Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
Chennai Music and Women
I thought about this a lot, but cannot come up with any solution. Everyone lays it on the women artistes to get together and fight the discrimination, but that's not going to happen. A note of dismay over inequality at music and dance festivals in Chennai Shoba Narayan January 3, 2015 Updated: January 4, 2015 11:21 AM Every year, between December 15 and January 15, hundreds of thousands of people across India congregate in Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, for its Carnatic and Bharatanatyam festivals. More than 300 concert halls in the city host [...]
Indian dance
Of all arts, dance is the one that encapsulates a country's culture. I was thrilled to discover this link about Kamala here. My other dance connection is that I went to Women's Christian College and Urmila Satyanarayana was my classmate. She is here. A dance questionnaire for dancers and critics The most important thing in dance appreciation is to have the courage to respond to it Shoba Narayan I am a failed dancer. As a child in Chennai, some of my most memorable visits were to my aunt’s house. Her name was Kamala and she was known in dance circles [...]
Monsoon Diary
On a California bookshelf
Somatic Exercises
These really work. And they are terrifically relaxing. How exercising your body can help reset your brain Shoba Narayan December 31, 2014 Updated: December 31, 2014 04:49 PM What do you do when you stand in a queue at the airport, while waiting in line to get off the plane, waiting for your luggage or waiting for transport? Many of us check email, answer texts and appear busy. But once you’ve done all that and the bags still haven’t come, what do you do? I sometimes use that time to “reset” my brain. In the 1970s, a movement therapist named [...]
K. Balachander
As someone who has watched and tracked Tamil movies all her life, one of the things I notice is the fall of the heroine. There are exceptions, but by and large, Tamil films these days are hero oriented, action films with a thin storyline. Women play the love interest, or dance an item number, with Rajnikanth’s Linga being the latest example. What Tamil films need are strong directors who are fascinated with women like those directors in the 70s and 80s.
Vimala Rangachar
Welcome to the Sanskrit Podcast where the ideas of ancient India meet the modern world. Vimala Rangachar has been associated with fine arts and performing arts conservation movement of Karnataka for many years. She holds multiple positions of Chairperson of the Craft Council of Karanataka, Founder Member and President of M.E.S Institutions, President of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, President of the M.E.W.S Ladies Club, Malleshwaram, Bangalore, heading M.E.S Kalavedi, President of the Seva Sadan Orphanage, Hon. Secretary of the ADA Rangamandira, Committee Member, Gandhi Center for Science and Human Values- Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan. In this episode, she [...]
Video of me speaking about culture and aesthetics
The email below led to this video of me here and pasted below. She had me at Alarmel Valli!! Dear Shoba Hope all is well. Not sure you remember me but we met at the Festival of Sacred Music two/three years ago. I now have a performing arts' company called Aalaap and under the banner of Aalaap, I edit and publish a performing arts magazine. Will send you a few copies if you give me your snail mail address. I'm writing to you on behalf of Ahalya, an exclusive, high-end jewellery brand, whose creator is a very intelligent and insightful [...]
The best gifting ideas from 2014: for Mint Lounge
It is just before Christmas. You are probably in the throes of figuring out what to buy for family, friends and co-workers. Here is a list of objects that you could consider buying for your near and dear. The logic of choosing these objects was simply this: I saw them during the course of this past year and they stuck in my head—because they are unique, innovatively designed, and beautiful. Shoba Narayan plans to buy a lovely teapot this Christmas season.
Kalidasa for 21st century
Fantastic exposition of why Kalidasa is huge in ancient Indian literature. Thank you, Mani Rao, for sharing this with us. Watch the episode here
Carnatic Instrumentalism
The future of Carnatic instrumental music requires both a stroke of genius and a paradigm shift. How do you end the supremacy of lyrics in what is being performed today? As a listener, even I know and love the lyrics. Why then would l listen to only instruments? For that, several things need to happen. A genius composer needs to write for instruments—either a concerto format with multiple instruments or a song with a long instrumental riff like in Hotel California, where the guitar becomes the melody at the end.