One long adventure with art
S. R. ASHOK KUMAR
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Padma Sri: another feather to Shobana's colourful cap.
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There is constant pressure to look young, beautiful. I think artistes must be allowed to age gracefully.
BALANCING CINEMA AND DANCE: Shobana.
Bharatanatyam dancer, twice national award winner, choreographer and teacher, Shobana has recently been honoured with Padma Sri. The star with versatile skills shares her thoughts on art, cinema and more.
You have said it takes more than a lifetime to master an art. Can you relate that to Bharatanatyam?
Our ideals and philosophies change as time goes by. I might not want to assume the role of a master, which means there would be no place to go and nothing more to do. I prefer just going on a long adventure with the art form.
And yet you began teaching dance when you were 20?
Being seriously involved in cinema, I could not devote much time to Bharatanatyam. Teaching what I knew was a good way to keep in touch, realise my strengths and weaknesses. I could teach and evolve.
Dancing in a film is obviously different from dancing live. Is capturing an art on celluloid more difficult and less spontaneous than shooting it live?
The perspectives differ. In films, dance is shot in bits and therefore every shot has to be perfect. We give it the best, in those 25 seconds. It is impossible to do that in a two-hour performance. Here we look at building up the mood, retaining the stamina and taking the audience on a journey.
Capturing a beautiful dance on screen is teamwork involving the director, cameraman the artiste and the dance director. Although it is group effort, it is the artiste on whom a stage show depends.
You shot the famous "Manichitrathazhu" climax sequence, which is the inspiration for the runaway hit Tamil film ``Chandramukhi." Any plans to direct a movie?
The song was conceptualised by director Fazil and we worked together. I loved editing the song and am considering directing a film soon.
Who were the sources of inspiration in dance and acting?
I have always admired my guru Chitra Visweswaran's commitment and her support has helped me during difficult times. My dance has been inspired not only by dancers but also by musicians, actors, film directors, photographers, painters and percussionists. In films, you live someone else's experience and vision. Since we don't go to acting schools as they do in the West, we learn the art by fine-tuning our sensibilities. Acting is about observation, common sense and instinct.
You have not acted in a Hindi film. Is language the barrier?
Good acting in any language is about making the audience feel comfortable with the actor. It is about understanding the particular culture and delivering. It is just that I have been busy doing interesting projects in the South all the time.
Do you think that Indian youth fail to realise the importance of the art in trying to ape the West? (Ironically when children abroad are more willing to learn Indian art forms).
The youngsters in India are are taught to be practical at a young age by their parents. I am talking about the great Indian middle class. I know because I have been interacting with a lot of students who give up 10 years of training to take up a job at a call centre, which pays them three times more than what they would earn if they take up dance as career. That doesn't mean they have no respect for our culture. The youth abroad feel financially more secure and therefore can afford to indulge in arts. But even then, I do not think they would take it up as a profession.
Amitabh Bachchan has always said that you are one of the most beautiful women he has met. Your response?
Amitabh Bachchan is known for his terrific sense of humour. The most beautiful woman he has met is Jaya Bachchan. I am sure it was his way of wriggling out of a tight spot. Jokes apart, I'm quite detached about beauty.
When people remark that I have changed, I wonder if artistes are supposed to be blessed with eternal good looks! There is a pressure to look young and beautiful, which I find ridiculous. I may not wear each grey hair as a flag, but I think that we should be allowed to age gracefully.
Are you affiliated to any social cause?
I can contribute only through my art and prefer doing this than being a mascot or a spokes person. My next performance will be at Netru Indru Naalai, towards the Banyan fund for mentally challenged women.
Plans for the future?
I hope to construct a building for my dance school `Kalarpana.'
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