What is your inspiration ... what is this great love affair that you have with art ... are you spurred on only by art, or are you also equally attracted to its trappings - money, show, etc.? At the same time, are you uncomfortable with the trappings of fame?
Once I was watching krishnanattam in Guruvayur temple, in Kerala. This was done in the early hours of the morning and I was half asleep. There was no audience in front of the dancers, not even one, yet they were performing with out any compromise, and in great detail, as though thousands were seated before the performer. After the performance while the artistes were retiring to the green room, I casually asked one artiste, "Aren't you hurt that there was no audience to watch your programme? He replied: "We are not performing for the audience, but for the lamp that is lit in front of us. We are performing for that deepam. The deepam is everything to us". I was struck by the answer, and while I turned away and walked, the artiste called me back and said: "Art is a gift of the almighty - it's never for sale." This vedavakyam (advice/inspiration) by this unknown person, whom I consider as my guru, leads me... So far I have directed many programmes for many firms including the state and central governments, but I have only taken a rupee as remuneration. My greatest dream is to continue like this and to use art as a medium to serve. The word 'culture' has been defined in many ways. But the definition I love the most is that 'culture means concern for others'
