Pitter patter expressions

The rains are here and the mood is perfect for Bengaluru’s artiste fraternity to get cracking on musing over the monsoon. Here’s the lowdown on how the weather inspires them

Mayuri Upadhya

Dancer, founder of Nritarutya Dance Trust

Just like the rain has different textures, so does dance. The rains invoke a certain rhythm that is extremely conducive to dancing. While we are talking about the beauty of nature and how it inspires art, it also makes me question what art results in. I am currently working on a production called

Parched which emphasises on the need to be responsible about water.

Arundhati Nag

Actor, founder of Rangashankara

Monsoons are not the greatest news for theatre – actors can’t make it to rehearsals and audiences don’t show up. So, monsoons are a time for hibernation where it’s mostly rehearsals. On another note, the monsoon reminds me of Kalidasa’s

Meghadootam , one of the best works of theatrical poetry to ever be written.

Anita Nair

Author

I have pretty much lived my entire writing life in Bengaluru. The monsoon in Bengaluru comes as a breath of fresh air – the weather becomes lighter and I feel like something’s lifting off of me as well. Every year during the summer, I can’t write a word. I wait for the monsoon to be able to start writing again. I love reading historical fiction during these months because the rains create an atmosphere that allows me to creep back in time.

Alicia Souza

Illustrator

I’ve only experienced the monsoon since I’ve moved to India – which is about six years ago. What I am reminded of immediately is mangoes and the smell of the first rain. It’s my happy place. The atmosphere becomes cosy and when I’m cosy I feel like drawing a lot. My drawings also become more lovey during the monsoons! My kids Henry-oats (her guinea pig) and Charlie (her dog) sleep a lot more during the monsoons and I guess that leaves me with more time to draw.

Sanjay Manaktala

Stand-up comic, ex-IT guy

I think the monsoons make me more productive at home where it’s cosy and I don’t waste time outside. In terms of comic content, all the complaining that goes around the rains –the roads and on Facebook becomes great stuff for jokes. I used to do this joke about how girls hate rain on Mondays but if it rains on Sunday they are like ‘ooh chai bhaji time!’

Bruce Lee Mani

Musician, Thermal and a Quarter

We take weather for granted quite often – the sunshine, the rain. For me, to get into a certain mind-space – something dark, gloomy and different, the rain is very helpful. We’re actually working on a new album called The World’s Gone Mad about how the world has been in the past few years, and the weather right now sets the mood for it.