Caption: Aditi Rao Hydari
Why should you as a layman step in to watch the world premiere of Sringaram – Dance of Love, an Indian film showcased at Dubai International Film Festival? Hamsa Moily, accomplished Bharathanatyam dancer and theatre actor, who plays a central role in the film, has a poignant answer: “For dance, for the love of dance.”
Marking its world premiere in Dubai on Tuesday at 9.15 pm at the Mall of the Emirates, Sringaram, directed by socio-cultural activist Sharada Ramanathan, explores dance as a tool for inner freedom viewed from the perspective of a devadasi.
Devadasis, temple-dancers of yore, were patrons of art. But when the devadasi system was abolished, they found themselves in the centre of a dichotomous existence. They were respected for their art but were relegated to the lower strata in the social order.
Caption: Hamsa Moily
Sringaram pursues the mindset of a temple-dancer, Madhura, who refuses to compromise her passion for dancing. The film has a dream crew with accomplished musician Lalgudi Jayaraman composing its music, and Madhu Ambat wielding the camera. Debutante Aditi Rao Hydari plays the protagonist. Moily plays Kamavalli, who is the antithesis to Madhura.
For Moily, the role was a challenge as an actress. As a stage dancer and theatre actor, she was switching media for the first time. “Films were much bigger; it demanded a very different attitude and that you see yourself in the bigger picture,” she said.
Hydari’s challenge was to internalize with Madhura not merely as a dancer. “Dance was one element of the film. It also deals with a lot of emotions; of how Mathura tries to keep alive the purity and honesty of dance. I had to identify with what she is fighting for. She lives from her heart, and the film is the portrayal of her quiet struggle for art.”
That struggle is relevant in today too, she adds. “In today’s media-savvy world, performers are lucky to get the support of their family and friends. But with all the slickness in presentation, I feel, the heart is lost (in art). It is important that you uphold the honesty so that art can reach out to every heart,” explains Hydari, who describes herself as “quarter Telugu, quarter Konkani and half Bohra Muslim.”
Moily sees the film should appeal to all audiences because the language of dance is universal. “It is a celebration; it is a basic wanting of any human being. Any human being can therefore relate to the film.”
She too finds a contemporary relevance to the film. “It is good to know more about devadasis. It is like reading a new book or going on-line and reading about a particular subject.”
- Rajeev Nair
