Musings of the Thakur

I was in the loo when the production manager called me up and said that I got through the auditions. Well, it was definitely a relief.  It’s not every day I get a call asking me to emulate expressions on a platform. At the place, I was greeted mostly by people who knew each other; so, I cowered to a corner like a new kid at kindergarten. Only of course, being 5’7 with 210 pounds it looked more like I was the corner.

The practice sessions involved me choosing to be an animal of my choice; something I usually earn during a verbal bout and swearing with clear diction, which now allows me to swear at Auckland traffic with enunciation. There were other cult customs which were practiced, but let’s give it a rest.

They fed me with coffee, tea and spreads. I did feel like I was at the foyer of a rest home that made sure anything crunchy would definitely go down with a pinch of tooth.

After a few months, I began to see the animals manifesting into characters, the diction bellowing clarity, the coffee and spreads being integral ingredients during discussions and finally customs becoming traditions in a world called RUDALI.

As the rehearsals are coming to an end I feel; It’s been work in an esoteric sense, it’s been an adventure in a personal sense; it’s been simply artistic in a common sense.

Thank you all!!

  

SPIRITUAL ASSISTANCE

Would you like a drink? A very simple question that leads to an addiction , a habit with a social taboo in certain cultures; or a start of a journey with blissful moments. In a country like India that sells spirituality, both as a commercial entity and as an embedded cultural entity; it hasn't yet learnt to honour the 'GIN' in the bottle.

How DO we honour a drink? Is it through understanding of the consequences that may play as a result of intoxication. This understanding is either an excuse to reiterate a dramatic stop to one of nature's divine interventions or a one way approach ;where the cause, which is the consumption and the way it is consumed is less examined or discarded. 

'Consumption of alcohol' I hate that phrase. Having a drink , like any other item that finds its way to our bellies should have a justifiable reason. I think that reason should be love.I have to make this clear you Fall into love, a feeling  planned by fates around you through a series of thoughts that order itself in a chaotic manner, regurgitating itself  so as to make you feel happy or oblivious to your helplessness. This my friends is how one BECOMES and not GETS intoxicated. This is how I map love to the drinking habit. 

Love as a child- I want to fill my urges or I want to get drunk. 

Love as a young kid- I want it because others have it.

Love as a teenager- A new sensation , no inhibitions, and I don't care if the world is looking.

Love as an adult- An activity that  includes respect , restrain, faith, and a learning curve.

Growing up physically is an eventuality whereas  spiritually takes time, understanding, examples and experience. In other words, culture.  The only way one can truly appreciate nature's physical manifestation of spiritual assistance is to weave it through the thick fabric of our culture. Thereby, one can choose to leave the spirits not out of ignorance but out of love.