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Beyond expectations

Madhavi Mudgal enjoys her food as much as she enjoys working it off

FUSION DIET Madhavi Mudgal

To see Madhavi Mudgal is to observe Indian fashion at its indigenous best and most dignified. Part of one of the foremost musical families of North India, she has seen the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, founded by her father, grow into a great institution for the teaching of Hindustani music.

Well versed in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi, she decided to concentrate on Odissi and has reached pinnacle of glory in her career as a performer and choreographer, lately awarded the Padma Shri and before that, the French Government's highest honour for artistes, the Legion d'Honneur.

There is lots of high culture, high learning. But not much height. Seeing her petite frame makes one aware of how hard a person like her works to keep trim. But Madhavi is a dancer who admits she eats everything.

Then what is the secret of her trim frame? The answer is obvious. Even on a hot muggy non-working day, she is not one to compromise on a rigorous round of riyaaz and rehearsals. .

Continental taste

Being a vegetarian can be something of an adventure when one has to travel abroad as frequently as Madhavi. Today it's not so bad, she concedes. Of course, her continental tastes must help her to find the right stuff, even if it's not Indian. In fact, she is no stickler for dal-chawal. "When I am outside, I stay away from Indian food," she laughs. What is often difficult to procure when on tour is water, she points out. Whether in the U.S. or Europe, plain water is difficult to persuade the restaurant staff to bring to the table.

Popular as a teacher, Madhavi has prepared some of the most talented Odissi dancers of the younger generation. What about a dancer's diet for the fast food guzzling youngsters of today?

Madhavi does not impose one. "I suppose on tour, they pick up by example," she muses. "I eat everything, though. But I work out," she adds. For dessert, it is Tiramisu for Madhavi. With its cream and chocolate, it is a little bit of heaven with a lady who journeys from mangalacharan to moksha every day.

ANJANA RAJAN

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