By Namrata Pulapaka (guest blogger)
When I entered the Riverside Theatres on Sunday afternoon,
it was to a full house and the buzz of anticipation. I was quite curious about this film directed and produced by Indu
Balachandran that I had heard and read so much about! The program opened on a
high note with live performances by three of the five ladies featured in the
film, accompanied by their children and grandchildren. What I found truly inspiring
was that at the grand age of 91, Swarnam maami was not only able to sit in
tailor-fashion onstage, but also deliver a full-fledged performance of the
majestic Māmava
Pattābhirāma, an iconic composition of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar
in Maṇirangu ragam. We were also treated to a clipping of a bautifully stirring Behag raga-alapana by the admirably self-taught vainaka Bhagirathi mami.
True to its title, the film ‘Her Inner Song’ perfectly
captured the varied and colourful personalities of the women while
simultaneously highlighting the common thread between them – their perseverance
through trying circumstances and their enduring passion for the classical art
of Carnatic music! Indu’s questions hit the target every time and allowed the
reality of these unsung stories to surface, evoking a beautiful nostalgia. The
film’s intensity was interspersed with unexpectedly humorous quips from the
maamis that had the whole audience giggling.
These talented ladies had the opportunity to interact with
some of the most accomplished Carnatic giants in recent history. Bhuvana maami
learnt directly from the great Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, the revivalist of
Bharatanatyam and founder of Kalakshetra. As the humble Rajalakshmi maami
(winner of various prizes at music competitions in her day) put it, receiving
an award from stalwarts such as Sri G. N. Balasubramanian and Sri Maharajapuram
Santhanam was a gold medal in itself!
As a Gen Y girl who has lived in Australia my whole life,
the contextual differences between my society and upbringing and theirs were
stark. Their circumstances are unfathomable to me – talented and enthusiastic
young women living against the backdrop of a staunchly patriarchal society
seemingly full of narrow-minded expectations and limitations. However what I
found remarkable is the proof that even in adversity beauty can thrive. Despite
the restrictions placed on them, these women stayed true to their music and it
continues to flourish today. Ganga maami is happily teaching students and
giving performances till date! More importantly, it was a valuable reminder to
many of us in the audience to appreciate the freedom and opportunities so
readily available to us!
Overall, the program was very well-conceived and tastefully
executed, and a true inspiration to others on their own musical journeys. I
strongly recommend it to anyone who has a passion for the arts and an interest
in history (or in this case, herstory!).
Hearty congratulations to the whole team for a fantastic
effort!
I eagerly look forward to Indu’s future endeavours.
