His Story/Her Story

A Lovestory from Purana's

In retrospect storytelling, is an art. 

I recall my childhood days when every Friday 

we had a kid's union in our home and under my grandfather’s supervision 

we had to narrate a story. 

Whoever did it by capturing the interest of the peers, 

was considered the winner and given a chocolate. 

The traditional method of storytelling in India 

since Vedic age is through dhwani (sound in rhythm) and Sruti (words) 

for a storyteller the aim was illumination, 

not logical conviction, their ideal, the inspired seer, not the accurate reasoner. 

This Indian tradition has faithfully preserved this account in Kathakali- dance drama.

Kathakali:

The attractive make-up of the characters, elaborate costumes, 

detailed gestures with well-defined body movements

 presented in tune with the anchor playback music accompanied by complimentary percussion. 

Kathakali emerged from Krishanattam, 

life and activities of lord Krishna but stories from Puranas are also acted. 

"Purāṇas are supplementary explanations of the Vedas 

intended for different types of men. 

All men are not equal. 

There are men who are conducted by the mode of goodness, 

others who are under the mode of passion and 

others who are under the mode of ignorance.

This was a story from Chandogya Upanishad, which I attended in Munnar-India.

  Chandogya means Primary and Upanishad is collection of vedic text. 

The performance is called Chayar Koothu, this was basically performed inside Hindu temples. 

The reason being the stage is not a very elaborate one, 

at one time one or maximum two actors can perform a piece together. 

This also emphasizes natyacharya means dramaturgy, 

where skills are required to perform with mudras (expression) and minimum yet skillful body movement as space is restricted.

This small skit can be performed solo but three artists from the Punarjani Kathakali centre gave the flamboyant performance. 

The story is of desire, deception, dereliction of duty and death.

Now the story: Yakshagana, Yakhsa means natural spirit, 

in coastal karnataka this is depicted as raw, uncultured, 

not very polished character thus is called Rakshasa or the devil. 

So this uncouth, uncultured she devil roams in her paradise, 

called earth which is bountiful with lush green forests, 

streaming brooks and birds flock together but she is all alone. 

As to prove her might she has killed all the men in her region 

and thus lusts for attention and passion of a man.

Suddenly she sees a beautiful, ornamented chariot flying across the forest. 

Pursued by curiosity she follows it 

and sees the handsome driver Indra  (the lord of devas) 

Devas were the bang opposite of Rakshasa/ Asura. 

They were cultured, dignified, dressed well and above all were fair in complexion.

This she devil gets enchanted by Indra’s looks, 

and she desires to have him. But now she realizes her draw-back, 

how could she present herself to this good-looking, 

well dressed man in her unpolished, uncultured, non-manicured and pedicure form.

So she undergoes a beauty treatment and transforms herself into an apsara, a beauty.

Now Yakshagana discards her Rakshasa form, 

disguised as an apsara, divine beauty goes to meet Indra to woo him. 

Indra falls in love at first sight.

They both enjoy a blissful phase but when Yakshagana, 

asks Indra to marry her, he takes a double take and refuses her. 

She becomes dispirited but Indra, the leader of the devas, 

tells her of his kingdom’s rule- where love happens 

but Man and woman live together without shouldering any responsibility 

towards the other and the institution called marriage is very outdated. 

Now even the uncultured asura’s of the earth should also adopt the divine ways and forget marriage.

Yakshagana, jilted in love, gets angry 

and takes her original form of Rakshasa and comes towards Indra to kill him. 

A fight ensues in which finally Indra proves to be all mighty and kills the Rakshasa.

Moral of the story: A love -story ideally involves two persons 

and usually its a private affair.

If one wants to make it public, 

the thing called "Marriage" is announced and end of love-story but that's old times.

Modern times:  A twisted tale is unfolding in Mumbai.

The Bollywood actor, Shushant Singh Rajput's mysterious demise. 

A whose-dunnit coming out with news facts each day on media and social media.

 Meantime, a film of his releases and the distribution platform smartly 

makes it an open view and gathers multiple eyeballs. 

The funny term called "Personalization" comes to play, 

which region got more eyeballs, the age group, device, 

at a stretch how many minutes viewed, when was the break and why? etc..

A love-story is not a business affair. 

A love story still is a private one.

A love story is a Human thing.

The day Media people understand the difference between 

"humanization" and "personalization" may be 

we will once again be able to read, 

view, see a love story where boost behavior rates 

and message relevancy will not take precedence over trust and retention.