Living a dream

 

The Joy That Comes from converting Dreams to Reality Is Hard to Describe with Words. One Must Experience It.

We, the team that worked on the Rajyotsava festival theme dance, had an opportunity to experience this joy. The joy was multiplied multi-folds, as we got a standing ovation to this huge effort. A lot of thought, effort, overcoming challenges, commitment and hours of practice went into this monumental piece. Each team member had a different experience based on the role they played.

Why not hear from some of the team members their experiences of the journey.

In September, Ashwini Naik conceptualized the dance theme for the Rajyotsava Festival, and after discussing it with Arun Rachegowda, they deliberated on the possibilities.

Main Points of the Idea:

1.     The story of kings and queens, which reflects the royal splendor of Karunadu, should be brought to life through a dance performance. A list of names relevant to this theme was prepared.

2.     The composition should be original, without relying on any film songs. It should include our own lyrics, music composition, and choreography, making it our own creation.

3.     Most importantly, it must be created by a team with a shared vision in a limited time frame.

Starting with the experience of the lyrics writer, Arun Rachegowda, who had the monumental task of bringing the right words and emotions to the piece.

I had the challenge of writing lyrics that portrayed the chosen character’s achievements. To ensure these were truthful, some time was set aside for research. History of each individual royal is extraordinary. Condensing it into a song of just four or eight lines was quite a challenging task. The lyrics must engage the audience and support the dance performance. The pallavi (refrain) must be the essence of the song, while the charan (verses) should offer variation.
Through the help of the internet, books, and insights from experienced readers, the song composition reached a stage where “Karunadu Rajavaibhava” became the opening line of the pallavi.

The raaga composition also was created with a focus on emotion, rasa (sentiment), and historical facts. In some instances, the lyrics were adjusted to match the raaga and rhyme. Searching for the right Kannada words reminded us of our school days and also deepened our knowledge of the language.

This was my first time writing a song based on a conceptual theme, and it was about my favorite topic—the royal splendor of Karunadu. Along with enthusiasm, historical knowledge proved to be helpful. Further research was required, books were read, and I was introduced to new topics.
The part of the project involving raaga composition with the team was the most rewarding experience for me. This entire project was a learning journey. It reaffirmed that with belief, strong leadership, and foresight, anything is possible.

On the day of the State Festival, seeing our dancers perform on stage, the history of Karunadu came alive before our eyes. It was a thrilling moment that sent a chill down our spines. The entire audience stood up and applauded. Our eyes were filled with tears. Humans are social beings. When the energy of everyone is directed towards a common goal with faith, great achievements are inevitable.

The music lead and tabla expert Prakash, who was the first musician to start on this journey, had the following to say : “Between Rhythm and Lyrics: Crafting a Music”

It was the second week of September when I received a ping from Ashwini: "Can you compose music?" At first, I was a little confused. Music composition was something I had never done before, so I wasn’t sure how to respond. But soon, Ashwini and I got on a call to discuss the theme of the program. As she shared the details and the vision behind it, my initial hesitation vanished, replaced by pure excitement. Without a second thought, I said, “YES!” This was going to be my first-ever attempt at composing music, and I was determined to give it my all.

Shortly after, Arun brough in the first draft of the lyrics for each character in the program. My heart swelled with anticipation and a deep emotional connection as I read through the lyrics, sensing their potential to come alive through melody. This was the moment where the real journey began. The lyrics had so much potential, and we knew we had to bring them to life. We started composing the tune on the tabla, experimenting, and fine-tuning each piece as we adjusted the lyrics to fit the rhythm. It was an iterative process, but with every tweak, the music started to take shape.

The next step was identifying the right vocalists who could breathe life into the tunes. It was crucial to get the right voices that would do justice to the lyrics and the melody. Around this time, we also brought in Suraj, a talented violinist, whose contributions added a beautiful, soulful layer to the compositions. His expertise on the violin brought depth and emotion to the music. Watching everyone collaborate filled me with immense gratitude and admiration for their talent and dedication.

However, the process was not without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles we faced was achieving proper rhythm for the lyrics. Frustration surfaced as we struggled to align the syllables perfectly with the melody. Sometimes, it felt like an uphill battle, and moments of doubt loomed large. But with patience and teamwork, we found solutions, and each resolved hurdle brought a sense of triumph and renewed motivation. Matching the syllables to the beat of the tabla required patience and precision. Sometimes, it meant going back to the drawing board, reworking the lyrics slightly to fit the melody more naturally. It was a creative tug-of-war, but one that ultimately strengthened the output.

Initially, we naively thought the entire process would take no more than a day. We were optimistic, especially after onboarding Dipnarayan for the music recording. But it soon became clear that music composition isn’t something you can rush. There are so many intricate details to consider—the pitch, the tone, the rhythm, and the harmony all have to align perfectly. For instance, we realized that the pitch on which the vocalists sang would directly influence how the tabla tune had to be adjusted. It was a delicate balancing act that demanded our complete focus and teamwork.

Through the ups and downs, this experience taught me so much about the world of music composition. From brainstorming the first notes to refining the final recording, the entire journey was a rollercoaster of creativity, learning, and collaboration. It wasn’t just about creating music; it was about blending voices, instruments, and emotions into one cohesive piece.

As the final recording played, a wave of pride and fulfilment washed over me. I felt a profound sense of pride and fulfilment. It was surreal to hear something we had created from scratch come alive so beautifully. This experience, though challenging, opened a new chapter in my creative pursuits. It was proof that sometimes all it takes is a leap of faith and a willingness to explore the unknown. For me, that leap turned into music—and a memory I will cherish forever.

Our first onboarded singer Rashmi, who also had the critical challenge to start composing the raaga for the lyrics had her own experience to share.

My experience as a vocalist for the Rajyotsava theme dance drama "Karunada Rajavaibhava" was truly enriching and wholesome.

Colleagues from different roles and expertise in various aspects of music and dance came together to form a great team. We had started our practice sessions almost 3 months ahead of the event day. Thanks to the fantastic collaboration, guidance, and dedication of the team, we were able to move through multiple trials and errors, improving our pieces bit by bit.

The most memorable part of our preparations was the recording, which happened in our very own campus! Each piece was recorded individually and all of them were knit together to perfection. This experience was a great learning curve as it gave us the opportunity to put each of our individual skills and training to practice, and try new approaches.

On the big day, we saw all the pieces come together to help us witness a spectacle on the stage. From pride to sacrifice, the range of emotions the act had evoked in the audience, stood as testimony to our efforts and the true spirit of Rajyotsava.

For me, it was not just an act but a magical masterpiece to remember and cherish for a lifetime!

Lead dancer Pannaga, who also was played multi-roles of singer, musician, choreographer had more challenges to share.

For a character in a play to be well received and effective amongst the audience, the way it is envisioned becomes extremely essential. This becomes even more challenging when the audience already have an idea about the story and the character.

The lyrics, music composition, choreography and the performers also play a key role in this journey.

With the factchecks done for the lyrics, and also aided and inspired by our teachers for the music, the raw first draft was prepared for all dancers' practice sessions. The characters were then assigned to the dancers’ based on their skills and character requirement, kick starting the choreography both offline and online.

Several real challenges were tackled. Having an open stage with the backstage being at two rear ends, meant that, the person “not playing” a character could not exit nor enter as per their turn on the stage. Doing this would mean the dancer had to literally run in order to be at the mark before the music started. Hence, all the dancers had to be on stage for the full 15 mins. Every character was associated with a characteristic colour, and those who were not the character used these colour strips to indicate they were supporting characters or narrators. Accordingly, a changeover was planned in music as well as in choreography.

The recording was done in our workplace where all the artists provided timely inputs to improve the quality of the music piece. Many retakes were done accordingly, and which requires a lot of patience and endurance. The performance was a huge success earning the artists separate fandom for their characters with the entire team receiving overwhelming feedback of the show.

It was a great learning opportunity for all the artists as it was a first time for all of us to have created something from scratch with all the in-house artists. This experience will always be cherished for our life time and will be etched in our memory forever.

Sumithra, who portrayed the beautiful Shantala, shared her journey and emotions. Being a non-kannadiga, she had additional challenges to overcome.

Being part of Karunadina Rajavaibhava has been an absolute honour. The experience has not only enriched my artistic journey but also left me with memories that I will cherish forever. 

When I first joined the project, I was the only one who didn’t know Kannada. However, not once did I feel left out or out of sync. The warmth and inclusivity of the team made me feel at home. I was instantly captivated by the music—it was love at first listen. The melodies carried a depth and emotion that resonated deeply within me. 

The experience became even more meaningful when Ashwini took the time to explain the meaning behind every line of the compositions. Her insights added layers of understanding, allowing me to connect with the art on a much deeper level. 

The choreography sessions were another highlight of this journey. They were a perfect blend of fun and learning. Every session was an exploration of creativity, discipline, and teamwork. Collaborating with such immensely talented individuals was both inspiring and humbling. 

The role I had the privilege to portray, Queen Shantala, was a true reflection of the intricacies involved in various art forms. Bringing her character to life allowed me to delve into the cultural richness and artistic heritage she represented, making the experience even more rewarding. 

Karunadina Rajavaibhava is not just a project—it is a celebration of history, culture, and art. For me, it was one heck of a journey, one to be remembered and praised forever. I am immensely grateful to have been part of this extraordinary venture and look forward to more such enriching experiences in the future.

Preethi, who portrayed the first kannada emperor Mayurverma had to overcome her challenge of dancing after long gap.

“Once a dancer, always a dancer”, they say, and this phrase perfectly sums up my enthusiastic 'count me in' response to Ashwini's call for nominations for classical dancers for the KR 2024 theme dance. Admittedly, this was a bold move for someone who hadn't danced in nearly a year. What followed was the formation of a dynamic group of six artists - Pavan, Sumitra, Veena, Nidhi, Pannaga, and me - each at different stages of our dancing careers. Our group was guided by Ashwini, who shared her grand vision for the theme dance, 'Karunada Rajavaibhava,' with each of us playing a pivotal role as a king or queen, and the rest as supporting characters.

 As the weeks passed, with our inability to meet in person and infrequent online practice sessions, it seemed unlikely that we would have any dance piece ready. However, around this time, the music truly took shape, leaving us in awe of its soulful and mesmerizing quality. With only a couple of weeks left until the big day, it was clear that we needed to put in as much effort as the musicians and composers to bring this dream project to life.

 We all worked tirelessly to practice, fine-tune, and synchronize the beautiful choreography put together by Ashwini and Pannaga. On the 22nd of November, in the august presence of Sri Krishna Devaraya, scion of the Vijayanagara empire, cine artiste Sharan, and an enthusiastic audience of SAP employees, we performed. The standing ovation we received from the brimming audience was a testament to the fact that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Together, as a team of scriptwriters, composers, musicians, vocalists, and choreographers, we were able to present something truly magical and enthralled the audience. On the personal front, having started from a place of self-doubt, the appreciation and adulation from the audience, reinforced the confidence in my own skills.

It is the journey that matters, not the destination. Ashwini has exemplified leadership by envisioning and bringing to reality such a grand project, assembling artists with varied talents, piecing together all the core elements and being the binding force of this ensemble. I have made amazing connections, enjoyed fun practice sessions, honed my dancing skills, and reignited my passion for dance through this experience. The creativity, energy, and the dedication of my fellow dancers have been infectious, and this has shaped me into the dancer that I am. This whole experience has been truly gratifying!

 

As the ideator and driver behind this monumental piece, I (Ashwini) had my own insights and learnings, which are summarized here : https://ashwininaik-thoughts.blogspot.com/2024/12/leadership-with-grace-turning-dreams.html