CLEVELAND FESTIVAL 2011

[cacm]

PLEASE GO TO www.aradhana.org where there is an exciting announcement about a NEW INITIATIVE for the 2011 festival. As some of you might know already the festival will be celebrating the 100th of the legendary Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai & Dance as well as music related to it will be emphasised. The Ramayanam Project will be the HIGH LIGHT & several other innovative programs are being considered. I am not in a position to disclose them as permissions from EVERY ONE INVOLVED is in a state of flux....
I request your inputs, suggestions etc on the Ramayanam Project. VKViswanathan)

[ShrutiLaya]

Dear Sri. VKV,

I saw this announcement earlier, but since you ask for comments, I must admit I am quite confused about what you're trying to do.

Can you give us one or two examples of what you expect "young people in the age group of 10 through 25 to take the great Indian epic Ramayana and tell the story in their own words and interpretations, with characterization of the central figures that makes it relevant to the current environment" to come up with, that is noticeably different from what we all know to be the Ramayana.

And once these people come up with the story in their own words, these will then be transformed by others into lyrics (in what language?), presumably using traditional metaphors and conventions.

And then professional choreographers will create a dance. Of course, Bharatanatyam has its own conventions and symbolisms. I doubt if you will want Rama dressed in jeans.

To the person watching the final product - the dance - can you give an example of how this will depict something differently; and whether that person will have to understand the lyrics to see that is different, or just watch the dance?

Thanks
Sreenadh

[kssr]

The Ramayana idea is indeed quite "strange" to say the least. Saint Valmiki, Kamban and Thyagaraja would never have dreamt that the Divine Epic of the Lord will one day be treated as a "story" to be "interepreted" by 10 year old kids. Poor Dr.BMK and other great artists- after having presented Thyagaraja Kritis for decades in their concerts , will now have to decode the kids' interpetation and compose songs and the dance specialists set the same to dance.

Amazing imagination and creativity of people who have come up with such a fantastic project. Our best wishes. I do not think that any outsider will be anywhere near the level of the original proposers of the idea, and therefore cannot be competent to give any further suggestions. The concept itself has reached the status of the "most outlandish" idea We are eager, however, to wait and watch as to how this ultimately emerges.

[cacm]

....THANKS WHEN IT COMESTO IDEAS OR PROJECTS I FEEL MORE THE BETTER. ONLY DISCIPLINE& AUTHENTICITY IS NEEDED....VKV

[Nick H]

The Ramayana idea is indeed quite "strange" to say the least.

Is it? Is it stranger than low-budget TV serials, comic books and every kind of folk art you could ever think of?

Saint Valmiki, Kamban and Thyagaraja would never have dreamt that the Divine Epic of the Lord will one day be treated as a "story" to be "interepreted" by 10 year old kids.

But maybe they hoped it would!

Poor Dr.BMK and other great artists- after having presented Thyagaraja Kritis for decades in their concerts , will now have to decode the kids' interpetation and compose songs and the dance specialists set the same to dance.

I have no doubt that most of them are more broad-minded and imaginative than that. It is yourself that seems to set the level of restrictive thinking.

Amazing imagination and creativity of people who have come up with such a fantastic project. Our best wishes. I do not think that any outsider will be anywhere near the level of the original proposers of the idea, and therefore cannot be competent to give any further suggestions. The concept itself has reached the status of the "most outlandish" idea We are eager, however, to wait and watch as to how this ultimately emerges.

[ragam-talam]

VKV - hope this new project doesn't put a dent in the aradhana's pockets. Bu then, maybe you are thinking of asking the participants to fork out a hefty amount towards your costs, so it's all fine.

[ShrutiLaya]

I'm sorry, I don't think I made my point clear.

Can you give us one or two examples of what you expect "young people in the age group of 10 through 25 to take the great Indian epic Ramayana and tell the story in their own words and interpretations, with characterization of the central figures that makes it relevant to the current environment" to come up with, that is noticeably different from what we all know to be the Ramayana......

For example VALI EPISODE AS WELL AS RAMA DISCARDING SITA AFTER THE DHOBI EPISODE ETC COME TO MIND. That is what we hope to find out within the confines of CLOSE TO 1OO EXPERTS. The only ground rule is the presentation will strictly obey the canons of our CLASSICAL dance& music

But see, by your rules, they are not allowed to deviate from the story (vetted for accuracy etc.,) so at best the kids can illuminate feelings or motivations of the principals that cast these acts in a different light; If you were publishing the best ones of kids' writings, that would be an interesting project in itself. But now, this goes through three levels of translation/de-featurization; first the group has to agree to one manuscript i.e it is "writing by committee". Then Dr.BMK et. al. have to make this into lyrics in a different language. Then the choreographers have to put it to dance. After all this, will any of the subtle differences between the original story and the children's version (and they have to be subtle because the story still has to be accurate) be visible, and visible to an average viewer ?

- Sreenadh

[Nick H]

At least this is a practical consideration and a valid concern.

I wondered at the very large age range of "young person"

[cacm]

VKV - hope this new project doesn't put a dent in the aradhana's pockets. Bu then, maybe you are thinking of asking the participants to fork out a hefty amount towards your costs, so it's all fine.

I DO NOT intend discussing in this forum ANYTHING that has to do with COSTS etc. VKV

[cacm]

SRUTHI LAYA WROTE:
But see, by your rules, they are not allowed to deviate from the story (vetted for accuracy etc.,) so at best the kids can illuminate feelings or motivations of the principals that cast these acts in a different light; If you were publishing the best ones of kids' writings, that would be an interesting project in itself. But now, this goes through three levels of translation/de-featurization; first the group has to agree to one manuscript i.e it is "writing by committee". Then Dr.BMK et. al. have to make this into lyrics in a different language. Then the choreographers have to put it to dance. After all this, will any of the subtle differences between the original story and the children's version (and they have to be subtle because the story still has to be accurate) be visible, and visible to an average viewer ?
- Sreenadh
YOU are addressing things ALL OVER THE PLACE. EVEN THE TEAM OF YOUNGSTERS ARE YET TO BE CHOSEN; IF you have been involved in projects like these quickly realise that the DYNAMICS ARE VERY COMPLEX & END PRODUCT IS UNPREDICTABLE. One needs to have certain GROUND RULES for starters which themselves may have to be modified....As a research physicist I can say that at least Shannon's theorem as well as leaky transmission of information is heavily involved along with Linguistic Relativity & the hope is ENTROPY will not increase beyond the limit where Fractals& Choas Theory can handle things!......VKV

[cacm]

At least this is a practical consideration and a valid concern.
I wondered at the very large age range of "young person"

Dear Nick,
Rama & his brothers themselves were VERY YOUNG acc. to the story accounts as well as Lava-Kucha etc. The various writers of aspects of Ramayana vary all over the map in terms of age. Rama'S FATHER WAS not young-actually can be considered old!......So this is one story where AGE can be anything; But this is not an opera or drama as is being conceived. So younger persons in principle have an edge reg. Dancving etc. We want the audience to be satisfied with the attempt. VKV

[Nick H]

VKV, it was not the lower limit of age that surprised me, but rather that the definition of "young" extended up to 25. 10-yr-olds are children; 25-yr-olds are adult.

Mind you, the mridangam and ghatam players that I used to regularly play morsing with were 13 when I was 40-plus: artistic endeavour can be great leveller.

I only gave an off the cuff impression whereas I'm sure that a lot of thought and work has been put into the project.

[ShrutiLaya]

YOU are addressing things ALL OVER THE PLACE. EVEN THE TEAM OF YOUNGSTERS ARE YET TO BE CHOSEN; IF you have been involved in projects like these quickly realise that the DYNAMICS ARE VERY COMPLEX & END PRODUCT IS UNPREDICTABLE. One needs to have certain GROUND RULES for starters which themselves may have to be modified....As a research physicist I can say that at least Shannon's theorem as well as leaky transmission of information is heavily involved along with Linguistic Relativity & the hope is ENTROPY will not increase beyond the limit where Fractals& Choas Theory can handle things!......VKV

Okay, GOOD LUCK with your VENTURE, and may CHAOS THEORY successfully HANDLE THINGS.

- Sreenadh

[Nick H]

VKV... I believe that you and your colleagues would face attack on the internet if you announced that next year's festival would feature a tea party.

I don't know how you have managed to learn to live with such prejudice, but obviously you have. Keep up the good work!

[rshankar]

next year's festival would feature a tea party.

With Sarah Palin as Chief Guest? May even get glimpses of Russia!

[Nick H]

well played, rshankar!

[cacm]

next year's festival would feature a tea party.

With Sarah Palin as Chief Guest? May even get glimpses of Russia![/quote]
ITS entirely possible that ICE TEA might be the available tea in Cleveland at that time of the year! Half the time it snows & organisers can get at least the ice part free as gift from above!.....S can possibly see only CANADA from Clevleland with unbelievable eye sight but I suggest every one show up with their papers as ICE the U.S. agency responsible might demand "proper" documents etc!...........VKV

[VK RAMAN]

lipstick vs pitbull!

[mahakavi]

It is not lipstick vs pitbull.
Lipstick is pitbull! with a pig by its side.

[harimau]

Mani Ratnam's new movie "Ravana" is supposed to be a contemporary interpretation of the Ramayana, so one could look for inspiration there.

Who knows, there could be a duet right after "Annalum nokkinal, avalum nokkinal" as a preceding viruttham! That would agree with the contemporary idiom of having the hero and heroine running around trees as seen in Indian movies; if the song is set to Amrithavarshini, we can even have rain during the song a la Indian movies! And of course the musicians who sing the song could authentically claim that it rained when they sang Amrithavarshini. That is a claim I hear constantly and wonder why there is a drought in Tamil Nadu if their claims are true when we should actually be drowning in floods.

I am staying away from VKV-vintage "Keemayanam" as a possible source of inspiration!

[kssr]

Mani Ratnam's new movie "Ravana" is supposed to be a contemporary interpretation of the Ramayana, so one could look for inspiration there.

Who knows, there could be a duet right after "Annalum nokkinal, avalum nokkinal" as a preceding viruttham! That would agree with the contemporary idiom of having the hero and heroine running around trees as seen in Indian movies; if the song is set to Amrithavarshini, we can even have rain during the song a la Indian movies! And of course the musicians who sing the song could authentically claim that it rained when they sang Amrithavarshini. That is a claim I hear constantly and wonder why there is a drought in Tamil Nadu if their claims are true when we should actually be drowning in floods.

I am staying away from VKV-vintage "Keemayanam" as a possible source of inspiration!

Sorry, Sir. You totally miss the point. Your proposal cannot be entertained for the Aradhana. We can allow only children to interpret the epic, eminent musicians (like BMK) should set it to music and leading dancers should choreograph. And also, sorry- no trees allowed on stage. And the title definitely cannot be Ravanan. It is already fixed as Kaliyuga Ramayanam. (Just a passing joke. No offence meant to the people who are doing the project in all seriousness)

[ksl]

questions:
1. Why does the last date say June 7th on the form and June 21 on the website?
2. Why is the link broken since June 15th
3. I have no idea what is interpreting ramayana in your own words. Will they write dialouges and scenes like a screenplay writer?
4. Do you have to write to get selected? Do you have to write if you are selected?

[ragam-talam]

Perhaps the interpretation of Ramayana that the aradhana puts on would be original and interesting like Peter Brook's interpretation of Mahabharata.

Given the talent and imagination that young people have, that is a possibility.

[kjrao]

Kannada Novel 'Parva' by SL Bhyarappa ( which has been translated into many languages) , a modern interpretation of Mahabharata, can give some ideas for this project.

[cacm]

questions:
1. Why does the last date say June 7th on the form and June 21 on the website?
2. Why is the link broken since June 15th
3. I have no idea what is interpreting ramayana in your own words. Will they write dialouges and scenes like a screenplay writer?
4. Do you have to write to get selected? Do you have to write if you are selected?

PLEASE ADRESS your questions to [email protected] I am in USA & he is co-ordinating things from Chennai. VKV

[ksl]

There are no results of selected artists on the aradhana webpage. Did the project get shelved?

[cacm]

There are no results of selected artists on the aradhana webpage. Did the project get shelved?

Can you be more specific? Which "selected artists" are you referring to? VKV