Confluence of Dance Forms

I shall be posting each dance form series as each post, starting with Chitra Aravind's Contemporary dance form.

Apsaras of ODISSI - The story

Shifting to Bangalore from Mumbai was a relief which I cannot express through mere words. Alright alright! You can curse me all you want for leaving behind the 'city of dreams' for Bangalore. But I have my own satisfactory reasons for wanting to settle in the 'green city';  

1. To get away from my parents.

2. The active art culture here. 

3. I was not fit for Mumbai. 

4. I like to get to know new places and people.

5. Most of the artistic friends I know via social networking are here!

So here I am finally in Bengaluru, doing what I love, exploring life to its fullest and having a ball with lovely people I have newly made friends with! The 'Apsaras of Odissi' is definitely one of the many means of enjoyment. Ashwini Raghupathy and Kristina Jones are the 2 lovely souls who I met in Nrityagram in the year 2011. Ever since then, I kept in touch with Kristina. From her, I learnt that Ashwini had started ARPAN, an organisation where she devoutly grooms people interested in learning the dance that is "Poetry in motion"- ODISSI. Presently, Arpan consists of 6 dancers and they are ready to expand their horizons and nurture the art they know and love the most. I got in touch with them within a month of moving to Bangalore. To my pleasant surprise, Ashwini came forward asking for a photo-shoot of them all. I agreed immediately and oh boy did we hit it off!

(From left) Devina Wallang, Ashwini Raghupathy, Kristina Jones, Smitha Patil

My next post will consist of the 'Apsaras' pose for me with utmost patience and passion. For now, I leave you all wanting for more with a fun picture I clicked of them on our way to the Cubbon park; the place of photo-shoot.

Celebrating 'World Photographer's Day' with the Bee Eaters

LOCATION: Electronic city, Bangalore, Karnataka

DATE: 19th August 2012

That was never the intention. As always, I carried my camera with me to meet my mama (my uncle, who is a newly turned father) and was all set to smother his 2 month old daughter by cuddling relentlessly . After a day and a half of constant babbling and ridiculously silly talks with the baby, I started to pack my bag to get back to my den. As I stepped out and bid goodbye to my family, I saw flashes of colours zipping from almost all sides and perching on a cable wire. Soon, there were more of them and what I witnessed was an overwhelming riot of colours. The Bee eaters had arrived and were chasing its 'obvious' prey; the Bees. 

I must admit that I was hesitant. Many have asked me about trying my hand at Wildlife and Bird photography, but I was adamant even without trying that I shouldn't step into it just for the heck of it, but to actually understand the animal kingdom at a more detailed and deeper level before photo-shooting them. But then who could resist capturing these cute little bi-tailed creatures swinging on the cables briskly looking for food on all fours? I bullshitted my own theory, went crazy over them with my camera and ended up clicking these!

Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new pays off most of the times. What I experienced while shooting them was something very beautiful and meaningful. Coincidentally, it happened to be 'World photographer's Day'. Seems like I celebrated it unknowingly! Life is full of surprises and coincidences, no?

TRICHUR BROTHERS - Firing Missiles

LOCATION: UNNATI CENTER, BANGALORE, KARNATAKA

DATE: 08 AUG 2012

TIME: 6.30 PM - 9.00 PM

What if Luv and Kush of Ramayana manifest in today's times and present themselves in front of you? What would you do? What would any 'girl' do? That would possibly be the worst situation of a dilemma for her. Now that I have justified my dilemma, I developed a slight fissure on my heart when I reminded myself of them already being married. If you think that is all it is to them, then you are highly mistaken. Their magical voices in unison dominated their dashing looks and expurgated every single soul in that auditorium. Sadly these photographs cannot speak for their voices. But their emotions and expressions I managed to capture, should hopefully speak for their dedication and surrenderance to their passion.

FIRING MISSILES - That was what they were referred to as by the event organiser. I TOTALLY second that.

CHEMISTRY

RAAM KUMAR MOHAN

SRIKRISHNA MOHAN

LOST in the hypnotising melody of TAMBURA

Tuning themselves to the tune of the TAMBURA

   

HUMILITY PERSONIFIED