Mohini Bhasmasura Dance | Random Musings

Being a great fan of mythology right from childhood, it has always been my dream to play mythological characters. Quite by accident, I got a chance to do so during the Diwali Nite at Tally Solutions in 2015.
As part of the Diwali celebrations, my wife-to-be Dhiviyaa S., dear friends and colleagues Logeswaran and Suma decided to perform - Mohini Bhasmasura - a very popular dance number from the 1957 Telegu film "Maya Bazar". Suma stepped into the shoes of Lord Shiva, Logeswaran got ready to enact the role of the menacing Bhasmasura, and my wife by virtue of her Bharatnatyam skills started practicing to be Mohini on stage.
There was one small problem, however - we needed someone to play Lord Vishnu. The plan pretty much was, that the dancer playing Mohini and the dancer playing Lord Vishnu would get up on stage together, with Mohini crouching and hiding behind Vishnu. Then after finishing his interaction with Shiva, Vishnu would turn, showing his back to the audience, while Mohini will come to the front, allowing us to establish the concept of Lord Vishnu transforming into Mohini to save Lord Shiva from Bhasmasura.
Needless to say, despite my protests, I was entrusted with the task, after being assured that no dance movements will be involved and that I will not be required on stage for more than 6 seconds. Since I was the emcee at the event and had tons on my plate already, I just said "OK", and then got busy with preparing my script, not giving this dance a second thought.
On the day of the event, when I reached the venue, I was called into the make-up room.
"Pramit, you need to start your make-up now."
"Make-up? Now? Hello, I am the emcee. Somebody else is handling the section just before the dance, so that I can wear my dress then and do whatever make-up is required then. Not now."
"No Pramit, this make-up does not happen in that manner. the make-up artistes will do the make-up for everyone now, and then leave for the day."
"OK. Quick question though. WHEN exactly where you planning to tell me all this?"
Not in the best of moods, I stormed into the make-up room. Now I had to not only dance as Lord Vishnu, but also EMCEE as Lord Vishnu, which would obviously mean a lot of changes to my script and speaking style. But when your wife-to-be is involved, I think you know better than to create a scene. So I just entered the room, and took my place in front of the mirror.
Having done theatre already for more than 2 years at that point in time, I was no stranger to the make-up process. But I was not prepared for what I saw next.
The make-up artistes, lit some incense sticks, offered some flowers, murmured some prayers, and then started my make-up!
What unfolded over the next 30 minutes or so was something I had never imagined. That day, I got a faint hint of how the legendary NTR must have felt, each and every time his make-up man M. Peethambaram transformed him into Lord Krishna so many times, for so many films. That experience of seeing God in you, changes something in you. Till today, when I speak to some of my ex-colleagues, they keep talking about how they saw Lord Vishnu in me that Diwali at Tally in 2015. :-)
Do watch the video, not for me, but to watch Mohini and Bhasmasura, the real stars of the dance that evening!
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Presented By | Pramit Pratim Ghosh
Website | www.ppgproductions.in​
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Thanks a lot Didibhai!