by Very few of us follow the same career as their mums and rarely one sees women working with their mother in the same profession or hobby.
Mums and Stories had the opportunity to be part of a storytelling form that is a solo still theatre tradition from Karnataka.
Uma Nagraj and Deepika Dorai, the mother–daughter duo perform at the Rasalok talk about working together to bring an art form for Bangaloreans.
“I am still following what my mother was doing” says
Uma Nagraj in a delicate feeble voice. Taking a particular scene and enacting it in the form of storytelling and enhancing it with dolls, lights, dramatization in miniature settings is an experience that is imparted by both the artists.
This year Uma Nagraj and Deepika are performing Tyagaraja draws a 5 stringed chariot and Hanuman courts willful captivity respectively.
Perfect for children over 7 years of age the art form is shared with others in Basavanagudi in Bimba Art hut without a fee. Needless to say at the end of the performance each and every participant young and adults are just delighted to have witnessed a magical experience.
When asked on a memory that each can think of their mother, Uma Nagraj says, “She gave everything to us children in terms of love, affection and this art form.”
Deepika says “The last 14 years we have been performing in parallel shows and the ability to connect with people and share the divine feeling is great.” Even though she doesn’t express much it is evident in Deepika’s smile that she is elated to have been able to offer the art which she has learnt from her mom.
yes uma is my sister she is totally involved in art forms from her shild hood excelling herself in music sculpture name it, though it is a god’s gift to her it may not be out of the way if i take Liberty to mention my mother who has inspired n guided her, artist by tradition, thru her learning days