An artist who paints for a different world!

This man has based the theme of his paintings on something so different yet means a lot in everyones life.

Read on at the Diversecity sectionof Sattva:
http://www.itihas.org.in/SattvaNovember2007.pdf

A for Action!

Pounding hearts, Butterflies in stomach, clasped hands, counting beats....Three, two, one and rolling went Vasanth's keyboard to get the audience's first attention in synchronous with the introductions. 'Welcome to Chautanki'!

It was our first time on stage , the first play to go and ON went the 'Pair of glasses team'. Minutes after the play began the butterflies vanished and performances came up. The actors complemented each other as though they have been doing the play all their life, as if the journalist and the military man's families in Gujarat were really neighbours ; singing and dancing. Shaunak's entry added the much needed seriousness to the romance and the slight humour which caught on and kept people busy laughing! The puppets coordinated each other perfectly, confused a little yet acting to the moment, working as a team and making that ending as good as it can get, garnished by Vipul's Shayari verses getting our grey cells working. They had a blast on stage and came back to the green room relieved and tired.


The next was really a task. I always wondered why Ranji wanted us amatures to do something as serious as Improvisation. This was no joke. The audience were asked to narrate a story from their experience and the actors enacted it on the spot. Spontaneity and creativity had to be in tune to keep it going. When i watched the first improv team perform i knew why. In the end it was more about living that moment, letting go and jus plain acting. You only improve when you perform! The story was funny and so were the actors. The rest of the team sat giggling uncontrollably which soon got retorted by a serious 'ssssshhh' from the musician who was right next to us.



It was fun, to watch others. I had this creepy feeling growing everytime i got reminded of my turn- for improv. I was nervous and had no idea how it was gonna be. It turned out to be a simple story, rather so simple that i felt there was no story (:P) ; well, we had to perform. I had no idea what i was saying or doing, so were the others beside me. But, i had fun! Guess thats how an Improv is supposed to be. The best part was when a sweet lady came upto me after the show and said 'Hey! your "Maa ko yaad kar was super". Pause. There was a bubble which grew above my head saying "Eeeeh! did i say that?". ofcourse i was sweet enough thank the lady but.

Time for some more drama. The last play in line was 'The unknown', a regular fiction with a mysterious ending. Infact there was no ending and was left the imagination of the audience. This was designed to be a scary one and who else could be a better choice to scare ppl. Yes.... you all got it wrong, it was the tiny little poor me (grinnnn). In plain words, i had ball on stage. One reassuring thing for me before i got on was it was all dark (:P). No one could see me in light except for a small candle in front meant to make me look scary! But that was just on the first day. Sunday was all let loose, i couldnt wait to get there! I tired to get a lil creative thou for which i had the consequences to follow (:D). seriously, grt fun!







The entire show was a culmination of a lot of things. For me it was the curiousity that kept me on. I was extremely inqusitive to know what happened to me on stage, end of all those weeks of interaction. And the good news is the results were astounding. It was just too much fun pilled in a single day for all of us. It really was tiring but one of those times when you enjoy being tired. When all that pain is worth it (sob, sob ) (:P).


Like all good things come to sweet endings, the weekend cheer ended with a well deserved lunch at 'Legacy of Punjab'. This was well deserved cuz of two reasons. one, it was three in the afternoon and people hardly spoke to each other when they saw food. two, we paid a price for it (;D).







PS:

Few things that just could not go unnoticed at chautanki:





Annie's perky simle all over the place.

Manisha's cute and feminine ways at things. The best 'ma' around!

Vineet's adorable daddajish 'dum dum dum' - hilarious!!

Anish - The most lethargic military man! :P

Vipul's theartrical traits and artistic looks.

Abhijit's concern and unmistakable sense.

Ambika's easiest approaches to most complex situations.

Gaurav's awesome voice.

Bhargav's commitment and witty attitude.

Hari's compelmenting hairstyles :)

Sound and strength alias khadir.

Kishore's heartening and memorable speeches

Laynum's voice and prominence in all photographs [;)]

Madhu's hero ishtyle.

Goshia's grace that kept most men busy :P

Mayank- sense and sensibility

The magnitude of things that Nandhini has to say. Everytime! :)

Prashant's funny bewilderment at normal things.

Ranji's serious yet not so serious looks.

Rovan- The journalist babu, who sings for neighbours wifes!

Saurab's immense knowledge about cosmetics!! (:P)

Shaunak's flow of complicated hindi

Vasanth's mellifulous tamil tunes ;)

Karthik's camera skills off stage!

and the tiny but tuny and not so tawny Priya!


If I had to describe the entire show of ' Chautanki' in two words I would say Ranji and Nandini. The directors playing their cards fabulously sailed the entire team through a fun filled Journey which could not be deciphered unless experienced. Kudos YT!!