Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

GOING NATIVE

'Chennai suits me well'

Kalarippayattu, an ancient martial art from Kerala brought Frenchwoman Amandine Bernier to Indian shores.

After years of learning various martial art forms such as aikido, karate and Thai-boxing, a documentary on Kalarippayattu inspired Amandine to come here. “Once I saw the documentary, I knew I wanted to learn this martial art,” Amandine says.

Originally from Marseille, the city of famous French footballer Zinedine Zidane, Amadine is a sportsperson herself. Apart from her martial arts, she learnt Bharatanatyam in Paris. She came to India to meet her dance teacher’s guru in Chennai. Everything then fell into place for her: she was able to continue her university studies at the IIT in Chennai and take dance classes and start learning Kalari at Elliot’s beach.

She manages to balance studies with her other pursuits. “I do three dance classes a week, two kalari classes and also teach and practise yoga,” she says. “Yoga improves my flexibility for dance and kalari, and it’s a nice start to my day.” Amandine happily rides her bicycle around but doesn’t like trucks and their horns.

“I really really really like Indian food,” she giggles, telling us how much she loves malai kofta and stuffed parathas. She even misses idli for breakfast when she visits France.

Amandine’s friends back in France are not surprised that she has stayed in Chennai for over three years, and that she has no real plans of leaving. “They all think it suits me and none of them is sure I will be back. Even I don’t know!”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail