‘Chhattisgarh is still in a nascent stage in field of art’
| Date :08-Jul-2019 |
By Kanchan Koshle:
RAIPUR
One of the most renowned Kathak Dancers of Chhattisgarh, an actor, a news anchor and Mrs Classic Chhattisgarh 2018-19, Dr Anuradha Dubey is a multi-faceted woman, who has also been a great exponent of Indian Classical Art at national and international platforms for past many years. In a candid interview with The Hitavada, Dr Anuradha Dubey shared her plethora of experience, views on the current scenario of the Classical and Folk arts in Chhattisgarh.
A PhD-holder in Kathak Literature, Dr Dubey has earned her master’s degree from Khairagarh University of Arts. Dr Anuradha has just returned after performing in Moscow, before which she had showcased her Kathak dexterity in New Jersey, the USA, where her performance told the story of Radha-Krishna ‘Kanupriya’ (Kanu means Krishna as he was lovingly named by Radha while Priya means Radha). It was such a successful event that the depiction of Radha complaining with Krishna as to why he left her and waging a war of Maha Bharata.
It was a tear-jerking moment for the audience when Dr Dubey acting as the Radha articulating his anguish and frustration asked Lord Krishna. Kanupriya was authored by Dharamveer Bharti. She has also performed China, Indonesia, Egypt, Hungry, Germany, and Italy. Talking about the present situation of arts in Chhattisgarh, Dr Dubey stated that Chhattisgarh has immense potential, but not enough promotion or encouragement.
The field of art in Chhattisgarh is still in a nascent stage. She emphasized on more professionalism in the theatre. Highlighting the problems of theatre, she said we don’t have a proper facility. Some facilities such as Shaheed Smarak and a Culture Department auditorium are too expensive for theatre directors to afford, particularly when the entry to these events are generally free. In comparison, when she performs abroad, the ticket price can cost up to from $65 to $100 per person. Each performance at the theatre can cost over Rs 1 to 3 lakhs. Even after paying such a stupendous price, there is no proper facility like a green room or toilet. In Chhattisgarh or to that matter in India, an artist is valued only when he or she performs abroad. Her views on the state of Classical Dances in modern reality shows were quite progressive as Dr Dubey said she has no problem with the new fusion between ancient classical dance and modern music.
Dr Dubey sees the fusion as a way to connect the youth with the Classical art-forms. Even the parents are showing a keen interest in teaching their kids different arts. Her suggestions for the development of the field of art in Chhattisgarh are also very noteworthy. She wants State Government adopts a policy of exchange as in when the artists of other states come to perform here, Chhattisgarh artists should also go those states. At this way, both the host and guest states can benefit from each other’s wisdom and experience. Apart from the Kathak, Dr Dubey also has good enough knowledge of the music, which she considers essential for a classical dancer. She said Indian classical dance and music is spiritual, which connects you to the god, a trait not found in the foreign classical music.
This is the reason why so many foreigners come to India seeking for peace and spirituality. She had been bestowed with the Mrs. India classic Chhattisgarh 2018-19 & for National level – Mrs India Mystical queen 2018-19. Being a Chhattisgarhi movie actress, Dr Dubey also took part in the recent agitation for getting Chhattisgarhi movie in the multiplexes. The government should promote the movie industry by opening theatres in villages as it will save a lot of time and money of rural people, who presently have to travel long distances to watch movies. This one step will increase the audiences of Chhattisgarhi movies manifolds. In Chhattisgarh, a movie can cost upward of Rs 60 lakhs, but not every movie worth watching. Only a couple of them is made and produced good enough to draw the audiences to the theatre. There is a lack of professionalism in the Industry as there are so many who just start making a movie without any proper knowledge, script or story. People make low budget movies just so as they can recover the cost. If you want a technically sound movie, you need hefty investment and also the good artists come don’t come cheap.