Roussel had conceived it as an opera-ballet to allow the inclusion of Indian elements like dance and Shankar worked hard to live up to it. “I had to make sure that it was nothing so strenuous that it would take away from the singing, yet at the same time, it had to convey the gamut of emotions contained in the work. We gave them basic steps from traditional Indian dances as well as folk forms like Bharatnatyam and Thangta (Manipuri sword dance) respectively and blended it with some ballet acts. The orchestra had it the easiest. They just had some very perfunctory steps that would not put them off balance or out of breath,” she says.
The two-hour opera had Shankar choreographing seven pieces set to Roussel’s philharmonic orchestra. Besides the 50 choir singers, 20 soloists, 26 dancers from her troupe and the 100 plus members of the orchestra, there were some more difficult performers in the ranks: an elephant, a horse, a python and a tiger cub. “It was quite a task getting the act together. Even though the final performances went off without a hitch, the practice sessions were sometimes tight-wire,” she says. On the day of the dress rehearsal, for instance, the python decided to shrug off its usual inertia and give the actor playing the role of Lord Shiva a friendly hug. “After that we decided we couldn’t take the chance. We decided to do without the snake,” she sighs. 

The minor glitches apart, the six weeks of intensive training had its desired effect on the Gallic imagination. When the opera finally opened at the prestigious Theatre-du-Chatelet at Paris earlier this year, there was a 15-minute standing ovation and seven curtain calls at the end of the first show. After the six scheduled shows in Paris, there were requests for further shows. The opera was then invited to the Italian Festival in Spoletto in June, where the appreciation was equally vociferous. “I have received accolades before, but this was overwhelming. Everywhere, after the end of the show, people would queue up to meet us and would shower us with rose petals,” she smiles at the memory. In fact, the entire Indian crew behind the opera was just as thrilled. “To come to another country, take their form of art, do it our way and to get a response like this, is truly unforgettable,” an exuberant Bhansali had commented over the phone from Paris. And to show his appreciation for Shankar, he had even organised an impromptu birthday party for her. After the curtain call following the second show, the 200-odd choir burst out singing happy birthday for her. “It was probably the best birthday ever—having so many talented artists wishing you in unison,” she says. 

... contd.