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Music Season
MY FESTIVAL
Season has special significance in my life
VYJAYANTHIMALA BALI
Refreshing and spiritually stimulating!
There cannot be a better way to sign off a year and begin the next. December in Chennai means getting soaked in the Margazhi shower from heaven (rains) and artistes. Refreshing and spiritually stimulating! From childhood, through my learning (dance and music) years, and my performing days (which I am still excited about) to the acting phase, Season has always held a special significance in my life. Even my hectic acting schedules could not come in the way. December was dedicated to the arts.
I remember being so taken in by the dance performance of Pandanallur Jayalakshmi at the Gokhale Hall that I would spend hours before the mirror imitating her style of tadhi ginna tom with a slight, beautiful leap.
Then there was the inimitable Balasaraswathi. Hers was poetry in motion. The abhinaya, the singing…I have still not come out of its spell. Quite like her, I loved singing while performing. I would have a mike hanging at the Music Academy during my performances and would render a few lines of the padhams.
Every December 31, I would perform at the Academy and at the Tamil Isai Sangam on January 1. I would make it a point to enrich my recitals with rare compositions of the Thanjavur Quartet. Till today, this feature continues to be a hallmark of my dance.
There were vidwans galore… Maharajapuram Santhanam, Semmangudi, K.V.Narayanaswami, M.S., D.K.Pattamal, MLV and many Hindustani legends. The ears got tuned to pure music, thanks to these master vocalists.
Also, December was not as chaotic. Today everything is on an ascending mode…sabhas, rasikas, artistes and performances. Leaving you wondering, where to go and what to see. Yet, my fascination for this unique celebration of the arts will never fade.
(As told to Chitra Swaminathan)
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Music Season
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