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| Edited By: Deepali Singh |Source: DNA |Updated: Feb 04, 2017, 06:15 AM IST
If there is anything that Mallika Sarabhai is passionate about, it is about bringing a positive change in people’s lives through the many hats she wears — renowned classical dancer, social activist, writer, stage and film actress. The noted danseuse is performing a selection of traditional classical items and innovative pieces, with modern themes, along with her son Revanta at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2017. Here, Mallika tells us about the relationship she shares with her son, her dance and future projects:
The theme this time is rhythm, so we are working on the concept of rhythm in Bharatanatyam. It is a contemporised Bharatanatyam, completely traditional in its elements but looking at it in a very different way. The Bharatanatyam we do — the Pandanallur style that my mother used to do and we have continued — is anyway a very complex rhythm style. I have always been attracted to complexities in rhythm and choreography, so the theme is absolutely up my alley. Revanta and I are doing four separate items, two together and two individually.
It feels like she is around us constantly. We have not felt for a minute that she’s not here. On the day of my mother’s first death anniversary, a group of artistes called Hastha held a choreography competition in Amma’s memory. They will organise a competition every year based on different themes that Amma was concerned about. This time, the theme was environment. We performed two of her earliest pieces, created as early as 1980. It felt like Amma is everywhere. That’s a very special quality, felt not just by me but by all the dancers. It feels as if she will walk in any moment!
Not at all, though that is also there. I can be very, very strict with him. As creative people, we are partners, though I have 30 years of experience over him. I had this extraordinary creative relationship with my mother too. I think the audience sees that.
Very much so. In the past couple of years, more and more older women, who have not had the chance to learn or had to give up learning are rejoining. I have seven-year-olds and a 60-year-old retired principal in the same class! She always wanted to learn, saw an interview of mine where she heard me say that I welcome people of any age and she is having a ball! There are 50-year-olds who have joined all classes. People would not do it 20-30 years ago and I actively encourage it.
To not become pessimistic by what is happening around the world. To keep the possibility that change is possible. One can make a difference, one can break down violence and prejudice. The world is moving to a place which is very disquieting but I get little signs which make me continue with the same rigour. Somebody will come and tell me that he saw me perform or speak 20 years ago and it has always been with them and given them strength to do something good. A street cleaner will hold my hand and say ‘thank you’ for what I’m doing. Small things like that. We might have to go through worse before it becomes better, but if one can affect and change one life at a time, that’s really enough.
Not at all, I’m not interested in legacies. I live very much for today. I don’t really care what people think of me when I’m dead. I just want to do what is right.
We’re working on a huge project to produce a film based on a performance we did in Darpana to celebrate 600 years of Ahmedabad’s history. We have been working on a film script which will go on the floors in the next couple of months. The other big project we are busy with is re-doing Darpana, as the Riverfront Project in Ahmedabad has driven a road in the middle of my beautiful venue, Natarani. We hand-moved 24 full-sized trees to other places and I sing and dance to them and they are all flourishing. There were four palms which we could not move by hand, so we got a huge crane for the purpose.
“Revanta is a beautiful dancer. I think he’s trying to find a way through Gujarati films. He wants to direct and he wants to choreograph. At the moment, he’s juggling various hats and I’m not sure he’s juggling them in the way that will make him fulfilled, but he has to go through it. His first film in which he has acted, O! Taareee is releasing next week and then he has three others which he has worked in. He’s writing his first film script. I think he will also want to wear many hats, all in the creative field with a social conscience.”
Mallika Sarabhai and Revanta Sarabhai will perform on February 7 at 7 pm at Cross Maidan.
