20 years!

I must say its been a bit of a roller coaster ride, the past 12 months.. trying to find myself.. trying to understand the madness of the world.. and the madness within me.. I've gone from anxiety to happiness to moments of pure depression..and never ending to do lists and flights.. Not knowing what was next or what to hold on to.. I could amount it to expectations, and society, war, polarity, uncertainty, dreams, money aging.. At this stage in my life I did not think I would be this nomadic hippy artist running between countries creating art like there was no tomorrow. But here I am with 2 careers as a risk consultant focused on Not for Profits and working in the arts - experimenting with various mediums of story telling.

It was exactly 20 years ago that I took a more adventurous path in life. I left the city I had grown up in, I ventured to new lands and dared to explore, with no inhibitions about what the future would bring. I started creating things - no idea was too big.. everything was possible and no country was unreachable..

budget! ah who cares.. I will put whatever I have and create art I said.. thats been my story ever since.

20 yrs later I have had the luxury of establishing Shastram, working with over 500 artists and technicians in several countries and creating many projects - with no rules just gut instincts, a lot of respect and a lot of passion. If I could ever leave behind a story about how I lived - this is it..

In the very last sringaram episode, we spoke about all these things.. Eros.. a longing for beauty, truth, wisdom, and or spiritual fulfilment. I found this through the way I live through finding a purpose.. It wasn't through acquiring assets but through fulfilling my soul purpose and that is simply to create art and a space for creation and indulge in it.

In a way.. if I was measured up against some of my peers in my age bracket.. yes I may look like I have not done much with my life.. but if you ask me whether I have lived my life to the fullest so far, I would have to yes.. with all my heart and all my art.. and that is larger than any material possessions I could've acquired.. and the people who joined me on this journey are many.. far and wide.. and you know what it's been fun... adventurous and deep.

In celebration of all of this, I decided to stage not one but 2 productions recently in Chennai.. Mukuti - which was a piece that has been in development for over 2 years - A collaboration with my friend and co-creative Shruthi KP. This one we opened the floor to anyone who was interested in transporting themselves to 1940s Kerala

Secondly there was an invite only event Wander Land - it was about my personal journey as a migrant find my feet in Australia through art.. a celebration of creating 20 years of art.. It felt like a wander through memories with people who had crossed my path and joined me on this adventure.

I also got to share our work with some creatives and producers who I had admired for a very long time. Namely Producer Dr Ishari Ganesh sir from Vels, the maker of super stars SP Muthuraman sir, Veteran Actress Kumari Sachu mam who has been in the industry and in the arts for over 70 years. The king of timing and comedy, K Bhagyaraj sir and the ever beautiful Poornima mam, Nalli Kuppusamy sir the owner of the amazing sari store Nalli and also a very enthusiastic historian and art lover, and Mr Lena Thamizhvanan sir whom I have known since I was 6 or 7.. and the amazing VGP Santhosham sir from VGP enterprise and VGP resorts - also such an art and Tamil enthusiast. It was such an honour to present all this in front of such great knowledge.

For me, it just felt like we lived through 20 years on stage and that was so much fun and to be able to share it with all these incredible people was the real reward.

We even got our first review on the Hindu. That was exciting!!! I feel like Pinochio when he says "I'm a real boy now!!" Isn't it interesting that some one else has to validate our existence as an artist for us to believe it ourselves :)

Anyway!! we definitley had an adventure and came together in creating all this within 12 days .. and of course plenty more to come from Shastram. Watch this space.