Daughters of fame

Chennai witnessed this past week a pathbreaking effort in dance theatre. Shobita Punja's evocative "Daughters of the Ocean" was brought to pulsating life by Anita Ratnam and her troupe in the contemporary dance vocabulary. Also, for the first time, Penguin India brought out a special second edition of "Daughters of the Ocean" to mark the lyrical weaving of the story teller's art with that of the performing artists. Shobita is a post-graduate in Art Education from Standford University, California, and has specialised in Culture Education in her doctoral thesis. She is the author of many books, including "Museums of India,'' "Khajuraho: The First Thousand Years", and now the much acclaimed "Daughters of the Ocean".

Anita did her masters in Television and Theatre from the University of New Orleans. A Bharatanatyam dancer of repute who trained under Raji Narayan and Adyar Lakshman, she is the founder-director of Arangham Trust, Chennai, and co-director of India's only alternative festival, "The Other Festival". "Daughters of the Ocean" is her first full-length contemporary dance production inspired by Shobita's book.

At the launch of "Daughters of the Ocean" at Landmark, Shobita and Anita spoke about the inspiration, poetry and passion which went into the work.

What made you write "'Daughters of the Ocean" which is so different from your other books?

SP: I wrote it for my 8 year old daughter, to share my thoughts as also the essence of my learning. I wanted to tell my daughter that the qualities of well being, courage and eternal learning connected with Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati respectively are in all of us and that we can evoke them everyday.

So it was a combined journey of faith of both the individual and the art historian.

SP: Much of Indian art is about contemplation, about meditation, it is a soul picture as it were. The book was an exploration and inward journey as well. I wanted to tell my daughter how the goddess' symbols and qualities had helped me through life and could do the same for her too.

What made you give "Daughters of the Ocean" a new creative avataar? Did the book touch a special chord?

AR: I think it was the "Letter (from a mother) to a daughter" with which the book begins. It touched a chord. When a daughter is born you ask what can I do for her... I think it was the weaving of myths and reality that I found so interesting.

It must have been a challenge as a dancer-choreographer.

AR: There was an impasse in my life. I wanted to explore new ways of working. So "Daughters of the Ocean" with its personal narrative style opened up a new, creative pathway. It gave me new ways of dealing with private griefs and spatial challenges.

Why did you choose the female principle of Shakti as against universal energy without a gender?

SP: I haven't chosen it deliberately or with any intent of feminism etc. Energy is universal - Shakti. I have just underlined energy as seen in the symbols of goddesses personified as Shakti. So the goddess was merely a focus.

There is a quality of simple lyricism about the myths and qualities of "Daughters of the Ocean". How did you manage to bring in philosophy without pontificating?

SP: This was the question which bothered me, till a friend suggested I write to my daughter. Along with the enduring myths of goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga, my book tells a lot of my personal life stories, of how I lived through and challenged every churning and 'Samudra Manthan' of my life's crises...

Did the autobiographical element influence the stage production?

AR: I identify strongly with the book. I find many parallels between the book and my own life. It gave me courage to talk about my life, and restore balance.

You have called the production the most "risky venture". Why?

AR: Because audiences in Chennai, though discerning are not always receptive to new forms and genres.

How did they receive it.

AR: I am overwhelmed by the response. People have reacted with tears, with tremendous empathy. Children have told me that they will now make use of their choices. As for me, I am happy that while taking the myths of yesterday with me, I am also creating the myths of tomorrow.

What were the other challenges to be overcome?

AR: Awareness of how one can use movements in space without using traditional imaging.

The book ends with the evocative "The Other Half". Surely Shakti is all of us?

SP: Actually it has a reference. If you read "Salutation to the Devi", you will find that one of the qualities Devi evokes is that of water which always finds its level and equilibrium. That equilibrium and harmony is what I talk about. It is at the core of my belief in non-violence, non-extremism and harmony.

Are you both satisfied with the fusion of word, space and movement which has produced "Daughters of the Ocean"?

SP: The inviting aspect of the book is that everyone can interpret it in his or her own way. Anita's insights have brought out the beauty of the book.

AR: It's been a home-coming for me.

PUSHPA CHARI

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