Sonali Pimputkar tracks the performers behind two radically different cross-dressing events in the city
Going by what most of us have seen of the Marathi dance form Lavani in Hindi films, it’s all about a luscious female dancer dressed in a gorgeous nine-yard sari, bedecked and bejewelled, dancing to quick-tempo songs that are mostly erotic in sentiment, accompanied by socio-political satirical dialogues. The largely male audience has been traditionally known to shower the dancers with cheers, whistles, winks and more… So, what happens when the ‘dancing ladies’ are actually men in drag? Lavani artistes Anand Satam and Anil Hankare tell it like it is…
Their journey
Celebrated Lavani performer Anil Hankare is now 50, a father of two 20-year-olds. “I was very fond of dance but did not know how to take my hobby forward. I was 18 when I saw an advertisement in a newspaper about a troupe that was looking for dancers. I made it clear to them that I am not a professional dancer but if given proper guidance I would love to learn. I was selected and thus began the journey, where they would teach me and pay a stipend as well.
Sheena Khalid
I couldn’t ask for more,” shares Hankare. Over the years he learned different forms of dance, and cross-dressing also became par for the course. “The first dance I performed as a female was at a Gujarati wedding. I remember borrowing clothes from my female friend for the performance. I was paid Rs.300 per day which was much more than the Rs.750 I was generally paid for a month!”
Hankare is well-known in the industry for his make-up skills. “Not just make-up I worked hard to get a physique like a woman. It has taken me years to get that grace. Today I can switch on for those few hours during a performance and it is hard for people to believe that I am a man, even if I am introduced at the beginning of the show,” he proudly says.
A popular name in the industry, Anand Satam considers performing a Lavani at a dance competition (which he won, of course) to be the turning point of his life. Because this was where he was spotted by Anil Vasudevan’s team member who was in the audience. Numbers were exchanged. It was only five years later when Vasudevan along with Hankare decided to launch ‘Bin Bayakancha Tamasha’, that he was approached by the team. Hankare and his troupe – Anand Satam, Prasad Pawar and Pramod Chandolkar – prepared for four months, to walk and talk like women before the launch of the show.
Anil Hankare
The success
Talking about the experience Satam says, “Initially there were only male audiences but after a few shows, there were more women than men. Later a lot of families used to come together. We also used to organise special shows for women.” He has also performed in a number of TV shows including ‘Balika Vadhu’, ‘Naad Khula’, and ‘Ekdam Kadak’.
Talking about his first lavani show, Satam joyfully recalls, “On the launch day there were three other shows but ours was houseful. Even the media covered us.” Talking about the debut show Hankare says, “We weren’t sure about having a full-fledged show but later thought of giving it a try. I still remember a regional newspaper carried our story even before our show was launched and I must say it was a lucky one as even our debut show was houseful.”
Mistaken identity
The performers would often be mistaken for women by audiences. Satam narrates, “A lot of celebrities and cine artists would attend our shows. Once Marathi actress Priya Berde came to watch our performance. During the interval, she came backstage to meet us. She gave me a tight hug and praised my performance saying, “Aga, tu kiti chaan nachlis” (Lady, you danced really well) and a minute later she realised that I was a male. This incident I will cherish for my lifetime.”
Anand Satam
Male gaze
One of the many issues Lavani dancers face is the ‘male gaze’. Well, even male performers face the same issue. “I have stopped performing lavani for the past two years. Men in the audience, even after being aware of our identity, would stare at us, leaving us awkward at times. We have lived our life more like women. It’s about how men look at and perceive women’s bodies…” The cross-dressing clearly did not find favour with his extended family either. “I still remember I used to invite my relatives while I was in their city for shows but they never turned up,” he adds.
Hankare insists that Lavani is like any other dance form. “We are just working to keep the dying traditions alive. We all should respect it. There’s nothing vulgar in it,” he says, while Satam adds, “There are a lot of people who approach us and tell us that we are their inspiration. Our only concern is that in the bid to gain attention the young generation moves to vulgarity and that should be stopped. The purity of the dance form should be maintained.”
Upcoming show
Bishakha Datta in conversation with Anil Hankare and Anand Satam – Bin Baykancha Tamasha
When: April 7 at 5 pm
Where: Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla East
The men’s club
We all are aware of drag queens – men who dress in flamboyant feminine garb and perform at cabarets, clubs or shows. But have you ever heard of ‘drag kings’? For the uninitiated, a drag king is a female performer who dresses in masculine clothing and celebrates masculinity. If your interest is awakened, a show called ‘The Gentlemen’s Club aka Tape’ by theatre company Patchworks Ensemble is a must watch. ‘Tape’ in the name refers to the practice of applying tape on the breasts by drag kings when playing male characters.
Set in an imaginary underground club, the cabaret-style show showcases the lives of drag kings who perform in the city. Sheena Khalid, who has co-devised and co-directed the show says, “The show is set in a fictitious club called ‘The Gentlemen’s Club’ where all the hilarious drag kings perform. It is just about the artists and the dynamic between them and the conflicts they have about the work they want to create. The entire show is basically what a day in the club is like.” Apart from Sheena Khalid, the show also features Puja Sarup, Rachel D’Souza, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee and Amey Mehta.
The central character of the show is Rocky aka Shamsher, who pays homage to Shammi Kapoor and the golden era of Hindi cinema. Sheena’s character is a young drag king whose act is inspired by contemporary pop icon Justin Timberlake. “My character is a drag king performer who is inspired by Justin Timberlake and is the new addition to the club. The character that Puja plays is Rocky, who is one of the oldest members of the club and is running the club for a really long time.” She also informs us that the group has performed over 50 shows all over the country and the audience has always been welcoming. The theatre company also conducts storytelling and performance workshops.
Upcoming show
The Gentlemen’s Club
When: April 10 at 8:30 pm
Where: G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture, Mahalaxmi