Improvisation

Karun Sharma

Improvisation is a key element of dramaturgy every actor worth his salt must know of. Our actors are still learning the ropes – usually by breaking out midway through the exercises and rehearsing for the Annual Day function (see previous posts) next month. This has created a peculiar problem

Pushpa Gupta (l) returns from Calcutta with sandesh

for those of us left behind to wrap up the exercises.
There is now no one to conduct the surya namaskar. After several attempts on a trial-and-error basis, Karun Sharma today took upon himself to conduct the prayer his way. He improvised upon what we had been doing for years and invoked the blessings of the sun god in its 12 (of the 108) forms in pure, lilting Sanskrit. His intonation (without the sonorous repetition) created a sublime aura in the Garden, at once distinctive as it was pleasing to the ear.
It more than served our purpose. Rarely has improvisation sounded even better than what was scripted to be!
Sure enough, the new version of surya namaskar came for all round praise with Banoo Apa, especially, complimenting Karun for his initiative. That he could confidently conduct the prayer extempore only indicates how well conversant he is with the scriptures. After all, there are multiple ways for the devout to seek benediction.