It's 1 am on a Monday and I wonder..... by Bonny Ghosal

It's 1 am on a Monday and Tanvee (Shurupa) and Ria (Arjun) just left my home after a 4 hr choreography/rehearsal session. Are we crazy, you ask?! Nope. It is just an example of how passionate the crew is about Pratidhwani’s upcoming production – CHITRANGADA!

I have danced/choreographed for Chitrangada at least 4 times before – playing one of Chitra’s friends, Chitrangada twice, and even Arjun once! Each time the enthusiasm has jumped up one notch. It is a refreshing change to be working on a Tagore dance drama once again - after years - in Seattle!

Chitrangada, one of the most powerful of all Tagore heroines, has always captivated men and women equally. Arjun, the epitome of manhood in Hindu mythology, bowed to this complete woman called Chitrangada. There is a magical magnetism in the story that pulls a different string in one’s heart every time one reads, listens to, or sees it enacted. One is excited and anxious to find out what chords will be plucked on each time. Will one sense the power of love that forces a Yogi to forget his vows and a ruler to forget her true self? Or will one question the guilt of a lover who has won his/her love by deceit? In what fear would a father nurture a daughter like a son? Or, should nurturing a daughter differ from nurturing a son at all? Why? So many questions and so much depth lies in this play yet to be explored and discovered by me. Like I said, my fifth brush with Chitrangada and I am still awake at 1am....wondering, exploring, trying to answer questions.

What about you?

Bonny