My wonderful evening

[timmy]

Gentlemen:

I often listen to discussions here on IFG with mixed feelings, as criticisms are expressed about different aspects of Indian life. Sometimes, I have to check myself from replying, and remind myself that there are aspects of the USA that I'm quite critical of, as well.

So what I want to share with you today is a little story about one of your fellow citizens: Padma Bushan Bharatanatyam dancer Alarmel Valli.



I was speaking with a coworker a couple of months back (he is Bengali and the one who sent me to the Independent Indian film festival in Edison, NJ. I know he is dismayed at my love of Bollywood and Rajinikanth movies; he prefers more serious fare.) and talking to him about Ms. Valli. I explained my appreciation and joy at viewing her performance in Texas three years ago, and looking for a link to send him, found she was coming to Texas again this year.

When I found that out, I began to search for a performance of hers on the East Coast. I found she was coming to Washington DC, and made plans to take time off, get a motel there, and buy tickets, when the news came that she would be in North Brunswick, NJ. I immediately bought a ticket.

Then, work intervened. It ended up that my boss managed to get me a flight home, based on my being entitled to a trip home every so often when I'm away o extended business. So, I was all set, until Hurricane Sandy caused that NJ performance to be canceled.

I wrangeled a trip home to Texas instead, which was the date she would be in TX performing.

So, last night, my Wife and I were able to see her dance Bharatanatyam. The lights lowered, and the musicians began to play the introduction. As the mridangam began to sound it's beautiful, intoxicating rhythm, Ms. Valli came out into the spotlight and there I was, entranced by the artistry of her work, all the difficulties of the past month forgotten and the clock turned back three years. It was as if this performance picked up right where the one three years ago had ended.

She danced about the world as a woman, about creation and nature, and, in a very sharp, edgy interpretation, about a woman jilted by her husband. Then, she moved on to an interpretation of Sangam poetry.

Ms. Valli is able to somehow bottle art and beauty and then pour it out as a concentrate through one of the most abstract art forms, dance, in a way even a rude, uncultured person like myself could access and appreciate.

After the performance, We talked with the spokesperson for the Indian Fine Arts Association about Ms. Valli, she said Ms. Valli would come out and meet with us. Gail and I waited as the crowd melted away, and in about. 15 minutes, I heard the sound of ankle bells -- There she was! The spokesperson motioned us from the back of the crowd and introduced us. We talked briefly with Ms. Valli about non-Indians and Bharatanatyam, about her previous performance and recent performance in Jaffna, and we profusely thanked her for the joy and loveliness she had brought to our lives.

Her personal graciousness matched her artistry perfectly! Speaking with her left a most pleasant atmosphere in my mind that remains, undissipated, with me today.

So brothers, to your India, thank you so much for sharing one of your most lustrous jewels with my Wife and I last night! It was an experience web will never forget.

[Sakobav]

tim

nice write up and I learnt something new about a dancer...my knowledge on this is limited

Cheers

[Mark]

Very nice Timmy!

[dr.jayakumar]

Alamer valli seems to have cast a ''spell' on you timmy.i can see it in your extensive vocabulary.
regards
dr.jk

[Motorpsycho]

Awesome post Timmy.

[Moin.]

Very well written Timmy. Bollywood, Rajnikanth, Bharatnatyamn What is it about the Indian Cultre ythat you find so fascinating ? We I guess are so used to this around us, maybe we are unappreciative or turn a blind eye to what is of such great value to the west.

Regards
Moin.

[xl_target]

Good post there TIm.

What is it about the Indian Culture that you find so fascinating ?We I guess are so used to this around us, maybe we are unappreciative or turn a blind eye to what is of such great value to the west.

I guess I have the same question as Moin. Should make for a decent discussion.

[brihacharan]

Good post there TIm.
What is it about the Indian Culture that you find so fascinating ? We I guess are so used to this around us, maybe we are unappreciative or turn a blind eye to what is of such great value to the west.

I guess I have the same question as Moin. Should make for a decent discussion.

Hi Timmy,
> It was so nice to read about your experience - Yes Ms. Valli is amongst the greatest of exponents in Bharatnatyam, so graceful & poetic in her fluid movements & expression.
> Yes - agree with xl & Moin - The fruit that grows in your garden may not taste as sweet as the one that grows at your neighbor's
> Which reminds me - long ago, when the Indian Flautist 'Hariprasad Chaurasia' performed in the US an American Lady Music critic who was present during the concert met him backstage & said 'Sir, your rendition of the ragas took my soul away on a flight to the heavens'!
> It was also reported that the famous international falutist 'Jose Ramphal' used to take lessons from 'Hariprasad Ji'!
> BTW - Indian Classical Music & Dance forms are considered as 'Conversations with the Creator'
Cheers
Briha

[timmy]

Very well written Timmy. Bollywood, Rajnikanth, Bharatnatyamn What is it about the Indian Culture that you find so fascinating ? We I guess are so used to this around us, maybe we are unappreciative or turn a blind eye to what is of such great value to the west.

There are several things at play here, I think.

First, sometime back, it began to occur to me that India is the "The Mother Culture." Algebra, Chemistry, Mathematics, Metallurgy (don't forget that wootz!), and then, don't forget the roots of all those so-called "Indo-European" languages. It seemed pretty clear to me that India is where so much started.

Then, there's the diversity: So many different cultures, traditions, and cultures exist in e Subcontinent, like ruling Rajputs, the literary traditions and culture of Bengal, the Mauryans and Guptas, the Mughals, and then those empires of the South, like my favorite, the Cholas (thus the avatar, which I use other places, as well).

Colorful figures, like the Rani of Jhansi, Nehru, Akbar the Great, and a zillion other interesting people.

The complexity: it's pretty straightforward, in my mind, to understand the USA, European countries, and another favorite of mine, Mexico. But India? How could anyone ever understand all of India, even the Indian expert who has studied it all of his life? How does one track something down? As I work my way through this, it seems like for every topic, if one asked 20 people their views, there would be at least 40 opinions! There's a lot of effort needed to understand something; to get a grasp of it. That's a challenge.

I remember when "The Concert for Bangladesh" came out in our movie theaters. The Ravi Shankar part of the movie was very intriguing. Those were "those days"; maybe something was planted then, but the music, such as I listened to in Alarmel Valli's show, is really interesting.

People: at work in a past life, I very much liked mentoring young people just it of college, just like my Dad did in his career. But my mentoring had a twist: I'm the sort that has never quite fit in with the norm, and the young folks that I always seemed to connect with we're Hispanic, Native American, and African American. My theory here is that folks with one foot in each of two cultures found me sympathetic and responsive to their issues. So when I went to college at age 50, who goes to college in America nowadays? They are filled with young Indian Americans, and there was the match that introduced so much to me.

Movies: someone very dear to me introduced me to my first Bollywood: Devdas. My theory on movies is that quite often, great ones are based on a great story. So here's Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel, so many times made into a movie, again remade into this opulent, visually stunning cinema. I found SRK's acting wonderful, frankly. ash may be the most beautiful woman in the world, but for my money, I was totally captivated by Madhuri. Why? Her dancing did it for me, especially the famous Dola re Dola -- I loved it.

Along this line, this same person showed me many other movies, including the Rajinikanth movie, Chandramukhi. I that movie, there's a lot of Bharatanatyam flavor, especially the famous Raa Raa dance scene.

All of this set me up for Bharatanatyam. I fell in with a professor -- he was in commercial art with nothing to do with the Biotech program I was in, but he and I grew close riding the commuter train together. It was through him that I first saw Alarmel Valli three years ago, and I was hooked.

There's a lot more, but I guess my mind isn't large enough to think of it all in one sitting.

Oddly enough, I do like stuff like the Pacific Naval war of WW2, the Mexican-American War, and things like Jackson at New Orleans and such, but overall, US history seems pretty bland to me...

[Moin.]

Of all the river valley civilsations be it Egypt, Indus Valley or Sumerian, it is perhaps India which has managed to sustain, preserve to some extent religon, arts, music, architecture etc. It's true that India has given the world so much (including Wootz loll). I feel so lucky, honoured and priviliged to be born as an Indian. My knowledge of history is extremely limited nor can I write as well as yourself, XL, Slingshot or Mack. Wish I could contribute more to this discussion and very interesting topic.

P.S: What's great is that your interest is backed by a deep study and understanding rather than just curiosity and taste for the exotic like most westerners.

P.S. II : I'm a big fan of Guru Dutt's Movies, since you enjoy Bollywood Movies these classics are a must watch.Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Dutt

Thank you for the post.

Best
Moin.

[Moin.]

And yes, given your keen interest in Indian Arms & Armour, Wootz and Damascus you must have amassed quite a collection by now. Please do post some pics when you can.

Best
Moin.

[xl_target]

Bharatnatyam:++
There is undeniable grace, skill, interpretation and balance required here. I can see your fascination with this.
Many Indians are exposed to it on TV or a caricature of it in Bollywood movies. After a while, we stop paying attention, I guess.

While there are quite a few Bollywood movies that are good, there are also a vast majority of them that are just plain horrible.
From the saccharin sweet singing to the choreographed mix of pseudo Indian and Western dance moves to the severe overacting, they are just so far removed from reality.
With many of them, the story line is just an excuse to inject some singing and dancing routines into an hour of time. Whether it's germane to the story is immaterial.
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh but I don't really care for most western musicals either (the ones that were so popular in the '50's and '60's). However, Hollywood moved past them where Bollywood doesn't seem to be able to. It's like a teenager being stuck in perpetual puberty.

That's just my point of view. Others may have different opinions.

[Moin.]

Bharatnatyam:++
There is undeniable grace, skill, interpretation and balance required here. I can see your fascination with this.
Many Indians are exposed to it on TV or a caricature of it in Bollywood movies. After a while, we stop paying attention, I guess.

While there are quite a few Bollywood movies that are good, there are also a vast majority of them that are just plain horrible.
From the saccharin sweet singing to the choreographed mix of pseudo Indian and Western dance moves to the severe overacting, they are just so far removed from reality.
With many of them, the story line is just an excuse to inject some singing and dancing routines into an hour of time. Whether it's germane to the story is immaterial.
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh but I don't really care for most western musicals either (the ones that were so popular in the '50's and '60's). However, Hollywood moved past them where Bollywood doesn't seem to be able to. It's like a teenager being stuck in perpetual puberty.

That's just my point of view. Others may have different opinions.

Lolllzz XL, you are being too Cynical. If Bollywood's stuck in the song and dance routine, Hollywoods's stuck with the American Hero saving the world from Annihalation.

[timmy]

I can see your point, XL. I would counter by saying that I don't have a statistical comparison, but that Hollywood has made a tremendous number of stinkers, too.

The thing with me is, I don't have the history many have with these movies and music. It is as if I've been thrown into the middle of it, and what appeals to me is just that, based on very little else.

Regarding musicals and thin plots, I would come back to the Fred Astaire - Ginger Rogers movies of the 30s and 40s. They, too, had thin plots that served as a vehicle for dance and song, and they too, were an escape for people suffering in the throes of the Great Depression. However, most people would agree that many of the Astaire-Rogers dance numbers have passed into the realm of classics, as well as the musical scores of the likes of Gershwin and Berlin. Over the years, I have grown to treasure these movies and watch them regularly with my Wife.

Regarding Bollywood, I confess to you that I have the soundtrack from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham on my iPod and home sound system, and that I do play it often. It has become one of my great favorites, along with Santana, Robin Trower, and the rest. When I hear those entrancing rhythms and the wonderful voice of Lata Mangeshkar, it makes my heart melt. This is not something that I've taken on as an affectation: The first time I watched the movie, the music grabbed me its own merits and has become mine.

And frankly, in my movie tastes, I will say that I find the combination of SRK and Kajol to have that special chemistry that classic Hollywood couples had, like Bogey and Bacall, Bogey and Bergman, Wayne and O'Hara, and the like. They Are perfect together.

There are other things I like about Bollywood and Kollywood as well. But remember, I don't have the associations you all may have, with remembering a time of youth when I first saw them, or surroundings, or anything like that. (For instance, watching The Godfather will always have that memory of being with my Dad, just the 2 of us, in the theater watching it when it came out. None of that exists when I watch Bollywood.)

But when it comes to Alarmel Valli, I suppose it is simply one of those things that was predestined to resonate with me for some or many reasons. I feel as if I have the opportunity to partake of the artistry of a world-class artist, like a Rubinstein, a Pavarotti, or a Nijinsky -- a glorious exposition so many around me seem oblivious to. Now that I am older, I cannot tarry, worrying about why others cannot or will not see the ethereal beauty in Ms. Valli's dance. I feel as if I have just enough time to take in as much as I can, and form rich memories and visions to sustain me through the rest of my time here.

[Vikram]

Timmy,

I am greatly pleased that you had a great evening and even managed to have a conversation with the lady.

Unfortunately in India, traditional classical art forms were a prerogative of the ruling classes and the rich to a large extent.They were largely limited to temples or royal courts. Ordinary people were more exposed to folk arts. Though things changed a great deal post Independence, the cinema and the TV later took over than these traditional art forms. Hence they remained a very cultivated/acquired taste.They have never been popular among large segments of population. Attempts were/have been made to make them popular but the results have been not very optimistic. JMHO. I myself have little patience for traditional classical dance forms and music. My sister was a trained Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer(She was very good)) in her earlier years and learnt veena too. She moved away from them for various reasons.Having said that, I do not think that these dance/art forms are endangered as they are determinedly taken up, practised and propagated by a sizeable number of people.They just may not become really mainstream.That does not diminish their value are richness.

@Briha, I first saw Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia in Hyderabad nearly 18 years ago.That was a mesmerising performance.I always liked his music. And he is such a humble and gentle soul.None of the artistic arrogance in him, unlike some of the other maestros.He repeatedly obliged almost all the requests of his audience and he played them all! Then, I had the opportunity to watch him play at the University of Warwick in UK. This time, I could go to the green room and meet him in person and talk to him after the show.He was again the same humble and gentle soul.It was a privilege that I cherish.

He and that great rock-flautist,Jethro Tull fame, Ian Anderson performed together and produced some great music.

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/02/08/sto ... 120500.htm


Best-
Vikram