Happy Father's Day...

Dear Father,
I ain't the ideal offspring you would've envisaged
But I am glad that you haven't explicitly disparaged
You probably despise my casual and procrastinated life
and my lethargic demeanor, the sight of which is rife
I am the kind of person who would take time to settle
I am blessed, I have your support to prove my mettle

-Sonesh Prakash, Guest Writer, Bespoken Words

A Lyrical Stage

I guess I must have been 12 years old. Sitting in my school auditorium and watching the ‘Wizard of the Oz’. I got transported into a whole new world of storybook characters that completely intrigued me and left me mesmerized. The impact was such that when I came out of the hall, a few lines of the song sung by one of the characters got stuck in my mind and I still remember it.

Musical theatre, a larger than life genre, is full of theatrics, songs, costumes, multi-sensory props and dance. In the last century, it was seen as a great way of developing one’s imagination, creativity and communication skills. Nowadays, this form is popularly known as ‘musicals’. Theatre is believed to enhance one’s physical expressiveness, flexibility, co-ordination and musicality. Musicals were initially performed with the aim to highlight the troubles of the society and to boost the spirit of the youth during times of war.

Through music, movement and mime, passionate performers become imaginary characters enacting scenes from different fairy tale books and literature scripts. It’s a magical fusion of action, romance, melodrama, comedy and tragedy. This mode of the entertainment originated in North America and Britain and in time spread throughout the world. Creative heads like choreographer, music director and the director are mainly responsible for deciding the fate of a performance. Musical theatre involves a great deal of technical perfection. From lighting arrangement to costumes to stage properties to special effects, all enhance the impact of a performance.

The first portion of a musical tends to be longer than the second half where dialogues are generally exchanged through recitation of songs. Musicals are a very intricate art form. The performance involves more music and less verbal dialogue. Thus, it becomes a challenge for the lyricist to compress the emotions of verbal dialogue into an artistic song to be sung by an actor.

Through role playing and improvisation this art gives its performers an opportunity to display their spontaneity and on stage confidence. It’s one such art form where the actor concentrates not only on improving voice and rhythm, but also character development and movement. Musical theatre gives its followers an opportunity to explore the realm of the unknown that stimulates the mind and contributes to the overall development of a person.

-Priyanka Wali, Bespoken Words Team

‘Play’ Along

Just the idea of acting in front of a live audience gives me the jitters. I always wonder how people gather the courage to go up on stage and spout lines with such confidence! Commendable. Really.

Professional theatre artists are magical on stage. The grace and self assurance with which they perform is a treat to watch. So, what is it about theatre that attracts artists? There are a horde of actors who dabble in both films and theatre. It’s a known fact that films are more lucrative monetarily. The fame is instant in films and so is the celebrity status. But something makes actors, who are successful on the silver screen, keep going back to theatre…Really.

Shabana Azmi, a renowned film actress, is known for her powerhouse performances. She has managed to strike a good balance between films and theatre having acted in several well known plays both in Hindi and English. ‘Tumhari Amrita’, ‘Betrayal’, ‘The Waiting Room’, ‘A Doll’s House’ and her current project, ‘Broken Images’ are some of her popular plays. I read an interview of hers in which she described facing live audience on stage as a completely different challenge.

I think that the rush experienced by acting on stage is unparalleled. In films, one can take several retakes till they get that perfect shot. On stage, there are no retakes which is thrilling and terrifying all at once. Acting on stage requires a lot of improvisation and spontaneity. Ardent theatre enthusiasts find acting, while reacting to the response of a live audience, an extremely satisfying experience.

I guess it is this thrill, challenge and immense creative satisfaction that keeps drawing artists to this enriching medium.

-Ruchika Mathur, Bespoken Words Team

Believe in Yourself

In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.” – Michael Jackson.

And that is exactly what he did. Michael Jackson’s life is an inspiration to many. Each one of us goes through bad phases. But it is all about fighting the bad times and emerging as a winner.

As a teenager, I always looked up to MJ. He was, undoubtedly, one of the best musicians in the world. And when it came to dance, he was and remains a legend. The famous ‘moon walk dance’ was and continues to be a part of all dance functions in schools and family get togethers. He was definitely an idol to many upcoming dancers. Every kid would want to dance just like him, showcasing just the perfect movements.

Are you someone who sways in just about any place, with no audible music but a tune in the head…or, are you the kind who loves to dance, but only behind closed doors? Many of us fear being laughed at or to be known as the Pappu who can’t dance or the one with two left feet.

Dancing is for all. There is no age limit. You do not have to be a professional dancer. It is all about letting your soul take over you. Even the little movements bring immense pleasure. It is all about letting it out and having fun.

So, if you have always wanted to dance, follow MJ’s words; believe in yourself and nothing is impossible. Shed away all inhibitions, and show the world those moves!!!

-Sapna Krishnan, Social Media Head, Bespoken Words

When Dancing got a Whole New Meaning!

I, as a teenage kid, was boisterous, energetic, impulsive, and full of enthusiasm. I needed some constructive means to let out all that energy. “Why don’t you join dance classes, it helps!” Tapoo, my childhood pal suggested.

That day it made me think for a while until I gave a nod to the option. And today, when I look back I can proudly say I’m thankful to my friend for making me look through the wind shield. I took up Kuchipudi, the Orissa form of dancing at school and at a neighbourhood area, made new friends and lived some of the most precious moments of my life performing live at different venues.

When you dance freely not only your mind but also your body, heart and soul get merged giving you an instant high. Dancing involves a great amount of energy and is also a great form of workout that tones the entire body. India, since decades has preserved its classical form of dances that are a integral part of its rich culture and heritage. Zeal, dedication and practice are the basic and constant requirements that make one a good classical dancer.

India has 7 forms of classical dance; Bharatanayam, Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi, Mohinyattam, Manipuri and Kuchipudi. These dance forms were originally performed in the temples to entertain various gods and goddesses.

What is common to all is the ‘Abinaya’ or Expression. Gestures are a treasured aspect of Indian form of dancing. No other form of dancing in the world has ever laid importance on that aspect. The description of bodily expressivity is important in understanding how it has helped Indian classical dance survive through history and shaped it in the process.

A very important feature of Indian classical dances is the use of the ‘Mudra’ or hand gestures by the artists as sign language to narrate a story and to demonstrate certain concepts such as objects, weather, nature and emotion.Traditional Indian dance has not remained the same through the centuries. One can say ‘evolution’ is the key of its survival. In India, dance is expressed through poetry, sculpture, architecture, literature, music and theatre.

Thus, it won’t be wrong if I conclude by quoting a famous line from Natya Shastra that says “There is no other knowledge, no other learning, no other art, not even yoga or action that is not found in dance."

- Priyanka Wali, Bespoken Words Team

Dance your way to Fame...

All of us nurture a hidden dream. A passion to achieve that distant goal. Unfortunately most of us settle for mundane routines, and let the dream remain - just that - a dream!

Dancing is a passion for many, but how many of us actually have the freedom to consider building a career around it? With pressure from family, friends and society at large, a lot of these dancing dreams get nipped in the bud to make way for safer career options. Dancing is put aside as a mere hobby. But all that is changing. Thanks to the influx of dance reality shows over the past few years, that distant dream is fast taking shape and turning into an existent possibility.

Dance competitions and reality shows like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, ‘Dance India Dance’, ‘Superstars of Dance’ and many more, have changed the fortune of many a young dancer. These dance based competitions allow talented dancers from all walks of life to come and exhibit their dancing prowess on these coveted platforms. These shows give contestants instant fame, recognition and a direct connection with the audiences.

Sometimes, individuals get a new lease of life thanks to these dancing shows. Dancers from modest backgrounds, without any formal training get selected on the basis of their talent and willingness to learn. Through the course of the show, they are exposed to various dance forms and styles which they grasp quickly. The experience contestants’ gain through these shows helps them turn into well rounded performers.

An entry into a dance based reality show at most times opens up a plethora of options for those, who wish to pursue dancing professionally. A lot of the dancers become professional choreographers, start working in films and T.V shows, perform in shows all over the world or get affiliated to dancing schools. If the contestants of dance competitions and reality shows are smart enough to cash in on the fame and success they receive through the shows, they can surely make successful careers out of it.

So, if you think you’ve got it and you dream big, bring out your dancing shoes and turn that dormant dream into a living reality!

-Ruchika Mathur, Bespoken Words Team

The Dance Poem

it is all about me,
the movements that set me free.
the song of my body,
surrendering to the tunes so god-ly.
the wave of emotion,
the naav raasas with the healing motions.
the coordination so smooth,
an alignment that inspires my youth.
a touch so inspiring,
like pure love rising.
a no-judgment expression,
relieving me of all the stress and tension.
a commitment to elegant trail,
a road that promises never to fail.
being in the moment so divine,
diving in the sea of no- time.
an indulgence untold,
watches my story that slowly unfolds.
revives an artist from within,
a struggle defeating the deadly sins.
the rhythm of my soul,
reminding me to be whole.
it’s all about me,
The creation that completes the ‘we’

- Bhavini Gandhi, Director, Bespoken Words

The Rising ‘Sitar’

Everyone has this fantasy while growing up - to be a rock star! I often spent hours in the bathroom pretending to take a shower, while I was being a rock star to the audience in my mirror. Signing autographs to the numerous ‘imaginary’ fans was almost always interrupted by my mother's raps on the door. "Have you finished your shower? What’s taking you so long?” she'd ask.

This memory comes up again as I read about Purbayan. Browsing through the internet recently, I came across an artist who is ranked amongst the top in the new artist brigade - Purbayan Chatterjee. At the tender age of 5 years, he gave his first performance at the India Festival in Basel. He was rightly recognized as ‘the most gifted torch bearer of the Senia-Maihar Gharana’, Baba Alauddin Khan’s school of music. He had an extraordinary ability to annotate every song that he heard at that age. For some reason, I still can't remember any of the songs that I learnt by heart. Purbayan had music in his blood as his father Shri Parthapratim Chatterjee himself was a well known sitar player in his own right. Shri Parthapratim Chatterjee was a disciple of Pt. Nikhil Bannerjee and Ustad Ali Akbar.

Along with the eminent polishing of his talent by his father, Purbayan remained an excellent student at school and in music. Purbayan spent his college years at the prestigious Presidency College, Kolkata. He decided to take up music as his career at the age of 14; that was when he had just received the most distinguished honor for being the best instrumentalist of the country - The President of India Award.

Reading about Purbayan amazed me no end. Everyone should learn to develop their talents. Purbayan has proved his talent and represented India in all major India Festivals organized by the Government of India and other organizations in Bangladesh, Nepal, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, United States, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Croatia, Malta, Seychelles, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Dubai, Singapore, Belgium etc.

Purbayan's achievements ever since he was a child are truly remarkable. His life's journey would inspire any aspiring musician. It surely has inspired me or at least the rock star in me!

-Veena Shyam Krishna, Bespoken Words Team