A dancer, choreographer, publisher, activist, writer and an actor; she shatters the glass ceiling with the sound of the ankle bells.dance
Mallika Sarabhai is a lady with a dynamic profile. She is a multi-award winner and globally acclaimed artist. She has worn many hats through the course of her illustrious career. No Introduction can justify this gem of India; let us learn about her thoughts on various matters.
Q. You have had such a remarkable journey; do you think present-day youngsters would commit themselves solely to dance?
Ans. I have not been committed solely to dance. I am committed to life and to making the world a better place to live, in whichever way I can and through whatever means I can. Dance is one very important one.
Q. You have choreographed some pieces to create awareness. Have you ever faced the pressure of being socially relevant in Bharatnatyam?
Ans. In the early stages of my ‘alternate’ career in using arts for communicating thoughts, other dancers told me I was committing artistic suicide; that no one would want me as other than a Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer. I didn’t listen to them because I felt this was my calling. When I started reinterpreting myth and mythical women through my work from a feminist perspective, there were loud voices against that, not so much from the arts community as from the rabid upholders of a false Hinduism. Once a right-wing group in Pune tried to burn down the theatre where I was performing ‘Sita’s Daughters’ because my Sita has the temerity to call out Rama for wanting to be a God-King in the eyes of the people. My Sita also tells Rama that she is relieved to have been sent away from him because of the Dhobi’s comments because now she was free to bring up her sons as secure boys and not with the insecurity that Rama and other men had. As far as the dance community goes, I still give full Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi kacheris, so they can’t say that I am doing my new work because I can’t do classical work.
Q. Among all the classical dance forms, Bharatanatyam continues to be better placed, your thoughts?
Ans. I think it is the mother style, the most sophisticated, with the most possibilities. To me, it is a language capable of voicing any thoughts, any ideas.
Q. Is Indian classical dancing an integral part of the religion or is it the other way round?
Ans. Everything was part of religion and religion was part of everything once upon a time. The church and the temple were the social meeting points of society. They were the schools where you learnt good from bad, right from wrong and of course the prejudices that kept parts of society in power, be they priests or rajas, and others exploited. All the arts were in this sense part of religion. To me, spirituality is greater than religion, the search for the self and greater meaning; that is what all art can do
Q. Artists have been communicating through their form of art amidst the current pandemic. What is the message behind ‘Dance Unlocked’ by Darpana and Natarani in reflection to the current scenario?
Ans. Neo global capitalism made us all competitors in a race for riches. Artists too, like all others started thinking only in terms of competition, if I don’t get this first, she will. Through ‘Dance Unlocked’, we wanted to create a sisterhood (or brotherhood – why is there no gender-neutral term for this?) where we could work and have fun together, empathize and break through the limitations.
Q. This is a beautiful ancient art. How supportive are you of the new take of this form since changing times are calling for a changing tune?
Ans. These art forms are rigorous and exacting. Once one gains expertise and wants to do things with the form, one must have the freedom to do so. The problems are on two fronts – some do not want to learn the grammar but wish to steal one movement and bastardize it. Then some want to innovate but do not want to call it new or as an idea based on the original. Otherwise, language would be stuck in telling the same story with the same words. In making a point I might want to misspell a word – but I can only rightfully do so if I know how to spell it correctly and can convincingly argue for why I am misspelling it.
Q. As an actress and a dancer what are your views on today’s Bollywood dance style?
Ans. What style? Women have for years allowed themselves to be made into pieces of meat that male dogs salivate over; that is Bollywood dance. I always wonder at the greed for money that makes respectable and seemingly sensible women stars do this. Is the pull of popularity strong enough that you make yourself one of the many causes of women being treated as property to be used and thrown at male will, I’d like to ask!
Q. What piece of advice would you give to those who wish to learn Bharatnatyam or any form of classical dance?
Ans. It’s hard. It is tedious. It can be boring learning the alphabet but if you get there, you will be bolder, stronger, more confident and you can soar.
Q. What is your message to the women of our society, since you inspire many?
Ans. Always talk to and question yourself about why you do what you do, whether what you say is the correct thing or the good thing. Be true to the best and most humane in you. It is always a work in progress.
Mariam Ansari
osakimariam@gmail.com
Author’s Bio
Mariam Ansari hails from the exotic country of Tanzania but has chosen to settle down in India. A multilingual girl with a degree in English Literature and a flair for writing became an social media influencer. At present Content & Communication Head for UNIMO.
