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

Lending Life to Shurupa– by Tanvee Kale

I hadn’t really understood how daunting a task it would be to play the role of Shurupa. When Mou (our all-in-one, one-woman-show behind Chitrangada ) told me that I would be playing Shurupa, I was happy that I have been entrusted with one of the main characters, but never did the thought cross my mind, that playing this role would take so much off me. Shurupa is the essence of a true नारी - a womanly woman possessing all traits of the feminine charm. She is beautiful, she is playful, she is charming, she is attractive, she can make any man swoon for her. She is delicate, she is adorned with graces that are unparalleled. And she is completely aware of these qualities. At the same time, she hides inside that female body, the strength, wit, valor and bravery of a man. And this hidden personality conflicts constantly with the exposed beauty. And that conflict is what I am supposed to bring out through dance and expressions.

So, you see people, the herculean task that is lying in front of me? I am giving it my best, I am working hard to make this character of Shurupa as real and as close to what Tagore envisioned as is Tanvee-ly possible, but I am still going to require all the blessings that you can give me. Wish me luck guys, for this is something that I have never attempted before.

Tanvee