The Mahalenator Adventures

The dots always connect.

[mahalenator]

The creative process: inspiration, ideation, iteration. And imposition. Filmed this eons ago with Neeraj and never got around to posting the full version so I guess here we are. But also, just tryna align this goddamn grid. Thank you for always humoring my requests to do weird dance projects that have only a 50% chance of actually ever getting edited/posted. You the real hero for putting up with me fam 🙏🏽 Cinematography: @neej.jain Music: @shilpaananth Date Taken: 11/10/2017 . . . . . . . . #shilpaananth #dance #dancer #dancersofinstagram #dancers #dancersofig #dancefilm #artisticprocess #fusion #dancefusion #fusiondance #artsyfartsy #interloop #silhouette #storytelling #storyteller (at Shady Canyon, Irvine, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B59opK4FBM2/?igshid=1sm52ulmonla8

[mahalenator]

The creative process: inspiration, ideation, iteration. And imposition. Filmed this eons ago with @neej.jain and never got around to posting the full version so I guess here we are. But also, just tryna align this goddamn grid. Thank you for always humoring my requests to do weird dance projects that have only a 50% chance of actually ever getting edited/posted. You the real hero for putting up with me fam 🙏🏽 Cinematography: @neej.jain Music: @shilpaananth Date Taken: 11/10/2017 . . . . . . . . #shilpaananth #dance #dancer #dancersofinstagram #dancers #dancersofig #dancefilm #artisticprocess #fusion #dancefusion #fusiondance #artsyfartsy #interloop #silhouette #storytelling #storyteller (at Shady Canyon, Irvine, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B59lNATF8bJ/?igshid=1tnm662x49u5r

[mahalenator]

People sing when words are not enough. I’ve heard the classical version of this song many a times but something about Susheela Raman’s rendition has always elevated the meaning to another level. When translated literally, this song describes the ethereal goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. Her benevolence, her physical beauty, and her ability to make even the kings of the land bow down before her. While looking up translation for this I noticed that many of the lyrics were focused on describing the goddess’ physicality over her intellect and I wonder what the implications of that are. 🎵 Susheela Raman's rendition of "Mamavatu" 📹 @brittslegit my wonderful, talented, BABESS roommate Brittany 👯‍♀️💁🏽‍♀️ . . . . . . . . . #mamavatu #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #semiclassical #carnatic #fusion #modern #susheelaraman #music #fusionmusic #saraswati #goddess #dance #classicaldance #classicaldancer (at Malibu, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2chFvBFsfG/?igshid=go3iw5rahplm

[mahalenator]

We discovered these glasses in Brittany’s car and decided they needed a video of their own 💁🏽‍♀️ Shout out to @furnituretownpl for having colorful walls that screamed “DANCE IN FRONT OF ME” 🙏🏽 and most importantly, feeling grateful that I live with a creative who entertains and enables all this tomfoolery 🙏🏽 🎵 @jainmusic “Makeba” 🎥 @brittslegit consider this my 5 Star Yelp review for Brittany Elamparo in case anyone is looking for a dance videographer! . . . . . . . #sonya9 #sonyalpha #sonyalpha9 #zhiyuncrane #gimbal #gimbaloperator #dance #dancefreestyle #freestyle #freestyledance #makeba #jain #danceparty #neon #itsavibe (at Furniture Town Plus) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1dI6utFC4w/?igshid=1juuxdu9vc2tm

[mahalenator]

B&W Series in Berlin: Street Date Taken 5/5/19 I wish, I wish, with all my heart, to live with dragons in a land apart... . . . . . . . . . #berlin #dandelion #germany #eastberlin #westberlin #flower #weed #wish #makeawish #iwish #blackandwhite #bw (at Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzv31dLFqnX/?igshid=fp9gldzjlqim

[mahalenator]

B&W Series in Berlin: Street Date Taken 5/5/19 Moments later he gifted those “flowers” to his mum. It really took all the willpower in me to not steal this little booger as my souvenir from Berlin! . . . . . . #berlin #kid #germany #eastberlin #westberlin #blackandwhite #bw (at Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzk7hcZl6gI/?igshid=1o6uirlwrfwp

[mahalenator]

B&W Series in Berlin: Street Date Taken 5/5/19 Berlin was beautiful and easily my favorite destination in recent times. For a city with such a somber history riddled with oppression and chaos, I found it refreshing to photograph the innocence of children in this same space. . . . . . . #berlin #children #germany #eastberlin #westberlin #kids #art #playground #bounce #jump #jumping #action #actionphotography #trampoline #playing #frolicking #kid #friends #friendship #baby #babies #littlefriends #blackandwhite #bw (at Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzitkCkFjfp/?igshid=1systx9nmpu3h

[mahalenator]

“I’ve been acting since I was 5. I’m Trained. I’ve worked with some of the best acting teachers in the world. I could do that role with my eyes closed, and you know I can.” - Overheard walking in to the Morse Theater 6:24PM on 7/1.

My gut reaction to that was wow that sounds a little pompous but I think it was because it came from a place of jealousy. I would love to feel that way about something. About anything really. Will I ever feel qualified enough to say something like that?

Trust in the process...

[mahalenator]

B&W Series in Berlin: Portraits at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Date Taken 5/3/19 . . . . . . . . #berlin #holocaust #germany #eastberlin #westberlin #abstractart #art #memorialtothemurderedjewsofeurope #jew #blackandwhite #bw (at Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) https://www.instagram.com/p/By6qVK3lACR/?igshid=1ssjz96wq7mxo

[mahalenator]

B&W Series in Berlin: Portraits of Mukta at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Date Taken 5/3/19 . . . . . . . . #berlin (at Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) https://www.instagram.com/p/By6o8j2l2DQ/?igshid=1pwyn96y441r

[mahalenator]

B&W Series in Berlin: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Date Taken 5/3/19 I’ve had a few debates with people about whether it is more powerful to use abstract art to portray horrific acts in history or if it strips away context. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a beautiful example of how abstract art can give way to a visceral feeling that facts and statistics alone can’t create. The overwhelming nature of this never-ending maze and sheer size of the installation gave way to so many profound interpretations of the Holocaust. I don’t think it is possible for me to wrap my head around this period in history, or for me to even begin to contextualize the brutality, but what I can understand is the feeling. 🎶 “Sticky” by Ravyn Lenae . . . . . . . . #berlin #holocaust #germany #eastberlin #westberlin #abstractart #art #memorialtothemurderedjewsofeurope #jew #blackandwhite #bw (at Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxk9siGBK0H/?igshid=svlt5q7uhd9m

[mahalenator]

Full Link: https://vimeo.com/248173641 Given that the original track name is “Aghori”, I did some reading about Aghori Sadhus (ascetics) and the common portrayal of them. Aghori sadhus are often sensationalized with cannibalism, cremation rituals, animal sacrifices, and more but it seems like at the essence of it all, Aghori sadhus believe that there lies perfectness even in that which society deems imperfect (ex: death, menstruation, etc.). There’s something freeing in that thought: there lies beauty even in imperfection. Music: @gurbaxx and @dosstep Director-Cinematographer: @kapoorsnig Choreographer: Sharayu Mahale  Associate Producer: @zendot1  HMU: @ariaofny  Props: @almudenacaminerofernandez  1st AC: @dreamsofdistillation  Gaffer: @thedavidthines  Grip: @theanimatedpeter  Line Producer: @gurnanigautam Editor-Colorist: @bowmanpicturesllc  Animator: Yasmin Mistry Compositor: Elliott Reid . . . . . . . . . #aghor #aghori #dancevideo #musicvideo #bass #fusion #music #gurbax #mrdoss #trippy #experimental #dark #duality (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwtwAiNhTs3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=e6ih9mbdr319

[mahalenator]

Blanche From the Laundromat

Her shoulders hunched down towards the floor sweeping and resweeping, checking and rechecking, constantly in service of the laundromat patrons. An old soul. Stories etched across her face with every fold in her skin. Why does she work with such diligence? I can’t seem to wrap my head around it...

She sees me, a young 20-something year old trying to navigate the laundromat’s diverse offerings and she takes joy in showing me around and doublechecking to see if I know the difference between the washers and the dryers. With pride she whispers, “Hey guess what? There’s a dryer with 27 minutes left on it come quick!” like this is knowledge that only she is privy to. I suppose it’s not simply knowledge, but also power. She is the Laundromat ruler, granting and denying these privileges to us mere plebeians. And I follow her with my three loads of Laundry. Her eyes light up as she lets me in on this secret and her chest swells with pride.

That’s why she works so diligently. She finds purpose at the Laundromat. She is the most knowledgeable about detergent affairs and she is proud of it. It made me stop for a moment and think if there was any place in the world that I felt this way about?

[mahalenator]

Full Link: https://vimeo.com/248173641 “In Hindu mythology Shiva is the supreme being who creates, protects, and transforms the universe. It is assumed that he opens his third eye in rage which when opened, disrupts nature. What if there was a world in which a woman was an avatar of Shiva and she was forced to open her third eye?” . . . “'Aghor’ is an homage to all the women who are changing the course of one sided history, by action. It's a symbolic representation of a woman who can express rage, laughter and madness just like a man because sometimes, we need to remind the society that we are ALL people." — @kapoorsnig Music: “Aghori” 🎼  @gurbaxx and @dosstep Director-Cinematographer: @kapoorsnig Choreographer: Sharayu Mahale  Associate Producer: @zendot1  HMU: @ariaofny  Props: @almudenacaminerofernandez  1st AC: @dreamsofdistillation  Gaffer: @thedavidthines  Grip: @theanimatedpeter  Line Producer: @gurnanigautam Editor-Colorist: @bowmanpicturesllc  Animator: Yasmin Mistry Compositor: Elliott Reid . . . . . . . . . #aghor #aghori #dancevideo #musicvideo #bass #fusion #music #gurbaxx #mrdoss #trippy #experimental #dark #duality #dance #abstract (at Queens, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bti91qsBpu9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ld3hncpclu6n

[mahalenator]

Full Link: https://vimeo.com/248173641 WHOOOO 2019 IS ONE MONTH OLD, and as usual, I am WAY behind on posting projects. Over a year ago I got the chance to shoot a dance video “Aghor” with @kapoorsnig & a whole team of talented artists and it was officially posted last month! The concept, production, music, and direction have easily made this one of my favorite projects till date. She gave me a blank canvas to work with and I’m truly thankful to Snigdha for letting me loose on this playground for a day! Music: @gurbaxx and @dosstep Director-Cinematographer: @kapoorsnig Choreographer/Dancer: Sharayu Mahale  Associate Producer: @zendot1  HMU: @ariaofny  Props: @almudenacaminerofernandez  1st AC: @dreamsofdistillation  Gaffer: @thedavidthines  Grip: @theanimatedpeter  Line Producer: @gurnanigautam Editor-Colorist: @bowmanpicturesllc Animator: Yasmin Mistry Compositor: Elliott Reid . . . . . . . . . #aghor #aghori #dancevideo #musicvideo #bass #fusion #music #gurbax #mrdoss #trippy #experimental #dark #duality (at Queens, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtXJz-Ohcqe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u9pr7g5uqyj2

[mahalenator]

“Sharayu, I hope that when you grow up you have my brains and your mothers looks, but unfortunately it seems you are headed in the reverse direction.”- @balmahale circa 2010. TBH, I think given these recent data points, I’d be ok with that outcome now 💁🏽‍♀️ Date taken 11/24/18 . . . . . . . . #portraits #dad #father #fathersday #bw #bwportrait #bwportraits #bwphotooftheday #bwphotography #throwbackthursday #tbt #blackandwhite #instablackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #mensfashion #oldbutgold #dslr #canon #canoneos #85mm #prime #primelens (at Ashland, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtUhTIWhDfV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s75bej48w9wh

[mahalenator]

“Sharayu, I hope that when you grow up you have my brains and your mothers looks, but unfortunately it seems you are headed in the reverse direction.”- @balmahale circa 2010. TBH, I think given these recent data points, I’d be ok with that outcome now 💁🏽‍♀️ Date taken 11/24/18 . . . . . . . . #portraits #dad #father #fathersday #bw #bwportrait #bwportraits #bwphotooftheday #bwphotography #throwbackthursday #tbt #blackandwhite #instablackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #mensfashion #oldbutgold #dslr #canon #canoneos #85mm #prime #primelens (at Ashland, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtUhHrQBvCR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wcp2gtecvcqh