A new gallery, a new boutique is launched everyday but it is the way it is launched that makes it memorable. Gallery XXL was launched a few days ago in Mumbai. The evening started off with walkthroughs of the exhibit followed by a performance Mx. Siaan curated by Gaysi and DJ set by Moebius.‘Outsiders’ offers a survey of post graffiti and urban contemporary art featuring 24 artists who have contributed to the global movement. Curated by Amitabh Kumar. The show takes over the 100-year-old Monica Bungalow at the Kalanjee Project located in Colaba. The participating artists include AIKO, Amitabh Kumar, Daku, Anpu Varkey, Aravani Art Project, Do, Khatra, Osheen Siva, Fintan Magee, Paola Delfín, Martha Cooper, Senkoe, Guesswho, Bond TruLuv, The London Police, Afzan Pirzade, Hanif Kureshi, Jasjyot Singh Hans, Trespassers, Sajid Wajid Shaikh, Nikunj Patel, Vayeda Brothers and Yash Vyas.

The Poem:

You say you want to bathe when the waves subside

Is there an end to the endless mind?

You say, ‘First I will quench my thirst then I will know the truth,’

Why should the thirst be quenched?

How can you know the truth?

You say you want to bathe when the waves subside

Is there an end to the endless mind?

All these days, you have a body

How can longing cease? How can you find joy?

You say you want to bathe when the waves subside

Is there an end to the endless mind?

You say ‘First I will know what lies ahead,

Then I will forget what was before’.

Can you know what lies ahead?

How can you get what was before?

You say you want to bathe when the waves subside

Is there an end to the endless mind?

Truth/ knowledge/ what you seek god/

You won’t find it in your wildest dreams,

The goodness that comes from knowing how to reach Is there an end to the endless mind?

Time was when Bharat Natyam dance was only performed at the sabhas and inside the temples. Today, the dance form has many interpretations. I witnessed an unusual experiment with the art form called The Endless Mind which is an abstract dance and musical exploration of Annamacharya’s 15th century Telugu poems.

Choreographed by the prominent dancer Aranyani Bhargav, this 50-minute ballet depicts the poetry and the deconstruction within the Bharatanatyam dance form. The poems are both restless and meditative and reflect his mind state. The dance, music, light and poetry ultimately come together with a common vision and understanding to honour the deeply introspective and philosophical musings of the reflective poet Annamacharya.

G5A works with contemporary, visionary artists and encourages experiments in art, ideas, concepts and conversations. The Endless Mind by Vyuti Dance Company performed by six graceful dancers was a projection of a poem by Annamacharya.

To be continued

I cannot end this feature without mentioning some younger, dynamic actresses. Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma are prime examples of women balancing their careers and homes. They have broken rules and proved that there is a career beyond pregnancy. Special mention of Vidya Balan and Deepika Padukone for their choice of roles and their constant effort to raise their bar of perfection.

Jaya Bhaduri was already Bachchan by the time I became a journalist and those were days, when Amitabh was not talking to the media. Her husband’s ban on the journalist however did not affect her natural responses. During those days, I bumped into her at the oddest venues – a musical concert, airport, Prithvi Theatre, hospital and always Jaya candidly chatted on cinema and other topics. I learnt from Jaya that love is not submission.

Shabana Azmi, remains the strongest source of influence on my career after Shashi Kapoor. I have imbibed precious lessons of life and art, just hanging around her. Her responses to movies/ theatre/ acting/ poetry have been inspiring. She has been my go-to person in conflict and she has never let me down. Her contribution in my growth as a journalist and an individual is invaluable.

To be continued

Hema Malini believes that life throws opportunities and you have to recognize these moments and make the most of them. She says her fearlessness comes from her mother and it is because of her that she has traveled so far in her career. Hema believes in giving her best shot in everything she does, every day and adds that she owes no explanations to anyone as long as she is convinced of her choices.  She says she is what she is because of her art and without dance, music, cinema, art, her life would have been incomplete.

My grooming tips predictably come from the diva herself-Rekha. What to eat, what not to eat, when to exercise, when to sleep, and how much water to consume in a day was all defined by her. Adequate sleep, five almonds and a fruit a day will give me healthy skin and hair. I have clearly not followed her beauty tips and the result is apparent.

To be continued

Asha Parekh displayed by example that if change is inevitable, then one must change with time. When best roles stopped coming her way as a leading lady, Asha Parekh experimented with distribution, then production and finally direction. She is the only artist to head two government bodies simultaneously, the CBFC and the CAA. Her interests are as diverse as dance and hospitals and that is why she is still so interesting.

Sharmila Tagore balanced her home and career with panache and style. She said it is never easy but if one has family support, it is possible and those who are not able to strike a balance in the early stages regret it later because an artist needs expression and without it there is a vacuum.

To be continued

Helen was a top star and visible on all the sets during the 70s. She was always in elaborate costumes and in the middle of rehearsals when you dropped by on her sets but she always had a smile for everyone around her. The discomfiture of her costume, her wig, her feathers or contact lenses never came in the way of her behavior. Helen always greeted you with a smile and even if she refused you an interview, she did so with a twinkle in her eye.

I met Waheeda Rehman first time on the sets of Om Jai Jagdish. Rehman taught me that there is more to life than stardom, a self-made woman with varied interests (horticulture/ photography/ drawing/traveling/ cooking/ theatre/ besides acting, Waheeda Rehman is amongst the few who wears her age gracefully. Today 80 plus Waheeda Rehman is always in mood for adventure and has a knack of rising above the worst crisis with faith and wisdom.

To be continued