One often hears that classical arts are under assault from the more popular media like films and television. The Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival at Kamarajar Hall the other day provided a unique example of this phenomenon. As Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj took the stage, with his accompanists seated to his right, as per tradition, one could discern one more `artiste' on his left. This was a cameraperson, presumably from one of the numerous TV channels covering the event.
Intrepid photographers often climb on stage to take better pictures, regardless of the disturbance to the artiste or audience, so this was not entirely shocking. He remained glued to his spot throughout the Kathak presentation.
But when the Swedish violinist Anna Schulze was playing her solo, the cinematographer in him seems to have leapt out.
Like the proverbial bee to honey, he made his inexorable way towards the centre of the stage. A ripple of laughter turned into a surge in the 1000-strong crowd, as the cameraman crept towards the apple of his eye, who to her credit, ignored him and continued playing. One could only imagine her discomfiture at having an audience guffawing while she was playing serious music. If she was unperturbed, so was he. In what looked like comic choreography, he retreated to his position, only to start towards her again, crouching dramatically, the camera perched on his shoulder.
The second time, he placed himself between the artiste and the audience, swaying to the music. Must have taken some dramatic footage. A few protests arose from the audience, but what were the organisers doing?
(Contributed by Anjana Rajan)
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