While you are reading this, there are women out there who are being tortured, battered and sexually abused. Life is full of unexpected circumstances! Even by reading and listening to the plight of those women, my heart shatters and many times I’ve cried on my knees asking God to shed light on those destitute women. How much I wish this world would change for the better. Well, it’s nothing to do with me or my relatives but every woman feels the same; irrespective of race, creed, religion and culture. Why is there so much of cruelty and suffering? Where is the love, compassion and mercy? Contemplating about the nightmarish life of those women who are going through this hellish experience for real, led me in imagineering LIPSTICK. I chose to advocate for what I believe in through dance-Bharathanatyam, which I have been practicing for a lifetime. Bharathanatyam is not just a dance for divinity; this art form also has the power to make a difference for humanity. Hence, I offer you LIPSTICK, featuring a series of episodes centered on women; with each segment highlighting a specific social issue affecting women and other aspects of womanhood. This will be staged annually.
LIPSTICK…an icon of womanhood! Like the varied colors and textures of a lipstick, be it shimmery, matte, glossy or sheer- every woman is beautiful, unique and special in her very own way. However, the media takes over with their distorted views on beauty of women. Sexiness is neither about flashing your flesh nor could elegance even mean wearing expensive fabrics. Sexiness is confidence; Elegance is attitude! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but one’s perception about another is indeed a reflection of one’s personality. All said and done, there lies a simple truth about beauty. A compassionate heart remains forever in the minds of people, compared to the magnetism of a flawless body. Comprehending age is just a number. I looked around for the secret to everlasting beauty and found that the best anti-ageing products remain- Character, Ethics, Morals and Values!
Just like how daylight and moonlight constitutes day and night, life is imbued with brightness and darkness. Challenges cannot be avoided but they can be conquered. Overcoming suffering and obstacles makes one stronger and wiser. This is normally accepted as destiny but alas, let not others control our lives. You are a gatekeeper of your own destiny, and you have all the right to decide what is best for you. The world comes to an end when man’s thoughts regresses rather than progress. Crying over problems is not the solution. Cross the hurdles with a zest making the world a better place to live. Let go of those attachments that are depleting your emotional reserves. Turn every negative element in your life into a positive one.
I would like to dedicate this production, to all those volunteers and social workers who may not be in the limelight, but they have enlightened many lives with their unconditional love. They made me realize that success is not about being conferred with awards and certificates or having a hefty bank balance, but life is about making a positive difference in the lives of others. By serving humanity, one will be in beatitude. Given a choice between Love & Hate; let us all choose the path of Love for it reveals the Truth and enables us to enrich the lives of others.
Let Us Break Our Mental Blocks and Let Us Melt Our Frozen Hearts
Together Let Us Rise Above With Wisdom And Love!
With abunDANCE of LOVE,
Kamini Manikam
