NATYASHASTRA NOT OUR SHASTRA?
Around the year 200 B.C, Bharat muni, the venerable sage, penned what is considered the Sutra, the Bible of classical Indian dance, rhythm and drama-Natyashastra. Written in Sanskrit, it is the fifth Veda-a compilation of recitation from Rigveda, melody from Samveda, the concept of acting from Yajurveda and sentiments from Athervaveda.

Natyashastra the oldest existent script on Indian art and culture is the base on which popular Indian classical dances such as Bharat Natyam, Kathak, Odissi etc.are based. It is the path that leads to the divine process of creation of dramatic art and its relation to the Vedas.

If a Surti would want to look up classes offering training for the same, chances are the results would show more dodhiya, salsa, filmy dance classes than those of traditional dance shailees.

While Surtis are eager zealots when it comes to dance any day, they prefer it to be freestyle and trendy.

Traditional dance has but few takers in our town, even when stalwarts like Hema Malini come in to perform a ballet occasionally; it’s more about her star appeal rather than the performance.

For people who deem this culture old fashioned, lets not forget that it has been kept alive through the spirit of people like the Late Protima Bedi, one of the most modern women of her times.

Dance diva Mallika Sarabhai once said,’ people are looking for tarat natyam in Bharat natyam these days’.

’Arangetram’ has turned into a major money spending event, once performed with rented gear and as a tribute to Guru and graduation, it is now a gala social status event .

Since Navratri is now over, Surtis are already gearing up for New Years Eve in December, enrolling and spending enormous amounts for western dance classes around Tapi town. The ‘dancing sirs’ will not only get them from fat to fit with fun, but will also get them geared for celebrating various disco parties held during Christmas season.

Sadly, over the years, the traditional Indian dance classes in town for Kathak, Odissi,
Bharat Natyam, for which we do have qualified Gurus, have stagnated. If you have happened to have learnt it as a child in Surat, you may very well be assured; your kids will be taught by the same guru.

We are yet to have an institute of state level caliber. With few takers and ever rising inflation, it has become difficult for most institutions to break even and progress providing the culture its ethos.

Inspite of which the ‘juna and jaanita ’teachers have held up the banners through come what may circumstances. At a very nominal tuition fee, they distribute ancient knowledge that would be considered invaluable in another city or state.

I recently received an e-mail that depicts the various health benefits of finger‘mudras’ when performed on a regular basis. Health and trend conscious Surtis lapped it up.

I have a bad feeling that just as food, fashion and western dance are accepted and popular in Surat only after they are altered to the Surti version, most people in Laladom would want some fusion in ethnic Indian dance culture, to be inspired enough to follow it.

Knowing only too well, how disastrous the result could be! I mean, can you imagine a Surti version of even the simple Mudras-‘Patak’,’Tri –Patak,’’Ardh-Patak’, to begin with? Now that would certainly be blasphemous!!!!!!

HALL OF HOLLYWOOD FAME………
Cinema has always been a favourite fantasy for Surtis. Way back in the 1960’s, some would actually travel to Mumbai every weekend to watch the latest flick; a ‘propah’ theatre experience!

As times changed, Surtis watched versions of Bond series and Dino movies dubbed into Hindi at upgraded theatres. Present day, in the age of multiplexes, we now have the opportunity to watch an original English movie which is released through the country.

I have noticed that the first 4 days of the release runs houseful shows so we may be rest assured that this trend will survive, provided Hollywood lives up to the average Surti’s expectations.

This is not the first time our generation is experiencing Hollywood in town though. In the 1970’s, just on the other side of Hope Pul, there came up a theatre called Sheetal cinema. It was the only movie hall on the other side of the bridge. A fair ground beside it, held the Ponk festival, seasonally. Till date, our king green millet is roasted in this vicinity.

Sheetal was amongst the first few in its league that provided air conditioning, not to mention the only one that showed English cinema. Every fortnight, would be much awaited by Surtis to visit this dream box for a new movie. Blue Lagoon, Alien, Star Wars, 36 chambers of Shaolin were all experienced by Surtis within the city limits.

The trip to Sheetal cinema was an experience in itself. One would travel by the famous amphitheatre-Rangupvan, inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, pass Gandhi Baugh that was the exotic Rani Baugh during the Mughal rule, to reach the Chowk, a place that simultaneously provides vision of Mughal [killa-fort], English [Navinchand library] and Persian [j.j. training school;] architecture; cross Hope pool, over the then perennial Tapti and there it was, facing Bapunagar slums.

At the foot of the short staircase that led to up to the hall’s entrance, would stand a blackboard. For the convenience of Surtis who studied vernacular language, the entire plot of the movie that was playing, would be hand written in Gujarati. This superb marketing strategy assured packed stalls even for serious movies like The Verdict. Locals would excitedly flock the same and loudly read out the story together. The movie would have a title in Ginglish as well. I remember 20,000 leagues under the sea being called ‘samundar ma adventure’!

The stairs led one to the first level for the stalls and to the second for balcony. All along the walls, aluminum framed glass show cases displayed the next change in form of posters .At first look we kids could gather whether we would be allowed to watch the same or not. Although Sheetal Cinema had no issues with U/A, our granddad certainly did. Unfortunately, inflation and video piracy devoured this hall of Hollywood.

The SMC is gearing up to relocate Bapunagar slums by the Tapti and make a river side promenade soon, to enhance the beauty of our city; as well as pull down the old Hope Pul. Sheetal cinema now resurrected, stands on prime property, will be facing one of the most modern structures in our city .Though it no more shows Hollywood movies, surviving with b-grade Hindi ones; it still is the only theatre that stands on the yonder side of the Sun God’s daughter in Surat that offers the common man a ticket to a dream world………after all that’s what cinema is all about, isn’t it?

BEEDI JALAYLE JI GHAR SE PIYA.............
Homemakers around the country better spruce up their singing skills to render sunidhi’s sultry number with a twist. With the ban on smoking in public places now implemented what better place for the guys to smoke, than at home? But then again, that’s one place most of them usually don’t so its catch 22.
A man and his beedi is private stuff that most men love to perform publicly. The vice it seems is generally developed at a young age when visual fascination by an elder blowing up smoke seems like magic. Then comes the stage of excitement when one has learnt to smoke and can show off. Later it turns into a habit as a stress buster and ultimately turns into a weapon to fight depression, or so one feels.
Smoking like most other vices has great visual appeal, therefore a lot of people think that what you don’t see, you cannot develop. Now that the opportunity is not available, the going is tough for the puff to get going. Many women are happy since the men now have to hide too!
Some brainy businessmen are thinking of putting up a proposal for a ‘sulabh suttachalay’ next to the pee booths by similar name because a man’s gotta go when he’s gotta go they say.
Some dread the thought of the fine ,more so because they now think they will have to pay up girlfriends, wives and moms,everytime they put the butt to mouth.
So called Eco-friendly waste management plants are planning to begin party plots at their sites for smokers where smokers can feel free to blow and put ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
Car companies are very excited about the fact that their product can now be advertised as a smoking zone, till now, people used cars for other fun things .A special smoke screen glass is rumoured to be designed for the fancy upgraded versions.
Smoking zones in hotels are causing space constraint to the same, previously it was just eyewash, all they had to do is put up tags stating ‘non smoking’ and ‘smoking ‘sections, never mind if it blew all around, now they need to make an effort put up a cabin for the purpose.
Doctors, Surgeons, Heart specialists, Mouth freshener manufacturers, chewing gum companies, and saunf supari dealers are all under pressure. They say if the present generation and ones to come after them voluntarily give up smoking and decide to abide by the health route, the crowd above will need to close shop and be out of business.
Government might add new taxes in wake of the loss that will be occurred by the revenue ciggie companies paid up.
Writers, sleuths and self made Sherlocks are coming up with bright new ideas as think tanks for cigarette manufacturers to lure the lost crowd.
Ramadossji might as well be appointed the next finance minister since in this age of pink slips; his one move has generated a whole load of new jobs.
Gujarat government is observing the prohibition week, not booze, silly, its smoke!
Last heard, plans to accuse Bush of spreading so much smoke around the world in the name of anti terrorism were being made. For all you know, we might give him a ‘tadipar’ from our smoke free state for sure.