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The evergreen charm called Zohra
Geetika Jain `Z` for `zenith` has permanently been replaced with `Z` for `Zohra` in my vocabulary. The energetic, ebullient, evergreen, enthralling granny named Zohra Sehgal can hold you captive and steal your heart at an age, when most women have either already departed for good or are waiting for curtains to fall on their life. But Zohra is special and different.
Geetika Jain
'Z' for 'zenith' has permanently been replaced with 'Z' for 'Zohra' in my vocabulary. The energetic, ebullient, evergreen, enthralling granny named Zohra Sehgal can hold you captive and steal your heart at an age, when most women have either already departed for good or are waiting for curtains to fall on their life. But Zohra is special and different. She staged snippets from her famous plays at Delhi's Kamani Auditorium as part of Sangeet Natak Akademi's theatre festival 'Rang Swaran'. Her impeccable performance emphasizes the fact that this 91-year old thespian is still at the peak of the art of acting. Age has stolen nothing from her art, in fact has added to it.
Clad in a pure white saree, with almost no accessories and minimum paraphernalia on the stage, there was nothing that could divert attention. So one was glued to her facial expressions and hand movements. The articulation of face and hand movements could put even gymnasts to shame.
The thunder and modulation in her voice defies her years. There is no shakiness and no faltering. In one of the pieces, she plays a grandmother teaching nuances of dancing to her granddaughter. Within a space of 30 seconds, she demonstrates four different emotions- sorrow, anger, astonishment and happiness. The transition is so fast and yet so smooth. The other snippets were equally meritorious.
She was through with her scheduled performance and about to leave the stage when an aficionado of hers went near the stage and urged her to recite the timeless 'Abhi to mai jawan hoon...' . The adorable oldster returned with the characteristic naughtiness in her eyes and giggled 'Tum log peechha nahi chodte..'. After this warm snub, She took her place back and recited the melodious lines with exquisite intonations and inebriated all in the audience. She embodies the coyness of a new bride, authority of a queen and perfection of a veteran all at the same time. The matriarch of Indian theatre has more in her kitty. One look at her otherwise might make one think that probably it is time for her to call it quits. But watch her performing on the stage and one is sure to go for a makeover in mind. She has ceaseless energy to spend and it seems so much more is waiting to come. Unbound, pure and guileless mix of perfection and excellence- that is Zohra Sehgal for you!
'Z' for 'zenith' has permanently been replaced with 'Z' for 'Zohra' in my vocabulary. The energetic, ebullient, evergreen, enthralling granny named Zohra Sehgal can hold you captive and steal your heart at an age, when most women have either already departed for good or are waiting for curtains to fall on their life. But Zohra is special and different. She staged snippets from her famous plays at Delhi's Kamani Auditorium as part of Sangeet Natak Akademi's theatre festival 'Rang Swaran'. Her impeccable performance emphasizes the fact that this 91-year old thespian is still at the peak of the art of acting. Age has stolen nothing from her art, in fact has added to it.
Clad in a pure white saree, with almost no accessories and minimum paraphernalia on the stage, there was nothing that could divert attention. So one was glued to her facial expressions and hand movements. The articulation of face and hand movements could put even gymnasts to shame.
The thunder and modulation in her voice defies her years. There is no shakiness and no faltering. In one of the pieces, she plays a grandmother teaching nuances of dancing to her granddaughter. Within a space of 30 seconds, she demonstrates four different emotions- sorrow, anger, astonishment and happiness. The transition is so fast and yet so smooth. The other snippets were equally meritorious.
She was through with her scheduled performance and about to leave the stage when an aficionado of hers went near the stage and urged her to recite the timeless 'Abhi to mai jawan hoon...' . The adorable oldster returned with the characteristic naughtiness in her eyes and giggled 'Tum log peechha nahi chodte..'. After this warm snub, She took her place back and recited the melodious lines with exquisite intonations and inebriated all in the audience. She embodies the coyness of a new bride, authority of a queen and perfection of a veteran all at the same time. The matriarch of Indian theatre has more in her kitty. One look at her otherwise might make one think that probably it is time for her to call it quits. But watch her performing on the stage and one is sure to go for a makeover in mind. She has ceaseless energy to spend and it seems so much more is waiting to come. Unbound, pure and guileless mix of perfection and excellence- that is Zohra Sehgal for you!