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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Sunday, May 18, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
Fumiko Chandramouli. 
Shankara’s philosophy coupled with an unknown urge to learn about India and an ICCR Bharathanatyam scholarship brought her to Chennai in 1993. The daughter of a traditional Japanese dancer, she is now trying to draw parallels between the cultures, music and dances of the two nations. A Bharathanatyam dancer by choice, her latest endeavour is to dance for Haiku poetry. Fumiko Chandramouli shares her experiences in with Deepa H. Ramakrishnan. The red gates on Arunachalapuram Main Road opened into a quaint home where Fumiko, her husband Chandramouli and children had made space for a garden and tastefully placed sculptures, Tanjore paintings and clay idols. Daily routine“My daily routine includes teaching the Japanese language and practicing Bharathanatyam. I also dabble with art and do a bit of calligraphy,” says Fumiko, who has danced to Manyushu poetry with Bharathanatyam mudras. It was a strong belief in her dream to come to India and learn Bharathanatyam that led her here. “From a very young age I was interested in India. I happened to watch a video on Bharathanatyam and I was smitten by it. I found a guru in Japan and for two years I learnt just adavus. The araimandi almost killed me. But that came in good stead when I came to Kalakshetra,” says Fumiko, who was impressed by Bharathanatyam’s strong movements and also its similarities to Japanese dance. The low knee posture and the straight back posture are two common things in both dances, she explains. She trained at Kalakshetra for a few years and from gurus Krishnakumari Narendran and Indira Rajan. Fumiko cherishes her time at Kalakshetra and learning dance under Mohan sir and Thomas Sir and nattuvangam with Kamalarani teacher. Unique experience“It was a very unique experience for me. The place was a study in contrast, though it had its own way of life and time moved very slowly, it also took in the very best of styles.” Now Fumiko is interested in performing the pure form of Bharathanatyam. “Not many people are doing that now and I want to try it,” says the dancer, who wants to spread Japanese art and culture among Indians. Grammar patterns“Since my Japanese classes are mostly based on conversations we tend to exchange a lot of backgrounds about people and their lives in the two countries. Experts say that Tamil and Japanese have a similar grammar patterns.” Still a lot to learnSince the Japanese consider it bad manners to show out one’s emotions, Fumiko found it strange to be among Indians who don’t restrain their emotions. Even after 16 years of learning dance, Fumiko feels she has a lot more to learn. She has given several performances in India and Japan and shared the stage with her sister-in-law and renowned dancer Yamini Krishnamurti.
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