Program to combine modern, traditional
By Megan Lester
May 25, 2005 9:00 p.m.
This year’s Indian Student Union culture show,
“Sambhaavna,” meaning “choices,” addresses
the choices Indian American youth face between their Indian
heritage and the culture of their American home. And this
year’s show is decidedly different from years previous.
“We want to present something that will make people think
a little more,” said Sana Muttalib, a fourth-year political
science student and the show’s skit coordinator. “This
year’s show is more interactive so people can better relate
to it.”
While the performers remain elusive on the new interactive
approach to the show, spectators will be sure to see a wide array
of dances and musical performances from different cultures.
“India encompasses the culture of 20 different
regions,” said Ali Dalal, a fourth-year molecular cell and
developmental biology student and choreographer and dancer in the
show. “It’s an amazing confederation held together by a
sense of Indian-ness.”
In a dance originating from the state of Maharashtra, Nikhil
Vijaykar, a first-year molecular cell and developmental biology
student, and Anjani Tilak, a second-year gerontology student, chose
to choreograph the dance by mixing a rural style with a more modern
Bombay street culture.
“Our story line is that we have these city guys and very
traditional girls, and each guy is trying to woo his girl by
becoming more traditional,” says Vijaykar.
And this traditional/modern conflict presents itself throughout
the show, even in the two Hindi film dances. Student choreographers
created a traditional Hindi film dance, compiling popular songs
from old Bollywood films, as well as a modern dance with recent
Bollywood songs.
“If you would have mentioned Bollywood 10 years ago,
people would have said, “˜What’s
Bollywood?'” said Shekhar Darke, a fourth-year business
economics student and Indian Student Union Internal Vice President.
“It’s to the point now where Bollywood is one of the
biggest movie industries in the world.”
While the growing prominence of Bollywood may be an example of
growing South Asian influence, the performers in
“Sambhaavna” and the Indian Student Union have made it
a goal to promote all aspects of traditional and modern South Asian
culture.
“It’s something that can’t be put in
words,” Darke said.
“Sambhaavna” will take place Saturday at 12 and 6
p.m. in Royce Hall.
