Rev'erberate! - An Inteview with Revathi Sankkaran

Seeing the multifaceted Revathy Sankkaran on TV is one thing. But nothing prepares you for her warmth and exuberance when you actually meet her.

Ever popped the cork on champagne? That’s her.

So how does one begin to define Revathy? She has modeled for TV commercials including one where she played a nun totally engrossed in munching a chocolate bar! She scripted and produced many radio dramas and short films, has done voice-overs and also sung the title track for a TV serial! She says, “Director K. Balachander calls me his ‘find’ – he brought out all facets of my personality in his TV serials. I’ve acted in four of them – Anni, Kasalavu Nesam, Kadhal Vangi Vandhen and Adutha Veettu Kavidhai.”

With her two sons away in the US, and a very supportive Mr. Sankkaran, Revathy packs in quite a schedule in an average week. Despite this, she does stop to smell the flowers often enough. She says, “I guess I’ve retained the little girl in me – even a kite can make me happy! Glass bangles are my indulgence. And people who know me, are aware that I won’t balk at shaking a leg!”

Has she always been this way? “I celebrate the clown side of my personality and have always been an entertainer. At the age of three, a typical scenario at home was that we would return from a movie, and I would perform the dances for the family. I used to insist that the cook also join the audience, as I didn’t intend putting on the show again separately for her benefit! My two favourite pastimes were climbing trees and riding a bicycle!” she recounts.For sure, this is one lady who doesn’t live her life based on stereotypes!

Post her 60th birthday, Revathy has been anchoring Mangayar Choice, a TV program for women that stands apart for its conversational style and focused content. She is also editor of Mangayar Malar, a womens’ magazine, with her key focus now being to increase circulation without compromising on content. She has also played sutradhar (narrator) in Anitha Rathnam’s programs.

For harikathas, she transforms herself into a character, Sakku Bai, innovatively weaving concepts with song. She says, “As Sakku Bai, I can combine my love for music, dance and story-telling! I love wearing the costume and the jewellery and going on stage!” she says and adds, “The highpoint in life for me was when I performed a harikatha on the life of M.S. Subbulakshmi, in her presence on her 83rd birthday. Imagine my audacity - singing her songs in front of her! When she applauded me and said Sabash, I felt like I had won the Bharat Ratna!”

“Every phase of my life - the translations, the editorship, the TV serials and programs – all these came to me. I believe that if something good comes your way, you must respect it, take it up and give it your best shot. In fact, more than my belief in my ability to so something, if another person shows confidence in me, I go the extra mile.”, she says.

On a more serious note, she says, “After the age of 50, one tends to take things to heart. But what happens is, one’s wise side also becomes stronger. When one is hurt, there’s also a voice telling you that you’ve been through so much earlier, this too shall pass.”

So how does she define life? “Life is like a walk on the beach – there will be some pretty shells, pebbles and also crabs. We have to accept the entire package and be amazed by its wonders every day.”

REVATHY SANKKARAN’S ADVICE TO SENIOR CITIZENS
- After the age of 60, every day is a bonus. Those who think their lifetime is over, and that there is nothing to look forward to, are missing out on so much!
- At this age, we must ensure that we have (a) enough money to live so that we needn’t borrow, (b) a roof above one’s head so that there are no debts, and (c) the ability to live within one’s means. In short, be independent.
- Think like a 40-year old. Meditate and do yoga to maintain yourself.
- Stop living for others - especially your children. They are merely arrows shot through you into this world. Rise above the mindset and go beyond caring only for your family.
- Be like an umbrella. But remember that those who seek your shade, are not yours.
- Think good thoughts for the world. Think of people who are sick – if you can’t spend time with them, at least send up a prayer. Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu (May all have happiness) is not only a motto, it’s a way of life.
- Consider pledging your body to research. This is the ultimate sacrifice. An ego-less life is a life of happiness.

(edited version published on May 26, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai)

The Hills are Alive

 With the mercury rising (nay, risen) in Chennai, escaping to a hill station seems just the thing to do. But once you land up there, then what? Chances are, you’ve already ‘been there, done that’.

If you have a place to stay and means to travel locally (own or hired), and if you’re one of those who wants to get more out of your hill station holiday than just simple relaxation, read on.

The Usual Suspects
There are some standard sights to see in every hill station. You know the type – the lakes, the Suicide Points, the valley views and the many parks. Places that a sight-seeing bus will take you to, yet give you little time to explore. One thing you could do is revisit some places you’ve wanted to see at your leisure, yet never managed to. But yes, the spot is likely to be crowded over the summer if it features on the list of places that tourist taxis and buses normally swing through. So, go when there’s less likelihood of a crowd – early morning, perhaps?

Discovery Channels
Every hill station has its hidden gems, just waiting to be discovered. If you want to escape the crowds, one thing to do would be to research where the hoardes are taken by the guides, omit those places from your list and focus on others. However, do check timings or best time to visit before setting out.

There are some interesting places that you’ll come across quite by accident. These could be buildings in a style uncharacteristic of the region or interestingly shaped trees. A cave dwelling that only the locals know about or perhaps an eatery at the top of a hill commanding a great view. Maybe a different kind of museum? Do take the time and explore. After all, how often do you get to do something spontaneous? I still regret not stopping one drizzly July afternoon, for a ‘cutting-chai’ at a wayside teashop in Karnataka, on the side of a road flanked by lush forests.

People Who Make The Place
Home-stays offer a great opportunity to mingle with the local people. Chances are, your host must be an interesting person or could introduce you to other people in the region. If you’re a musician, you could come across someone who plays the same instrument, maybe in a different way? If you’re looking to pick up art, every place has a host of good local artists. On my last trip to Kodaikanal, I met a master cobbler, who makes moccasins the Red Indian (Native American?) way!

The Road Less Travelled
If you haven’t trekked before but would like to give it a shot, it’s best to start with a nature walk and a good guide who can take you to places best suited to your fitness level. Wear full sleeved clothes, as walking through a narrow path with shrubs on both sides, can leave you with quite a few nasty scratches. Ditto for trousers. As far as possible, wear dull-coloured clothes if you’re going into a forest reserve, where there’s a greater possibility of the presence of wildlife.

Good footwear is a must, as it determines literally how far you’ll go. Floaters are fine only for walks – in any case, they must be worn with thick sports socks to prevent abrasions on the foot when loose sand gets caught in them. Drink water at regular intervals. If setting out in the morning, have a fruit or a light breakfast and carry some eatables with you. I presume you know better than to litter the place!

If all this seems too much of an effort, think of the great views you’ll witness en route and once you’re there! One more thing – don’t step into water pools just to cool off your feet – they are extremely slippery and you’ll be cooling off more than you bargained for!

Past Continuous
Every hill station has its history, with American or British Officers having created townships to help their kin escape from the searing heat in the plains. People used to walk up the hills, until roads and railway tracks were laid. A good place to start your journey into the past, is at the local museum. From there, you may possibly come across the oldest church, the first bungalows, old monasteries that stand the test of time, abandoned tribal settlements and even ancient burial urns! If the idea doesn’t turn you off, do go to the cemeteries – there are many old stories that reside in tombstone inscriptions.

So, if you haven’t done the disappearing act from Chennai yet, now’s the time to head to those beckoning hills! I hope you rediscover the same place with new eyes!

(edited version published on May 20, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pics by author for Madras Plus.)

In-House Doctor - An Interview with Geeta Rajagopal

“Feng Shui is really about making your surroundings work for you.”, says Geeta Rajagopalan, Feng Shui consultant, who prefers to call herself, a ‘House Doctor’. She adds, “I prescribe remedies for the problem, as well as some ‘multivitamins’ to boost the overall health of the house. However, a Feng Shui consultant is only required when a house is ‘unwell’.”

“I have made the spaces I have worked on, very ‘un-Feng Shui’, in the sense, the changes are very discreet.” says Geeta, and this reflects in her home too. I expected to see an excess of the customary red-tasselled ‘Feng Shui-ware’ but was pleasantly surprised to find a harmonious living space that has, among many things, a collection of Ganeshas, a console with family photos aplenty, and many paintings by the lady herself! It’s easy to see, that she puts her clients at ease within minutes, as does her home. They say, a person’s home provides an insight into the person. I found it true in Geeta’s case.

So, how did she get started? An incident at Prague converted Geeta into a believer and then a practitioner of Feng Shui. “A bolt of lightning struck the beautiful house we lived in. As the house owner was carrying out extensive repairs on the house, we shifted to a different house. From the time we began to live in the new place, things started going wrong. One of my friends who practised Feng Shui offered to look around the house and finally told us that this house was bad for us. It had been hardly 3 months since we moved to this place but she insisted we move again, also accompanying me for house-hunting trips. We finally shifted to yet another place (approved by her) and found that everything in our life was back to normal again. This got me started on Feng Shui. Also, in Prague, one cannot just practice, there are courses to be done, and one has to work for a while on mock projects before finally getting an opportunity to practice.”

Geeta has been practising ever since she came to India, five years ago. She speaks of her experiences where her clients have benefited from her advice. She has BPOs who won’t move a chair until she approves the move! But there are also some rare occasions, when she has had to request a client to move out of a house. She adds, “I also get calls from time to time saying I’m the last resort to a terminally ill person. I’ve had to tell them, that I am sadly helpless in this regard as I cannot heal people.”

So, how does a Feng Shui consultant work? “The client sets an appointment with me, I go across to their house and after interacting with them for a while, I assess the space. I then suggest changes in position of certain objects and also the addition or removal of certain objects. Some clients call me with a feedback and some give me a feedback in their own way, by recommending me to their friends.”

One final word of advice from Geeta on the Feng Shui merchandise available in the market today, “Everything has its purpose, but it is imperative, that you must be fully aware of what it’s for. If one of these items is placed in the wrong place, it can do more harm than good. It’s like taking a medicine without knowing if it will help you or not.”

Finally, what sets Geeta apart is her innate interest in people and spaces, as well as the interplay between the two.

(edited version published on May 7, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic by Seven Shots for Madras Plus)

Calling the shots - Iqbal Mohammed & Anuradha Iqbal

“Indian culture is essentially vibrant – today, we’re also becoming a very visual society. From film posters to advertising, from book covers to publications, visuals exist in most areas of our daily existence. So, in terms of scope, photography, as a career, is really booming. Light & Life Academy’s objective is to put skilled photographers in this opportunity-rich space,” says Anuradha Iqbal of the Photography Academy in Ooty, that she runs with her husband, acclaimed automobile and travel photographer, Iqbal Mohammed.

They are in town on the last leg of an exhibition tour that covered Mumbai and Bangalore, showcasing the work of their students at Light & Life Academy.

Iqbal took a three-year hiatus from his photography assignments to focus on starting and stabilizing the institute. He handles the academics part of the work while Anuradha, with her Advertising and Marketing background plunged headlong into the admin and logistics of running this four-year-old, full-fledged training institute for photography, the first and only one of its kind in India.

First things first. Why Ooty? “We were looking for a visually inspiring location and had earlier considered Goa, Mahableshwar as well as Darjeeling. However, Ooty was our choice as it’s also locationally straddled between three states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Moreover, it’s also safe. This is important as we have more female students now. What’s more, it has no distractions, which is a major factor while learning any art,” says Anuradha. Sounds like living a holiday to us!

Iqbal believes that here has been a transition in the way photography was learned. “Earlier, most photographers were self-trained, having assisted an established professional. However, today, with new technology and techniques, it takes a person that much longer to learn the craft. Which is where a formal study comes into the picture. Our students are trained to be ready to take on assignments once they complete the course. We stress on their assisting photographers so that they learn the non-technical aspects, more in the area of the business of photography.”

Anuradha narrates, “We once had members of the Young Presidents Association, all heads of companies, doing a course with us. The most amazing thing was their passion for photography – some had cameras that even established professionals lacked. You should have seen them get all muddied up on field trips for that perfect shot!”

Iqbal chips in with an incident, “Once, on a field trip to a national park near Ooty, our group of students had gone ahead while I was accompanying one student who had slowed down. Suddenly I saw, between us and the group that was advancing on the opposite hill, a tiger. I tried calling out to them by gestures so as not to draw the tiger’s attention, to take a shot. But they couldn’t understand what I was saying. Although the tiger stayed there a whole minute, none of us managed to get a shot.”

Coming back to the exhibition, by Iqbal’s own admission, the work of the students is so good that people at earlier exhibitions have enquired if they were all digitally manipulated! “While we do have a couple of shots that are intended to show skill in digital technique, the rest are all straightforward shots. That’s how good the work is,” ends Iqbal with justifiable pride. 

Light & Life Academy’s exhibition – Third Eye – is on between May 6^th and 8^th, 2005 between 10 a.m. and 7 pm at Amethyst.

(edited version published on May 5, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic courtesy Seven Shots, as published in Madras Plus)