Adishakti's Programs in 2008 / 2009

Adishakti’s Narrative Report of Activities for April 2008 to March 2009 
 

Cultural Programs: 

A large part of the time during this period was spent on reviving and preparing Adishakti’s repertoire of plays since its shift to Pondicherry. These are—Impressions of Bhima {1994}, Brhannala {1998}, Ganapati {2000}, The Hare and The Tortoise{2007} and Rhinoceros{2008}. Subsequently a retrospective of these performances was held first at Adishakti’s SRT Koothu Kovil from 13.10.2008 to 17.10. 2008, then at Rangashankara, Bangalore from 17.12.2008 to 21.12.2008.
 
This opportunity was used for a relook at light and its semiotic role in performance. Adishakti was particularly interested in exploring what light could do to extend shadow puppetry as a form. Sadly this aspect of the work {supported by RDTT} was interrupted by the death of Adishakti’s residential puppeteer L Rajjapa. But we continued the work through the shadow puppetry element of our production The Hare and The Tortoise. Additionally Vinay Kumar was briefed to redesign the lights for all five plays in our current repertoire. Kumar also trained the other members of the team in the technical aspects of setting up and operating lights. With this it is now possible for the Adishakti team to set up lights for a new play every day and perform it in the evening. 
 
All this was made possible because Adishakti was enabled by a grant made to it by RDTT to buy lighting equipment for its theatre.
 
Additionally Adishakti has been making major headway in its research into performance technique during the time set daily for such work. This aspect of the work has also been supported by RDTT. The use of breath, the tantric centers and rhythm in performance finds expression in the old revived performances of Adishakti’s repertoire. And the maturity of the performances in these revived works, is in no small measure due to this research. Adishakti has also been working with the martial arts guru Ramesh Lakshmanji every alternate month. From 1987 onwards Kalaripayattu has played a major role in forming Adishakti’s vocabulary for physical expression. Over the years the findings have inevitably led us deeper into the form and today we are at a stage where the visible form does not even seem related to our performance aesthetic. 
 
 
In May Adishakti led a workshop for students from the University of Pune in its theatre performance techniques.
 
A project supported by the Ford Foundation, which Adishakti is engaged in is to look at the many readings of the Ramayana and to engage the best contemporary minds from a variety of fields in this discourse. One of the goals is to prepare the ground for contemporary and traditional performers to create new scripts from old texts. In 2008-9 Adishakti spent time preparing itself to lead this work by getting inputs on the texts from experts. We have already been addressed by Malayalam novelist and activist Sara Joseph, who gave us a history of the Malayalam language through various readings of the epic. Her latest work is inspired by the Kishkinda Kanda of the text. We have been addressed by MD Muthukumarswamy, Director of the NFSC, Chennai, who spoke on the Ramayana and Folklore, on EVR’s readings { DMK ideologue}and the Ramayana and Srivaisnava practice . Dr Leela Gandhi addressed us on postcolonial readings and the Ramayana. David Schulman spoke on the poetics of the Kamban Ramayana and the Ramayana in Koodiyattam. Arshia Sattar has been addressing us on Valmiki’s Ramayana. We have also been addressed by Paula Richman who has written the Many Ramayanas and Lakshmi Holmstorm poet and translator of Tamil texts in January and February 2009. 
 
In March this project was further developed through a seminar and festival of performances and papers on the Ramayana. The focus was dramaturgical, moving from the text to performance.
 
In late October Adishakti held a fifteen day interaction with experts from Koodiyattam, Ottan Thulal, Samavedic chanting, Yajur Veda, Koranic chanting, Chhanda Shastra, Padayani, Thera Koothu and Tolkapiyam. These interactions focused on breath and sound, sound and significance { Samavedic and Koodiyattam chanting} the pause for breath and its relationship to expression,{ Koodiyattam chanting and Chanda Shastra} the relationship of breath to the tantric centres, {the Srivashanava tradition as explicated by MD Muthukumarswamy}rhythm in performance { Padayani and Chanda Shastra}and the Ramayana as a text for Koodiyattam, Koothu, Ottan Thulal. All these contributed significantly to our performance methodology. And the new elements were incorporated into Adishakti’s performances for the retrospective in Bangalore. Subsequently the performers have been internalizing these. 
 
 
The RDTT has also supported equipment for the documentation and screening of all Adishakti’s work, programs and activities. We have been doing this and building up our archives, so that interested scholars, artists and other experts can use these for their work. Currently Astrid Grossgasteiger a Ph.D student from Munich, Germany is at Adishakti to research Adishakti’s work and is availing of Adishakti documentation and archives. Of course we still have some way to go as older research processes have still to be revived and documented. 
 
 
Adishakti has stepped up its community engagement programs over the last few months. Visiting gurus, particularly the martial arts guru spend some hours training a group of interested young persons from the village of Moratandi neighboring Adishakti. We hope over the years to create a performance company from these young people who would also perform at Adishakti. Additionally, Adishakti provides its space and experts to provide computer skills to young students from the villages of Moratandi and Edyanchavadi every evening. Additionally we have supported the training {through a driving school}of a group of 40 young men and women from these two villages and enabled them to acquire a driving license. Adishakti has employed a health worker to give weekly instructions on First Aid, Hygiene etc to its own support staff and some members of the two villages. Through the RDTT grant Adishakti has acquired a projector with which it screens films for members of the two villages. 

Performances, Residencies, Visitors and Events  

      April 2008

Performance by Rafiki a theatre group from Bangalore-- The Island by Athol Fugard  

Dance performance by Nirmala Shesadri and Naveen Hershall.  

Performance of Rhinoceros directed by Vinaykumar  

      May 2008 

Ramesh Lakshman Kalaripayyatu Guru from Kerala came to give a ten day class. 

Adishakti’s Board Meeting for the year 2008 on 26th May  

Session on the Ramayana attended by Sara Joseph, Arshiya Sattar, Vasanthy Shankaranarayanan, Amol Palekar, Sandya Ghokale, Sathya Saran, Neena Gupta, Meenakshi Doctor and Adishakti. The main focus was on the Malayalam Ramayana.  

Performance of The Hare and The Tortoise at the SRTKK at Adishakti. 

       June 2008

 

Adishakti’s ten day workshop with students of the Lalit Kala Kendra, Pune University.

 

Dr. Prahlad Ron held a workshop with Adishakti.  

L Rajappa passed away on the 18th June.  

       July 2008

Lucia King a painter and film maker from London was at Adishakti, for a month, to create a work with Veenapani and Vinay, which resulted in a film with Vinay performing in it.  

A second session on the Ramayana had MD Muthukumaraswamy and Dr. Leela Gandhi addressing Adishakti, Arshia Sattar and Vasanthi Shankarnarayanan. The first spoke on the folklore from Tamilnadu, and the second on how to read text in a post colonial world. The session was followed by a Terakoothu performance called Mayil Ravanan. 

Electronic City a work in progress from Chennai, supported by Goethe Institute and directed by German Director Johannas was rehearsed at Adishakti. It was subsequently performed at the Metro Plus Theater fest in Chennai on the August 3  

       August  2008

As part of a project supported by the Department of Culture Government of India to Archive the Panchamugha Mizhavu, a group of people came to Adishakti on 3-8-2008 to document Adishakti’s prototype made according to the original at the Tiruvarur temple. . 

Performance of Rhinoceros for Seok Kyu Choi, Festival director from Korea.  

       September 2008

A Ramayana session on the Kamban Ramayana and the Ramayana in Koodiyattam performance was addressed by Dr David Schulman. It was attended by Ms. Arshia Sattar, Ms. Sara Joseph, Mr. Sunam Mukherji, Mr Shaupon Bose, Ms. Vasanthi Sankaranarayan and Adishakti. 

R. Ramesan, Kalaripayyatu Guru from Kerela came to teach Adishakti and students from Edayanchavadi and Morattandi 
 

Sessions with persons from Edayanchavadi and Morattandi commenced. These included classes in computer literacy, driving, Kalaripayattu training, Health and Hygiene. 

      October 2008

Astrid Grosgasteiges from Germany stayed on at Adishakti in October to write her PhD Thesis about Adishakti. 

Vaibhav Vatts from Chennai stayed at Adishakti for a few days. 

Nirmala Sheshatri and her daughter stayed at Adishakti for a few days. 

Vinod Ravindran from Bangalore came to watch Adishakti’s retrospective of performances held from 13th to 17th October. 

The CNN IBN reporter Ms. Shilpa Rathnam visited Adishakti during its retrospective. 

13th Adishakti performed “The Hare And The Tortoise” at the SRTT Koothu Kovil. 

14th “Brahnnala” at the SRTTKK 

15th “Ganapati” at the SRTTKK 

16th “Impressions Of Bhima” at the SRTTKK 

17th“Rhinoceros” at the SRTTKK 

Dr. Prabhaker Dubey from the Ministry of Tourism New Delhi stayed at Adishakti  

Gouthami and R.K.Anil from UNDP stayed in Adishakti  

Experts attending the Research workshop for the 15 day conference at Adishakti:

Koodiyattam Guru Kalamandalam Sivamnamboodri and his assistant Kalamandalam Ravikumar from Kerela; 3 Samvedic experts Vasudevan Namboodiri, Kunju Vasudevan and Sreejith from Kerela ; Muthukumaraswamy from NFSC; 2 Thullal Gurus Kalamandalam Gopinathaprabha and Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan from Kerela; Padayani Guru Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevapillai from Kerela; 3 Koothu performers headed by Shanmugam from Kanchipuram and Ramesan, Kalaripayattu master from Kerela . 

       November 2008

Rebecca Pothan stayed at Adishakti in the first week of November to teach speciality cooking to the village ladies. 

Mr. Sitangshu Chakraborthy, Under Secretary, Ministry of Tourism stayed in Adishakti with his family  

Adishakti hosted the Sangam House Writer’s Residency at Adishakti from November 5th, 2008 to February 6th, 2009. Writers from all over the world participated.  

Ramesan, Kalaripayattu master from Kerela was here from 22nd to 28th of November to give classes for the Adishakti Artists and the village youth. 

       December 2008 

Adishakti performed ‘The Hare and The Tortoise” at the YB Chavan - Pune on the 6th of December. 

Mr. Anish Victor from the IFA stayed at Adishakti on the 11th and 12th to interview Ms. Veenapani Chawla. 

Ramesan Kalaripayattu master from Kerela was here from 13th to 18th of December to give class for the Adishakti Artists and the village youth. 

Adishakti performed three plays namely ‘The Hare and The Tortoise’, ‘Impressions of Bhima’ and ‘The Rhinoceros’ in Rangasankara – Bangalore on the 19th, 20th and 21st. 

Uzhchil or the annual performers’ treatment started from 23rd December. 

Ein Lal from Delhi was at Adishakti for the Uzhchil from 22nd December to 7th January. 

Sujata Goel from Bangalore was at Adishakti for the Uzhchil  

Opera Director from UK, Julia Hollander, stayed at Adishakti at the year end 

January 2009 

1st Actor, Tom Alter and Mr. Prashanth Babu from the Inko Centre stayed at Adishakti. 

6th Paula Richman addressed Adishakti on the Ramayana.

15th 23rd Ramesan, Kalaripayattu Master from Kerela gave classes for the Adishakti Artists and the village youth. 

17.01.2009 – Arundathi Nag from Bangalore stayed at Adishakti for the Uzhchil from 17th to 24th.  

       February 2009

5th & 6th Lakshmi Holmstrom addressed Adishakti on the Ramayana. 

5th Tom Alter performed Maulana at Adishakti’s, Sir Ratan Tata Koothu Kovil

5th – 12th Ramesan, Kalaripayattu Master from Kerela was in Adishakti to give classes for the Adishakti Artists and the village youth.

7th Jehan Manekshaw a Theatre Practitioner from Mumbai stayed at Adishakti. 

8th – The Sangam House Writers Residency ended. 

12th Fifty students from Kerala visited Adishakti to observe its activities 

17th About ninety school children from Mumbai schools visited Adishakti to see the campus and learn about the activities happening here.

27th Anurag Vithani and his wife from Germany stayed at Adishakti 

28th Abhisekh Thapar an MBA student from Pune began his one month stay at Adishakti as field experience towards his project : Theatre Arts Management 

28th Geeta Rajagopal musicologist from Sampradaya, Chennai visited Adishakti 

28th Writer, Theatre Director, Feminist Activist Mangai visited Adishakti

        March 2009

09.03.2009 – Adishakti team performed “The Hare And The Tortoise” at the National Theatre Festival in Trivandrum, Kerala.

14.03.2009 – Johs Tejlgard from Hyderabad and Shanta Krishnaswamy from Chennai stayed at the Adishakti premises.

16.03.2009 to 30.03.2009 – The fifteen days Ramayana Festival took place at the Adishakti’s Sir Ratan Tata Koothu Kovil. It had discussions, performances and screening of films on Ramayana. Experts from various parts of the world participated in this grand festival to give lectures and performaces. The date and names of the experts participated in the festival is as follows: