Like a potent cocktail that blends all the ingredients and leaves you happy, the events this weekend are an exciting kitsch of Indian ethos and Western sensibilities. Mahalakshmi Prabhakaran gives you five top events to catch up with this weekend...

Bringing Krishna alive
It was an idea that took five years of extensive research and exploration but at the end, danseuse Shobana succeeded in creating a dance drama on Lord Krishna that is a soulful treat for the rasikas. The drama interspersed with dialogues showcases dance in all its forms- classical, folk and even film dance. And what makes it more interesting is that she managed to rope in well-known names like Sooriya, Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, Milind Soman and Prabhu among others to lend their voices. “Milind Soman’s done a fabulous job as voice over for Duryodhan,” reveals Shobana. Here are edited excerpts from an interview the dancer-actress gave DNA:

On incorporating film songs in a classical dance drama
I am an artiste and where ever I ave performed, I have always faced pressure to perform to film songs. I have audiences asking me ‘not to do classical dance but to do that classical dance from my film, Manichitrathazhu.’ For Krishna, I have always consciously avoided sticking only to classical dancing. It’s not  a ‘classical’ production but a ‘classic’ production. I haven’t really roped in a film dance, I have only added a smattering of film dances in places where I could add them. And if you ask ‘why film songs’,
I want to ask, Why not?

A philosophy of Krishna that I’ve imbibed
Talking about Krishna’s philosophy would take days but if there was one idea that I’ve imbued it is that EVERYTHING is God-given. The same God who gave classical dance has also given film dance. He gives death just as he’s given life. Why would you embrace one and not the other? That thought of accepting everything as God’s creation is something I have embraced and try to live by.

Where Chowdiah Memorial Hall,
Vyalikaval, Malleshwaram
When January 28, 6pm
Call 9902690749