Blokesblogin

Dear Ones,

You must have wondered where to ground I had hibernated to, and it is not fall's end yet! Actually, lots was transpiring this weekend. My "better-half" celebrated the coming of another year of joyful living on this planet. That was Friday. My dear friend had her musical debut on stage that same evening. Raag Darbari Kaanra was explored up and down its twisted notes and the tarana made me want to just get up and dance! Saturday got filled with the delights of doing domestic chores and getting the books in order- of he many hats I wear, I am also part time book keeper. Then came Sunday.

I had written earlier regarding the 5H dance ballet- Draupadi by Hemamalini right? Well yesterday was it! I absolutely have to share this with you: My husband and another of the volunteer had rented a van to accomodate the dancers (28 in number) and were part of the crew to help them with their luggage. The reception commitee to recieve Shrimati Hemamalini, MP got late arriving at the airport as the flight had arrived earlier than expected! So here is my husband at baggage claim meeting another of the volunteers who had reached the airport even earlier and is told that the artists and Hemaji had arrived! My cutie of a husband having his back a few inches away from Hemaji asks him where she is! He says, right behind you! Hubby turns around and glances past Hemaji and says, where is she?! Right there replies the other! Hubby turns back and does a double take and says You are she?!

Later he tells me, she was so petite and much slimmer than how she appears on screen, plus sans makeup, he just didnt "see" her! I cautioned him that next time he needs to look out for the eyes!

afternoon: I had the honor, as one of the volunteers put it, " being Hemaji's Annapoorni". I had made this nice Southie lunch complete with the stockmark Rasam, sambar, veggies, salad, appalam, vada and carrot kheer. She was most pleased with the ghee served with the rice! And the sambar, oh, and the snake gourd kootu:) Her brother, who was also the compere for the evening's program enjoyed the kheer the most! (Later, after the performance he quipped, well the kheer spoke well!) He was truly brilliant (aakhir Chennai ka hai;-) My hubby and I have this fued going: He says- B'lore is better, She says- Chennai is better!)

And what to say of the evening? It was sheer bliss, she transported us into a different era an entirely different dimension. Technically, the dancing was not challenging, but scintillating and well choreographed. But the production and stage management were simply stunning. I had the blessing of meeting Shri Bhushan Lakhandri the main choreographer and conciever of this interpretation of Draupadi. I had last seen him on stage in Durga over a decade back and was shocked to see his current corpulence! I recalled the days over 20 years back when he had performed as Shri Rama in the Raamlila organised by the Shri Raam Bharathiya kla Kendra, New Delhi. I asked him," Where is my Raam?!" He said jovially, " Become fat!" He added that he is addicted to his food and I suggested gently that he take the Art of Living course as the kriya indeed helps get our systems to a more natural state. He said he would see how he could fit it into his schedule when he gets back to India after a shoot in the UK.

Hemamalini is not a star just by luck. She is a hard worker, extremely intelligent woman who has come to her own in a predominatly male-oriented world. Be it as an actress, dancer, wife, mother, teacher and now Member of Parliament, she is very clear about what she wants and she works to achieve it WITH GRACE. I had earlier commended on how well she looked in Bhagban and called her Evergreen queen! She publically acknowledged all our appreciation for her role in Bhagban and promised to act again on the silver screen if such interesting roles were offered to her. She and her brother acknowledged the wonderful program that Art of Living is and confessed that she is regular with her practice (Amma take note, you are not the only one with the secret of a Kriya face!) She was very happy to contribute to the cause of the 5H ( more on www.5h.org) and felt honored to have done her part for this great cause. She was spare with her smiles, but when they did spill forth, they bedazzled us! Her actions were soooo graceful, oooh!

Oh and she has truly beautiful eyes.

Still a bit stuck with "stardust",
Blokes
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