TEAM PRAYATHNAM-Together Everyone (has) Achieved More!

The entrance of the Mylapore Fine arts club auditorium was decorated with tiny pretty looking tots clad in pattupaavaadais possessing lamps along with few others ready with the kolaattam sticks.(Well…it made me wonder why was this arrangement made?!). The Chief Guests arrived and they witnessed a unique welcome (by kids holding lamps and the others performing a small piece of kolattam) to the Nritya Samarpanam, a celebration of Prayathnam’s yearly milestones and events. Following the lighting of the lamp by the distinguished guests there was a medley of performances by the toppers of the YATNAM level exams (conducted by them) beginning with Chakkani thalliki to which rhythmic kummi was performed by the students of Vani Kalalaya…. to the neat perfect Bharatanatyam presentation by the students of Divyanjali, kolattam by Kanagasabai dance school, kavadi chindhu by students of Smt. Sai Kripa thus showcasing multifarious styles of dancing. A special performance by Subhashini, a student of Smt. Sai kripa was an inspiration to all the other students with her having cracked all the three levels of the YATHNAM exam with the highest score. Then was the time for the performance by the two guest artistes for the day, Sri.Shanmugasundaram and Sri.Rakesh, (teacher at Kalakshetra). The performance started off with Misra Thriputa Alarippu, “thodi” jadiswaram and the Kshetrayya’s padam rendered by Sri.Rakesh. The rhythmic Shankarashrigiri and the devout Tulsidas bhajan, Sri Ramachandra kripaalu bhajamana by Sri.Shanmugasundaram also was carried out with perfect blending of the moves and expressions. The coordinated effort of their renderings choreographed by the legends ended in a vivacious thillana. The record of the events from the start of Prayathnam was summarized by Smt.Sreelatha Vinod in a well thought-out fashion interspersing textual content with relevant clippings and video bits. She even emphasized their interest in creating their own webpage and to get active in facebook/blogging and even about releasing newsletters. Following that the YATHNAM COURSEBOOK VOLUME I was released by Smt.Nandini Ramani (art critic) and the first copy was received by Smt.Radha Krishnan (Principal, Little Oxford Matriculation Higher Secondary School). The book contains all the necessary study material required for the preparation for the YATHNAM exams. Then was the turn of the VARNAMANJARI (Audio CD compilation of the legendary pada varnams) to be released by Bhagavathalu Sree Seetharama Sharma (Director-Kalapeetam) and the first copy of it was received by Smt.Nandini Ramani. All were in praises for Sri. Srikanth Gopalakrishnan’s voice in the audio CD that completely muted the audience when a small portion was played. Bhagavathalu Sree Seetharama Sharma appreciated the integrated effort of team Prayathnam whereas Smt.Nandini Ramani spoke on the exchange of traditions and the astounding effort in the confluence of various traditions of Bharatanatyam. Smt. Radha Krishnan meanwhile promised that her School would always be a pillar support to the team and even urged the audience for a standing ovation. Kids who eagerly waited to receive their certificates and gift hampers were in all smiles when they received them (surprisingly in the most disciplined and non chaotic conduct) from the guests. The teachers and also some exceptional people who supported the Prayathnam in this endeavor were also honoured. Well! All’s well that ends well….. The Nritya Samarpanam ended there with members of Prayathnam, patting themselves for their good work. They now carry even a sense of accountability for going ahead with the ongoing and future projects as promised for which they always seek the blessings of the Lord Almighty and legendary dance gurus! The effort continues……..

FATHER OF IPODS!...HE IS NOT DONE YET!

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works”.

The words of a visionary who is not among us right now- the cofounder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. “Steve paul jobs” who also was an inventor and moreover called the “father of ipods”. The middle-class hippie kid with no college education, went on to built a computer empire and became a multi-millionaire in a few years. He was responsible for creating “the third apple” that changed people’s lives. Though he was fired from his own company he came back to save it and turn it into one of the world’s most successful firms.

On this he said once:

 “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”

Meanwhile then, he had also contributed to the creation of the new leader in animated movies for decades to come through Pixar.  He was essentially a great businessman but more than that he was an inspiration to young people, entrepreneurs, inventors, designers, early adopters, budding musicians, and people with disabilities who discovered with Apple's devices a way to engage with the world. So many people drew courage from Steve and related to his life story: adoptees, college drop-outs, struggling entrepreneurs, ousted business leaders figuring out how to make a difference in the world, and people fighting debilitating illness. We have all been there in some way and can see a bit of ourselves in his personal and professional successes and struggles. The lesson that we ought to learn from his life is the effort and hard work and his impeccable dedication towards designing computers. The world will never forget such an amazing human being, an extraordinary man proving his talent in five industries who changed people's life in more ways than we will ever imagine.

Steve jobs- started the Apple along with Steve Wozniak in 1976 at his garage

Thrown out of the Lisa project in 1981 due to his temperament

Designed the MACINTOSH: “a computer as easy to use as a toaster.”  In 1985(failure)

Founded the animation company- Pixar in 1986 with a team of graphic experts

The NeXT STEP in 1986- to build an advanced computer for higher education and scientific research

Apple’s loses $700 million in 1997- Steve Jobs organized a board coup and was named interim CEO of Apple in July 1997.

Apple’s re birth: gave confidence back to the Apple community. (1999-2006).

A significant landmark passed in 2006 when Apple’s revenues from iPod equaled those made on computers.

Late 2003- Steve was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Leaves the earthly world in the year 2011.

Words for Steve Jobs from the bottom of our hearts:

“Hey! Steve. Wherever you might be…Not only when we listen to itunes in our ipads we remember you but also every time we encounter a struggle you stand as an inspiration to get up and fight back again! The rarest cancer might have invaded you! Lo behold! Only the Mighty souls die of Cancer! Thanks Steve for all that you have given us! The world will not be the same without you … you were truly a visionary. RIP”        

STRIKING THE PERFECT BEATS IN UNISON!

                                               

As I sat in front of the beautiful golu décor at the Sidhhi Kamala Vinayagar Temple (the only temple in CIT Nagar West) Sharmili and Yuvashree entered, in the traditional Bharatanatyam costume and prayed to the prime deity for the good progress of their recital, dedicated to the Elephant Lord. The audio tapes were tested and the duo geared up by tying the bells around their legs. They began their repertoire with the fast paced Jem Jem in which they illustrated the traits of perfect coordination and timely stamina that made jem jem, an absolute start. Sharmili carried then with Muralidharan’s composition Arpudha narthanam where the sync and footwork struck a perfect chord in unison  with the music, though the fast paced choreography may have not lent a helping hand resulting in incompelete adavus. The fluctuating aramandi masked by the scintillating spark in her face made arpuda, a good second piece. Lord Shiva’s joyful dance was then portrayed by Yuvashree where the perfect sync of the Korappu in the song Anandha nadamaduvar thillai was observed against her imbalance in stamina at certain places. Perfect expressions,with less subtlety, in nee dhan mechi kolla vendum where the choreography  that involved the communication with the audience which was comfortably done with ease by Sharmili. Yuvashree then performed Ambujam Krishna’s sweet composition, Adinaye Kanna where she carried a better stamina. The duo came together again for the Thillana with mind –boggling kannakus which they performed amidst some mal fixed jewels and lack of stamina that caused a drip in the co ordination quotient. Kavadi chindu which was a perfect concluding piece made the audience rejoice from their seats and was a fun filled entertainer. In a nutshell the performance was a mixture of perfect co ordination, aesthetic beauty, commendable choreography and a neat presentation with some negligible flaws.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

KOLU VECHA SUNDAL!

Fifteen years back from now, kolu was the time when we all got our quarterly exam holidays and the best part was to go to our grandma’s place at west Mambalam…Needless to say, it was a joint family synonymous to fun and togetherness. We used to be clad in pattu paavaadais (the pretty Indian costume which any girl kid would love wearing) and would hear the neighbouring kids saying,”Maami Maami golu vecha sundal!” and my mother, along with my aunties at home would call the kids in and give them vethalai paaku only after they sang a song for them! Then those kids would happily munch upon the sundal and go home. As kids my mom would give me kungumam in a small box and ask me to go to the neighbouring places and tell maami aathula kolu vechirkom vethalai paaku vaangika vaango! (Wow I used to practice that tamil accent eventually making me seem like a pucca iyer aathu ponnu!) Travelling furthermore, towards some ten years back, I found that invitations for kolu would be through the phone only. The same dialogues all the maamis would tell but through the phone!! Then I realized the application of technology even in tradition! I felt that the actual flavor of navaratri  decreased in taste. Anyway for that “courtesy call” I would go to receive vethalai paaku….The days passed by and now with the sms texts…the traditional trend has worsened! The invitations are only through text messages these days! What I feel basically is that however busy we might be, whatever commitments we have in this hustle bustle world we must try to uphold the tradition of inviting people during the festival of dolls- THE NAVARATRI!

A forest named IIT!

One Friday morning just as we girls settled in the class reading some newspapers, my friend suddenly asked, “Hey guys! Come let’s go attend SHAASTRA! ” (I had totally no idea what it was!) Owing to the fact that our classmates had been there the previous day, we wanted to visit that as well. I then learnt that it was the name of the TECH FEST at the INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Chennai.. IIT being our neighbouring campus we didn’t want to miss it! Our classes got over at 12.05 pm…. And we started. I went in my bike whereas two of my other friends preferred walking. They waited at the exit gate when I entered through the entry gate….here started the confusion! I kept on driving driving driving! Didn't know where the roads were leading to! I didn’t even notice the missed calls by my two other friends (mobile phone being inside my bag). I asked a person whether they knew the way to SHAASTRA; he gave such a weird reaction as if I was an alien. At once I realized that I owned a mobile phone and responded to the missed calls to my two other friends. I have always had thought that all my friends knew something more than me when it comes to remembering the way or, knowing the map of a particular area. I was stupefied when I understood that I had my friends also inquiring the way. So I felt I had to take up this responsibility (as a motorist) of “finding the way” in that thick forest! Somehow I made up my mind to ask another student however weird his reaction would be. We have always been taught the traits of an effective communicator  that made me do this. So when inquired, he pointed his hand straight to a ground where the food stalls of SHAASTRA had been. (It is always embarrassing when one almost having reached the place and asks the way to go there!) . I waited at the entrance of the ground near a famous landmark inside the campus called the GAJENDRA CIRCLE (GC). I directed my friends over the phone to ask for that place and find me. I was doing something that any other person bored of waiting would do- tuning into some of melodious tunes in the mobile phone. My friends, tired of walking, made a call asking me to pick them up… I thought of nothing but started my bike. Sometime later I realized that my dearly bike had to carry three girls of weights (55+45+50) summing up to a whooping 150 kilograms! Oh my God! But with all those thoughts running in my mind, I went about searching for my friends exactly in the direction opposite in which they were approaching. This time after driving about for two minutes I got a call that they were already there at the GC! We three were really glad to see each other as if we have been in separation for longtime (half an hour)! First thing that we did was; we went to a sandwich stall and ordered for some nice sandwiches and omelets. Other delicacies like ice creams and chocolates were out of our reach, owing to our “ever empty” wallets! We emptied our pockets and went towards the actual area where the SHAASTRA was taking place but seriously we never reached there! Our legs started to ache, the Mighty sun was really throwing his anger and fury upon us and humidity was at its best! All the three of us then agreed on one final decision- that was to return back home. Now again I felt deep in my mind that I ought to drop my friends near the exit gate but deeper was the sad plight of my bike! (Remember 150 kilograms)! After many fuzzy decisions taken by the three of us, finally we landed on the idea of going for a triples ride (with one of my friend referring to herself as a BROKEN ARROW between us)! I could hear my bike cry but I kept saying to myself that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE! After a 20 minute drive we landed near the exit gate of the IIT! I realized three things today! First one to carry a sum more than 50 bucks in my wallet, second to know the geographical map of the area to visit and third, that my bike could actually carry a load thrice of that of mine!!!

THAT MONDAY MORNING…..

NEWSLETTER!

DIVYANJALI.......MA DANCE CLASS

It wasn’t unusual for my dad to gear me up to the dance class, on a bright Sunday morning and that is when the boy running mobile laundry comes to collect the dry clothes for regular laundry as well. Seeing me getting ready, “Where does your daughter learn Bharatanatyam akka?” he asked, referring to my mom to which mom replied “T.Nagar”. He asked, “Why do you go so far when there is one at the next lane???!!” and that is how I acquainted with Divyanjali. It was a cramped place, though, full of dancers, I spotted “Miss” amidst other students and she went about correcting their flaws while dancing- My first reaction being “How young can a teacher be?!” and still am wondering the same…From ethnic classical dance shows to the vivacious “Thillana Thillana” (the then popular dance show in SUN TV) we were then members of the performing team (of kids) ready to dance on any stage! I owe this kind of self- confidence that I received, to Divyanjali!My Arangetram in 2000 furthermore contributed to my closeness with my dance school where I felt at home. In thick and thin Divyanjali family have supported me and in times of my utter distress Divyanjali has stayed with me. With Miss I felt more than what is called a teacher-student relation. Art of teaching is also one of the greatest techniques that Miss has taught that has made me fit to become a staff of Divyanjali which makes me feel immensely elevated. Divyanjali is not merely  dance  institution   but to  me it is an inspiration…I look upon Divyanjali as a Banyan tree, planted CIT Nagar, that grew with the drops of sweat shed by our teacher which later spread out its branches at Kalpakkam, and KK Nagar. It now supports lots of students, gives them aids and makes them feel at home and makes me happy that I am a part of this joyous family!!!