| Eldest of the renowned “Trio Sisters”,
Radhika Shurajit is an established performer, teacher and choreographer
of Bharatanatyam. A disciple of the Dhananjayans and Kalanidhi Narayanan,
Radhika has conceived and directed many shows for television, stage, and
films. Some of her more notable works in films include: “Indira”, “Swarnamukhi”,
“Azaghi”, “Ivan”, “Solla marandha kadai”, etc
About TDT:
This Dance based Television program,
which is currently being aired on JAYA TV, has created quite a lot of ripples
in the dance circuit. This is the first televised dance program of its
kind, enjoying a run into its 4th year. Its success mantra is its unique
program structure comprising innovative and interactive segments, which
keep viewers tuned in. All these aspects prompted me to have a tête-à-tête
with the brain behind the programme. What follows are the responses I got
to my questions from the director and producer of TDT, Radhika Shurajit,
who, by the way, also conceived the original presentation.
Taking Bharatanatyam from the
stage to a bigger medium like television where the viewership is at least
a 1000 fold higher is a very big step! What prompted you to take this step?
Well! There are two reasons for
this. Firstly, after having learnt, performed and taught a dance form like
Bharatnatyam for several years, I had come to a stage wherein the same
traditional pieces did not enthuse me anymore. I wanted to break away from
the predictable approach and portray the art form (of course without altering
its grammar) differently. This prompted me to try out new literature in
dance. I can say I was bold enough to try MLV’s film song and choreograph
it into a dance piece for a production. Secondly, I have always been a
big movie buff since childhood. Veteran actor Shivaji Ganeshan’s acting
and versatile actor Savithri’s expressions left me enthralled. Films left
deep impressions on my mind. I used to enjoy the classical dances performed
in old Tamil films. Naturally I was disillusioned when I saw a Bharatanatyam
recital for the first time on television. I kept thinking why the same
piece seemed striking when performed on stage, while it did not impress
me to the same extent when performed on television. I wanted to analyze
where the impressions became different. I kept questioning if the problem
was with the medium itself or the artist or the viewer. I concluded that
choreographies had to be redone for television. I knew dance and (I) was
tele savvy. So I decided to use my intuitive aesthetics and integrate the
two.
Do dancers feel claustrophobic
performing to the same set of audiences, and are you prompted by the need
to reach out to fresh sets of audiences, which motivated you into doing
TDT?
For me it was motivation to reach
out to the masses that made me think of taking dance to television. I always
believed television was one of the most powerful ways of taking Bharatanatyam
to the people. The reach of the lens is definitely much beyond the stage.
I saw the same dwindling audiences, the connoisseurs and elite crowd in
all the dance recitals. I strongly felt classical arts should reach the
masses…There was a need to create new rasikas (dance lovers). I wanted
to make the layman become aware of Bharatanatyam. I wanted to give
the choice to people and let them take it or leave it. In fact, I had ventured
into television even before “Thakka Dhimmi Tha”, with shows like “Neela
kamalam”, “Pongal show” on Doordarshan Kendra, “Dhim Tari Kitta” on Jaya
TV, etc.
Did you feel that the stage as
a medium to showcase dance is lacking in any respect?
I do not think stage is a bad medium
to showcase dance at all! In fact it is a very strong medium, which facilitates
bonding between the performer and the audience. I believe nothing can replace
the magic of a stage recital. It’s just that since the numbers of rasikas
attending stage recitals are declining, I feel the need to make masses
to take a liking to this art form, through television. By doing this I
am hoping viewers will be impelled to go see a live recital.
Any pioneering effort is bound
to encounter obstacles! What were the stumbling blocks that you came across?
How did you sell this idea/concept to your producers? Was it easy?
It wasn’t easy. It was a big challenge
because no production house was willing to even hear me out. Channels were
very skeptical about my concepts. They did not expect a Bharatnatyam programme
to be successful. Finally, I got my first major break through Jaya TV.
Even before “Thakka Dhimmi Tha”, I did “Dhim Tari Kita” for Jaya TV. It
was a non-commercial venture, to showcase Bharatham. Later Jaya TV wanted
me to conceive and direct a different kind of a show. “Thakka Dhimmi Tha’s”
inspiration was the mini Tiffin in Hotel Saravana Bhavan!!! I learnt that
for anything to be appealing, it should be well packaged. I knew it had
to be a program mainly for youngsters wherein they get an opportunity to
interact with “legends” in the field, while displaying their expertise
and talent. Once, I’d worked out the details of the packaging, it
was much easier to sell my concept.
TDT has completed four successful
years of viewership. What do you think was your biggest USP for having
come this far?
Giving something new to the audience
every 26 episodes is the secret of TDT’s success. I feel winning in this
programme is incidental, but a programme will not be a hit if it doesn’t
sustain the interest of the audience. So I made it into a game show. These
days there are so many young dancers who are deprived of Sabha performances.
TDT provides opportunity to these youngsters. To make TDT appealing for
all viewers, irrespective of whether they have any background knowledge
about dance, I had to make it engaging and informative. I strongly
felt people would watch a dance show if we cast a known anchor. To add
glamour to the program, we brought in stars like Bhanu Priya, Shobana and
Sukanya. This was in the hope of creating a new level of rasikas. Hence,
the overarching objective of TDT has remained the same: “Education – Entertainment”.
TDT’s personality has undergone
a change; one can see changes being made in the format, in the last few
episodes. What was the reason for this and how is the response?
Yes! Now we have Chitra Visweswaran
teaching in one segment. Some minor changes in the format have been made
because it has been my constant endeavor to hold viewers interest. We have
a small segment wherein small tips, information about dance, etc., are
shared. Whatever the changes, TDT is still an awareness program about dance.
The format of the first classical segment has not been altered. The cinema
song segment is positioned in the middle of the show. We have the experimental
segment as our third. In the end we announce the winner of the episode.
The response to these changes has been very, very good.
The success of any work like
this requires co-operation and appreciation from fellow practitioners of
Bharatanatyam. How has the response of the other dancers to TDT been so
far?
Excellent! But for the support
from the dance community this show would not have succeeded. Great legends
like Chitra Visweswaran, Sudharani Raghupathy, etc., have supported me
in this venture. I have not faced any problems in inviting the bigwigs
to participate in this program. All my contemporaries in the field have
come forward to help me. Even today whenever I approach any dance institute
I get good response. They send me a list with the names of their students
for the entire schedule. Therefore, metaphorically speaking, I strongly
feel TDT is just a dot of a kolam…. I’ve just put the first dot.
With the help of fellow practitioners and a big network, these dots will
one day turn into a full/beautiful kolam.
What are your plans for the future
of TDT?
There are plans to make TDT open
for Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi, etc. I also want TDT shows to be hosted in
other venues in India and abroad. Applications are pouring in from all
major cities in India and the U S. Where this initiative takes us, only
time can tell.
Are you working on any other
forthcoming television projects related to dance?
No. Not on dance. I’m working on
a music show right now.
Contact:
Radhika Shurajit
“Thrayee School of Bharatanatyam”
Plot # 2, Jayaram Avenue
Shastri Nagar, Chennai 600020, India
Ph: (91 – 44) - 24911544
e-mail: RadhikaShurajit@yahoo.com
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