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
