Shobana brings The Spirit of Dance to Dubai

With over 200 films to her credit, South Indian actor Shobana is by no means a stranger to the limelight. The National Award-winning actor was born into an illustrious family of dancers and counts the legendary Travancore sisters - Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini - as her aunts.
Having trained under the renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Chitra Visweswaran, today she is known as much for her acting skills as her dramatic transformation onstage while giving a dance recital. Many might be drawn to her stage performances after watching her talented turn on the big screen only to come away with a complete sense of awe at the talented dancer in her.
Shobana has worked in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada films and was last seen on the big screen in Kochadaiiyaan. Nowadays she seems more content to entertain people with her grace and splendor as a dancer.
Back in Dubai once again (Shobana has been regularly conducting dance performances in our city for many years now), she now brings to audiences The Spirit of Dance, in association with Tambourine Live, which will showcase her spectacular choreographies in diverse styles ranging from pure classical dance to Indian folk and fusion. We caught up with the talented actress-dancer and Padma Shri honoree ahead of her performance at Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School, Oud Metha on Saturday, December 9 from 7:30pm onwards.
Your progression from acting to dancing has been quite organic, probably because you were a dancer before you first faced the camera. Do you believe acting has given your performances an extra dimension?
 When you say that I was a dancer before I faced the camera that's not actually true because to be a classical dancer, you would need a good 20 years to understand that it is not just about the body and that as a classical dancer you are an ambassador of mythology, of emotions and you have to be a complete storyteller. It is true that I had started my training in dance before I went into films but I started my career in films when I was very young and at an age when I was still a long way off from truly understand classical dance.
Dancing for film is very different from dancing on stage. The whole mental makeup is different. Even when you perform Bharatanatyam for film, it is very different from your actual training. When you perform live on stage, the audience gets the full and undoctored impact. You cannot make any mistakes when you go on stage. Whereas in film, there are lot of professionals in charge and your job is to dance to the music and for them to capture the moves and edit it to create the desired impact.
No, acting has not given my performances an extra dimension. What acting has given me is confidence. Classical dancing and acting are two very different things. The common ground is that you emote and that you are a storyteller.
 
What can the audience look forward to during your Dubai show of The Spirit of Dance?
I think the audience that comes for my dance shows knows to expect entertainment.  And they expect that entertainment to have mythology, good music, good production value and showmanship. Classical dance has the capacity to embrace all these points. For The Spirit of Dance, they can expect to be entertained in the true spirit of Indian dance. It will include a nice mix of different dances (I am not going to reveal the exact details).
I really like my audience to leave the theatre saying "now that was a very entertaining music and dance show". And I have been trying to do that all my life with all of my performances.

If you had to define the role of dance in your life, how would you do it?
Dance is who I am. And just as we all change over time, my relationship with dance has also changed and evolved owing to my experiences. Just as I change as a person as I grow older, what I want out of dance also changes. My sense of music and aesthetics changes and what I want to communicate also changes.
At one point of time, dance was emotional, at one point it was a profession. A lot of times, I just go into my dance hall alone and just practice, in my own world. Those are the best moments that I have had. Dance is a friend who never lets me down.

You travel to Dubai often for your performances. What do you like best about the city? How do you spend time away from the stage while here?
I like the architecture and the pastel shades, both unique to Dubai. I like the people; they are very warm (forgive the pun). There is an authentic bit of Kerala there. The Keralites seem to maintain their identity unlike most other places outside of India. It is probably because home is just a couple of hours away from Dubai. I like the cosmopolitan outlook people have. Some of my best shows have been in Dubai because of the cosmopolitan mix of art lovers in this city, in many ways similar to Mumbai, Bangalore and New York. People are free and every community is happy and that's a great message that Dubai is giving to the world.

Shobana, right now the Malayalam industry seems to be going through a bit of rough patch in terms of the controversy involving an assault on an actress that took place recently. How was your experience as a woman acting in movies? Have you seen any drastic change in the way the industry treats women from the time you entered it to now?
Personally I've had a very positive experience working in the Malayalam film industry. I practically grew up in the industry; it has been a great teacher to me. I actually miss my friends and co-workers particularly character artists like Lalitha chechi, Nedumudi Venu sir and others and the many good moments we shared on set. Back then it was about keeping things simple without any paraphernalia, and creating extraordinary work. That to me is what the Malayalam industry is about and I believe it continues to keep that ethos and way of working. I don't think it is such a bad place that it is often made out to be.
I don't know how things have changed now. Yes, certain incidents have happened which I am very sorry to hear about. And when such things happen, the person who has been attacked or assaulted, man or woman, should come out in the open and make it public. We should then let the law take its course. There is no point speculating and sensationalizing things.
These days, one does not have to be in the film industry to be mauled. There is a bad place everywhere. The only thing one can do is conduct oneself professionally and be honest to your job as an artist. And if something untoward happens, be open about it and tell the public and press so that the real story is brought out and others are warned of the dangers.

The recent controversy involving Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has made every industry, more so film industries across the world take a deeper look within. With the #metoo campaign gaining a lot of traction in the media, what are your thoughts on this. As an actor and a woman how do you face up to such issues?
As mentioned in my previous response, anyone who has been assaulted has to come out and be open and honest about it, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. From there on it is the law that has to take over. The press can help the person in question by carrying out the real story in a humane and sensitive manner. Half the time, things get lost in the noise, confusion and sensationalization of news. That should not happen.

What would your advice be to youngsters who might be hoping to carve an identity in the film industry but who are scared after reading about all this?
Youngsters have to listen to the experiences of people. Learn from bigger stars, watch their work, and imbibe their values. The biggest ammunition an artist can have is being good at his or her own craft. Once that is in place then you won't be bothered so much by peer pressure.
Half your energy goes on social networking which is fine but how much of social networking is actually needed for a person to become successful? Ultimately, your audiences are only going to come for you if you are good.
Be aware of the dangers but also know that like in life, there is danger everywhere and one has to be sensible. If you are an artist, train to be one and stay focused. This is my own personal experience.
Quick takes with Shobana...
 
Last movie you watched
What a Girl Wants, featuring Colin Firth - one of my favourite actors.

An actor you absolutely love on the big screen
I am a fan of Clint Eastwood and would like to meet him. But the actor I absolutely love on the big screen is Sean Penn.

If not an actor or a dancer, Shobana would have been..
A writer. Which is what I am doing now. I am writing a book.
I am also doing dance research and writing a doctoral proposal.
 
One thing you'd like to change about yourself
I have a big problem with small things. I have an issue with people who don't respect their work. I also have an issue when people take my work for granted. 24 hours is not enough to be a classical dancer! So when people take my work lightly and ask me how much work it takes to be a classical dancer, it bothers me. That attitude bothers me. It shouldn't because it is really my problem and not theirs.

A trait you have that people are unaware of
I don't know. I am sure I have many that no one knows about!
 
A historical figure you wish you could be reborn as
I don't want to be reborn as a historical figure because they attract a lot of attention and it is a huge burden. I am happy left alone with my music and dance and doing what I want to do and making my audiences happy. I don't have the energy to be someone else or the mental space to think about being reborn as someone else.
 
When not dancing, Shobana can be found..
Writing and studying. I am reading a lot of books now and having a lot of fun.
 
First thing you notice about a person
I find faces riveting and very interesting. I see a caricature when I look at a face. It is a bit of a comical situation because people look at me for the obvious reason that they recognise me and I look right back at them. A lot of actors wear dark glasses and walk straight on without looking at anyone but here I am busy looking around at people.
 
Last thing you do before going to sleep
I think of the creative things I have done during the day - newly choreographed pieces, the rhythm sequences and I memorise them. And somewhere along the line, as I do that, I go off to sleep and that's the best thing.
ambica@khaleejtimes.com