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On a demystifying trip
THIS PLUCKY couple is into publishing. What's strange about it one may ask? But one is an ex-journalist and the other an ex-company secretary. The aim is to demystify subjects hitherto thought to be too tough to understand, like classical dance and music. B. A Suresh and Vidya Bhavani Suresh chucked their jobs and plunged fully into this vocation three years ago. Natives of Paravur, they are now based in Chennai.
Vidya has been an exponent of bharathanatyam and a musicologist too, apart from being a postgraduate degree holder in folklore. "Both of us are keen that through Skanda Publications, the uninitiated get to know about the fine arts of India," said Vidya.
These booklets, of 30 to 35 pages are moderately priced, from Rs 30-45. They give an idea of the art form in a broad perspective to the reader. The series on classical arts has run into nearly 20 books now, the titles going like `What is Carnatic music?', `Raga, its science and Maths', `100 ragas you always wished to know', `What is Kuchipudi', `What is Mohiniyattam', etc.
Written in a very simple way, it is primary information for those who know nothing about Indian arts and also for those who would like to learn the rudimentary of these fine arts.
Vidya has experimented with the dances too. She has formulated something called karate natanam, using both these art forms. She also holds off beat views on the subject matter of classical dance songs. "Many of these songs are erotic and are not fit for small children to be associated with," she feels. One of her books gives a whole list of traditional classical songs that have more bhakthi than lasya rasa that are fit for children.
Using bharathanatyam and kathakali or other classical art forms as a backdrop to non-classical programmes is painful, Vidya says. The couple has brought out a calendar for Indian Bank with the bhavas and mudras of bharathanatyam denoting several of the bank schemes.
Vidya has choreographed classical dance items with themes like unemployment, women's issues.
They have now got into another subject too, demystifying medicine. With the help of a few doctors, the couple has brought out a few books on pregnancy and bringing up babies. These books are in the range of Rs 45 - 60.
P.M.
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