She chooses to call her stint with dancing as an adventure rather than an attempt to master the art. Though she is hardly awestruck by her Padma Shri title, she says that it was a pleasant surprise. “It is nice feeling when people acknowledge your work,” adds Shobana.
One of India’s finest classical dancers, Shobana is back in Chennai, after her three-month long trip, where she performed in 56 cities across the world, including those in the US, France and Gulf. “We took social themes like the evils of dowry and presented them humorously,” she says. Displaying Bharatanatyam along with other art forms like flamenco and western classical melodies, Shobana refers to it as the ‘crazy tour’.
Though dance remains her first priority she now expresses a desire to direct. “The directing bug has bitten me hard. I’ve stopped thinking about wanting to act in films or roles. Even so, playing the role of a eunuch or man in a woman’s body would be fun,” she says.
Making a reverent comparison between both her professions, she asserts, “Dance reflects ones own experience and personality, where as in films, you live some one else’s vision.” One of Shobana’s greatest inspirations is the knowledge she has gained from the musicians, actors, film directors, photographers, painters and percussionists she’s worked along with her Guru Chitra Visweswaran.
Speaking on misconceptions about dancing live and in front of camera she says, “While dancing live we aim at building up the mood and stamina and taking the audience through a journey. On screen, it is the dancer’s teamwork with the director, camera man and the dance director.”
Shobana readily appreciates the willingness of the youth abroad to indulge in Indian art forms. “When youngsters are exposed to western dance and pop culture, they have an opportunity to realise the worth of their own culture,” she opines.
The 40-plus affable beauty finds it strange when people comment on her changing looks. “I wonder if actors are supposed to be blessed with the immortal age 16 looks,” retorts Shobana. “Connoisseurs of dance prefer watching older artistes than the younger ones because the dancer refines her emotive quality and communicates stories of her experience and wisdom,” she ends.
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