Exit gracefully

It was when the Kalyan Utsavam of Thirupathi Perumal took place at the Chennai Island ground a few months back. I was just changing the channels with the remote control as usual. All of a sudden I saw a fat lady dressed as a gypsy dancing. I thought it was Ganesh and the fat lady Aarthi in a comedy program and passed through but only after sometime I realized that the program was the Bharathanatyam of Dr.Padma Subramaniam in the Kalyana Utsavam. I could not digest that, believe me, I initially thought it was Aarthi in a comedy program. I am a lover of our heritage arts like carnatic music, bharatanatyam etc., and when I was in College, I went to Kumbakonam (from Papanasam) all alone, on my own, to see her dance performance of Kamba Ramayanam, when everyone of my age was going to dance, cinema, beach etc.,, . The depiction of the scene of Rama looking at Sita for the first time (Annalum Nokkinar, Avalum Nokkinal) is still lingering my memory even after nearly 30 years. I am an ardent lover of the art though I don’t know anything about the art and my daughter did her Arangetram at the age of 12. But what Padma Subramaniam did on that day was a total disgrace to the art and I can not but describe it than “the ugliest”. I know she has researched/ contributed so much to the art and is continuing to do so but this was the feeling I got when I saw her performance that day.

Not only her, lot many stalwarts are doing that – Vaijayanthimala in her 70s is another awkward. Can you believe that she is dancing even now with all hanging flesh in her face? Dhananjeyan and Shantha Dhananjeyan in their 60s are doing it. Remember all these stalwarts are having their own dance schools where they have enormous youth power. Many beautiful serial artists and movie actors are coming out from those dance schools only. If they put in some good thinking they can do fantastic performances with their youth power and it is possible for them to divert lot of youth currently tending towards Kuthupattu, Maanada-Maylilada, Jodi No 1,2,3.. etc., towards this beautiful art. Before that they should first accept their age and stop performing themselves to create some disinterest in the art and make even those interested in the art to leave. On that day, I am sure the Bharathanatyam art would have gone into severe criticism by many of the non-Hindus and many of the so called modern people who are waiting to defame our heritage and culture.

Both Carnatic music and Bharathanatyam are fantastic arts and have so much to offer to the youth as well as aged but mostly now, these are being offered with only the content for elders. Which youth, especially those who don’t know anything about the ragas (like me) will sit and hear 30-45 minutes of raga alabanai? Whereas carnatic music has enough to mesmerise people for several hours. All stalwarts are interested only in showing up their expertise, they don’t bother to promote the art, to promote the youth, to attract the youth, to nourish the art..

I request all these stalwarts who have crossed 50s – You have done enough to show your capabilities and talent and people also have accepted your genius nature – now stop promoting yourself - the youth is currently tending towards the wrong side and there is an emergency to do something to pull them out - please do something to promote that art among the youth – or atleast stop doing something that will chase away the youth from the art.

This not only holds good for Bharathanatyam and carnatic music, take the case of our cricketers, politicians, actors - this the same everywhere. While the stalwarts were of so much pleasure in their respective field in their youths, they compensate it by being a burden equally in their second half.

Take the case of Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Ganguly, to name a few. They contributed so much and won so many matches for the country but in the later half, they also won equal matches but this time….. for the opposition. Currently Sachin is waiting for the ungraceful exit. I can see the one and only exception in Anil Kumble, Mr.Gentleman.

Remember Don Bradman – there can not be a better example for graceful exit. He is remembered now only because of his graceful exit at the peak of his career. Had he prolonged his career for some more years and exited with several failures, who would remember him? he would have been another ordinary cricketer like Gavaskar! I don’t know how that tradition continues even now in Australia – Border, Steve Waugh, Chappels, Shane Warne all exited – or made to exit – ceremoniously.

Take the case of our actors Kamal, Rajini, even MGR, Sivaji – they all prolonged / prolonging to be out ungracefully. See the movie Vettaiyadu/ Vilaiyadu, Kamal with all his enormous extra flesh in his face and the fat belly could not match the speed and the smartness required for the role he played (Police officer). He was the ugliest in Dasavadharam. The same case with Rajini in Baba – somehow he managed in Shivaji – but I am sure they both are waiting for the unceremonious exit only.

Our politicians – Take the case of our Mr.MK- He was so much of a treasure to the party in his youth and contributed so much to it but now, as everyone knows he, along with his family, is a total burden to the party and undoing all what he had contributed to the party. He will bury and seal his party before handing over it to another. Of course it is good for the state and I wish him good health and many more years so that he buries the party so deep that no one can dig it out!.

Let us learn from the Australian cricketers – Exit ceremoniously when you start feeling your deteriorating age and leave the field to the youngsters.