by Divya Chandra
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Where Spirit Meets Art- Explores, comments and delves in
to the intricacies of the world of art media and entertainment as a vehicle for
conscious awareness, transformation and evolution.
Guest Blog On Writing….
“What you do makes a difference,
and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ― Jane Goodall
I believe that we are all born with
a unique mission, to fulfill our part in the grand scheme of things and we are born
with the talents and flaws to help us fulfill that mission.
When I look at artists or people
with any kind of talent, I believe that they see, taste, smell, hear the world
around them differently, their senses are more heightened and therefore their
experience is extraordinary and also very personal.
Take that and the environment they
grew up in, the trials and tribulations they suffered and hopefully overcame
and put that all in the mix and you get a hothouse for creativity, expression
and sometimes genius. In a way these abilities helps them survive their
childhood or transcend perceived limitations and embrace unique paths if they
choose the road to becoming an artist.
May be Spirit makes them sensitive
and more attuned to the world around them, so that they take all of that and
make something of it; from the good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow; in a
way that connects them with other people.
When someone writes and sings of
heartache, say for e.g. Dolly Parton’s song “ I will always love you “, the
energies of that song find their resonance in you; wherever, whenever you have
felt that sense of angst and loss. I believe that’s what all art attempts to
do – make a connection, make some
meaning out of the madness, make you feel less alone.
"Music is to the soul what
words are to the mind."- Modest Mouse
In Hindustani classical music
Raagas are a combination of a series of notes that evoke a feeling or a mood.
They can be very simple compositions and extremely complex ones that demand
years of rigorous training and commitment. When lyrics are added, based and
composed on a particular Raaga they become Bhajans/ songs/ Thumris etc.
As is
the centuries old tradition of music schools (Gharanaas) these compositions,
were not taught by being written down somewhere but taught by ear- by listening
and then singing. There were over 300 hundred Raagas but over centuries many
have been lost and it is said that only about a 100 now remain in existence.
Each Raaga is meant to be sung only
at a particular time of day to evoke the right mood, the right energies.
It’s a fascinating and complex subject to
study, the combination of the Swars (notes) that had the power to depict,
express and evoke a particular emotion and mood.
“The Sanskrit word rāga is
defined as 'the act of colouring or dyeing' (the mind and mood/emotions in this
context) and therefore metaphorically means 'any feeling or passion especially
love, affection, sympathy, desire, interest, motivation, joy, or delight.'
Dilip Shankar an incredible teacher
who taught me among other things, Hindustani Classical music, said to us about
singing Ragas; “when we sing its not about being pitch perfect or sounding
mellifluous but its about reaching these notes /energies that exist all around
us in the universe, through our voices and expressing them as sincerely as
possible”. My whole understanding of what music and singing are meant to do, under
went a huge shift when I heard that for the first time.
“Art is not what you see, but what
you make others see.”
― Edgar Degas
Just like music WORDS are powerful;
we can hurt, maim, wound, admonish, evoke, inspire, heal, revolutionize, entice
or create characters, creatures, afflictions, dimensions and other worlds by
how we choose to use them.
I never pitched myself as a writer.
Yet I’ve been writing about antique carpets for 10 years for my brother’s
business. I’ve edited books and articles,
done more content writing than I would like to lay claim to and a whole lot of
writing for other artists and about other art forms. I’ve written plays, some poetry
and articles for magazines and yet I never saw myself as a writer, but as an
actor who sometimes writes when the need arises. It was never my chosen path
like acting or directing.
But when I committed to writing my
blog something changed for me.
Gandhiji’s much used quote” Be the
change you want to see” has been a huge driving force in my life.
Writing about what moves me or irks
me in theatre, movies or advertisements in my country suddenly became an
extension of what I have attempted to do on the stage as an actor or director-
to affect change.
New Delhi (where I live most of
the year) one of the oldest cities in the world, is the capital of the country,
the seat of parliament, politics and power and it also has the highest rates of
sexual assaults against women and considered the most unsafe city for women in
Asia.
The Indian film industry is the
largest producers of film in the world but in the last 20 years it has done
little to help create change for women or spread awareness about our role in
global warming and our relationship with the environment.
We all recognize the power that the
media has today, be it through the Internet, TV, ads or films. To see how
little of that is used to do more than mindlessly entertain or peddle the
latest anti aging formula to a population that is still hugely uneducated, makes
my blood boil.
I am very aware of the
contradictions of my life that arise from being a woman living in a country
with such a rich and diverse cultural & spiritual heritage that is growing
into one the biggest democracies in the world, yet still living in a hugely
patriarchal society where millions of women are still second rate citizens and
have benefited little from the perks of the 21st century.
To be a woman of means and familial
support in an unconventional choice of career, who is educated and independent offers
a unique experience and point of view. More importantly it makes me realize the
responsibility I have to use my talent, ability and opportunities wisely.
I write not just because I can but
because I must.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Divya Chandra is the Director of BooGio11 Productions and
member of the " Happy to Help Theatre Company". Divya's explorations
have led her to the stage, to dancing, singing, theater movement, yoga and
energy work. Divya works out of New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, London and New
York.
Divya's journey as an actor, director & playwright
has given her a unique eye and an understanding in to the limitations we put on
ourselves. As an actor, Divya is committed to work on projects that break the
certified notions of glam and affectation prefixed with the profession, framing
new foundations of transformative-mission oriented art. As a writer &
director she aims to create work that transcends cultural confines in
story-telling, co- creating opportunities for like-minded artists to explore
and re-define ‘performance’ as a movement for self-discovery & empowerment.
Divya has worked on several Indian and international projects,collaborating
with directors, filmmakers and artists to create conscientious work escalating
both the ‘self’ and societal awareness. Working with people from all ages and
backgrounds, through her workshops she facilitates a more conscious connection
with the self and helps participants tap and explore their aspirations and
potential.
1 comment:
Good luck on the tour. You're off to a good start.
Rebecca Graf - Pit Crew
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