Take note of these women: A musical performance celebrating feminine expression

Shubha Mudgal at an earlier concert. Pic Courtesy/Raghav Pasricha

From Homer's muses to Kalidasa's Shakuntala, the feminine connection to art has a long tradition and is almost psychological. Shubha Mudgal will explore this historical nature of art with her upcoming performance at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, tomorrow. The Padma Shri awardee will open Mukta: The Voices of Women Festival, with Jayanthi Kumaresh and Kaushiki Chakraborty to perfom in the following days.

The performance, titled Mukta: Women, Sexuality and Song will explore the portrayal of women in Hindustani literature and classical music. "A large number of khayal and thumri compositions portray women as goddesses and as earthly nayikas [heroines]," she says. A majority of the compositions are the creations of male poets though. "My selection is based on the inherent musicality of the texts and the possibilities they offer," the singer tells us.

The performance will include works by poets such as Rasik Pritamji, who wrote in Brij Bhasha; the 17th century poet, Dev, and the dohas (couplets) of Ratnavali, spouse of poet Goswami Tulsidas. "Her works are of interest to me, because I get the opportunity to study it alongside the works of her acclaimed and revered spouse. For example, is Tulsidasji's description of a woman's viraha [longing] any different from that of Ratnavaliji's?" she asks.

In their musical form, the texts also belie a complexity. Mudgal describes them as being multi-layered, with chapters that obliquely or directly refer to social stigmas and biases. "It does seem that, in the past, patrons of the arts seemed supportive of writing that was unabashed and possibly risque. But it is also true that literature by women seems to have been suppressed for several reasons," she points out.

The singer admits that times have changed. Seventy-five years ago, she might have had to struggle to pursue a career as a singer. "I was able to do this due to the unstinting support and encouragement I received from my parents and gurus, but also because Indian society was changing and the stigma attached to women performers was easing," Mudgal says. We are grateful for it.

On: August 5; 6.30 pm
At: Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
Log on to: ncpamumbai.com
Cost: Rs 375 onwards (members); Rs 500 onwards (non-members)