me to sit on Rajendra's Lap ? Like our wedding ? Well...
The Academy brought another chair & said " Neeevu Eradu Deha Ondu Athma Allave adakke ondu Chair !!! ???
(This is a line we use to introduce ourselves at the end of the show that we are two bodies & one soul )
Well...bravo ! right usage ! but WRONG CONTEXT Pardon !
May be they thought we had discarded our bodies & came as souls ( we were dressed in whites ..ha ha) .
Anyways Jokes apart we got our due chair & felicitations of course.
Very sweetly B.Jayashree made Rajendra & me exchange garlands on stage !
We felt all the more like the bride & groom as many people started taking pics with us as couples...( In the Lounge)
We clicked pics with students, with parents, with family,also with some public who insisted & even the photographers !!!
Isnt that fun!
We had all forgotten about the the beautiful Natya Saraswathi statue, the citation & the fruits which was all cozily placed in our car.
Only after a fantastic dinner & when we came home did we realise that we had actually come from an Academy Award's function & not a wedding.Well...whatever it was it was one happy fun filled occasion :)
PRESENT .....
This morning ( April 16th) as usual we started the day with the classes, planning rehearsal schedules & sequences for the forthcoming programs.
All these processes keeps us literally on our toes & we GOTTU be in a good Joyful motivated state to work in the field of Art ....
& this event did create a nice feel good factor.
Thanks to the Academy for the Kalashree & the Samarambha on April 15th 2011.
Life goes on with a sweet song in the heart:
"Haadu Hakkige Beke Birudu Sammana ....Haaduvenu Maidumbi Endinanthe ...
Ede Tumbi Haadidenu Indu Naaaanu..... "
Our Guru Mayadidi always says " People's love & appreciation for the work is the biggest reward to an artist " .
We surrender to this approach didi !
Our sincere thanks to all our lovely audiences.
We pray God to always make us work hard & offer our love to the world through music & dance.
Nirupama & Rajendra
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Brussels - Paris - Greece !
Our experiences in Brussels ,Paris & Greece
The places we visited after our Switzerland trip were all super Artistic places.
The people, places, culture, discussions with Dr.Ganesh on Art /Life etc ....was splendid !
BRUSSELS:
In Brussels we had an apartment of our own with a beautiful living room ,good kitchen ( very imp) & accessibility to shops for vegetables & groceries (very very imp ! as we were cooking almost everyday).
We used to have an interesting combination of yummy Belgium breakfasts & SOUTH INDIAN BRAHMIN FOOD for lunch & dinner ( the food habit of Ganesh sir as mentioned by him). But i dont think my cooking came anywhere near good Rasa-Swaada, However the Chitranna Gojju ,Chatni Pudi & Tamarind Tokku brought by Ganesh sir pampered the Indian taste buds.
Brussels was highly fulfilling for us as artists because of the warm response that the audiences brought to our program.
It was a sold out show ,Bravo Eric ! for all the aggressive marketing.
Actually we were sold out by the josh of the audiences.
One beautiful observation made by Ganesh sir was that the whole BOZAR (theatre) it seems looked like an exciting Indian Festival (Habba) ....specially one at our GandhiBOZAR studio where all our beautifully clad Abhinava students gather to celebrate the events of our dance studio....the way they dress & bring in the joyous atmosphere. ...He could feel the same at the Belgian BOZAR !The European girls were all beautifully dressed in bright colors , big big jewellery & cheerful faces !
there was Vaibhava everywhere.Their interest in Indian dance/culture is amazing !
After the performance one elderly lady from Spain came inside the green room along with her daughter ,held our hands & started crying.It seemed like the program had deeply touched her. Both of them didnt know english & so could not communicate through words but their hearts spoke of their emotions.
This is indeed a great tribute to Indian Music /dance & culture as it had stirred these souls beyond their bodies,minds,religion,nationality or any background...Wow !
Even at the workshop, one of students walked up with flowers in her hands & her eyes were filled with tears.
She spoke in French & we gathered that she was very happy by the experience.
She couldnt speak also but here again her face was brimming with deep experiences.
What a lovely way to connect with art !
In the Bharathanatyam workshop there were about 60 participants ( all adults) & 99% of them were all Europeans.
Taught by Eric Rozen in Brussels & few others in France & India, the dancers were very sincere & dedicated to their learning.We have worked with the students at Brussels earlier & every time we see them ,we see a rise in their passion & understanding.What a pleasure to be with these people !
They were also able to connect with the lectures of Dr.Ganesh very well. Really nice !
Above all ,the love & affection shown by some of them is something to remember forever.
Specially "Yana" , she is an exceptional woman with a genuine caring nature,ever cheerful countenance & generosity.
She will remain very close to our hearts.
May the dancing clan of Belgium keep increasing !
Our Brussels stay was for a week & then we went to PARIS.
Luvre....the heaven of artists is SOMETHING !
We shall speak about this in the next session.
Lots of love
Nirupama & Rajendra
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