Notes to Myself l Episode 1 l Season 2 l Dhananjayans l MOPA
Do give a thought to supporting such ventures, to cover operational and production costs that bring high-quality work to you. The minimum amount is set to Rs 100 by default. Anything more is your discretion.
MOPA presents Season 2 of Notes to Myself. Episode 1 of this Season features the famed Bharatanatyam duo Shanta and VP Dhananjayan, amongst the most accomplished performers and teachers of this art form. From their adolescent entry into Kalakshetra, years of intense training with renowned teachers, to setting up Bharata Kalanjali and decades of touring, performing and teaching, theirs has been an odyssey generously dotted with adventures, achievements and pitfalls.
They are as much a power house of knowledge and experience as they are spontaneous in their enthusiasm and energy for any new ideas. They have seen it all – from classical dance to ad films to movies, but what is remarkable is that they have retained their child-like zest and zeal for life. Theirs is a beautiful story of togetherness in art and life.
Notes to Myself is one of MOPA’s flagship projects - a series of interactive, expository documentaries that deconstructs the lives and creative processes of some of the most impactful professionals associated with South India’s performing arts. Done in a let-your-hair-down and from-the-heart way, these offer an honest, moving and at times funny and charmingly unguarded look at the lives of these artistes.
Film Credits:
Concept, Curation and Artistic Direction: Savita Narasimhan
Filming and Video Direction: Gowrishankar Venkatraman, Swung Dash Studios
Director of Photography: Kalaiselvan Sivaji
Associate Cameraman: Gowthaman
Production Management: B Charles, Gowtham Ganesan, Chennai Art Theatre
Editing & Post Production: Clinton Harold Jacob, The Zoetrope Company
Photographs and Visual Excerpts:
Bharata Kalanjali archives
Rukmini Devi Dance Drama - a Kalakshetra Publication
Globemuse - a blog for Brhaddhvani
Movie and Ad excerpts:
Sarvam Thaala Mayam - Mindscreen Cinemas
Kann Sivanthal Mann Sivakkum - Director Sreedhar Rajan
Navaratna Oil - Rajiv Menon Productions
Soundtracks by: Matthew L. Fisher, Scott Buckley
Venue Courtesy: Bharata Kalanjali, Chennai
Produced by MOPA Foundation ©2021
in collaboration with Apsaras Arts, Singapore
All text, photos, images and other data contained in this episode are copyright 2021 of the Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA) Foundation. The same is intended for personal or educational use only and may not be used in any commercial form without prior written permission.