Follow your heart - Do what you love! (Lesson1 from my drama teacher)

And we celebrated - Winning in VTU Fest was no small feat! We were to represent our university at the south zone fest 2004! 1st place goes to SJCE – That was something great we thought.

But never gave a thought to how much we loved this and to grow in this field and contribute to this. We did not think it was “feasible” to continue in the field of dramatics. Most of us went our way to do what our parents and society wanted us to do!

The point is we all have our passions. We all have that one thing (For some maybe many things) that excites us beyond words. Doing something does not feel like it is an effort. Doing something feels like we have found our “flow” – A state of being where things fall in place naturally. There is no need to work hard to do anything related to that passion. Dramatics was that for a few of us. I am sure everybody in the team had their own reasons to participate – Somebody for the certificate, somebody for the limelight, and somebody for want of something to do! But a few of us really were there cos that is where we were supposed to be – like it was our calling. We used to only think, talk, discuss, plan, and live in that world! That was 2001-2005 without any worry of the world.

But the world caught on for most of us. The reality of the world made me calculate the uncertainty in the field of dramatics to the “experience certainty” at TCS! I was logical and that made me take up a job that gave me what society thinks is important.

But this Islahuddin - the hero of this story followed his heart. In the photo, you will find him beside Shashank - 2nd from right! He wanted to continue in dramatics and he stayed on the path. We were in touch and I did hear from common friends about what Isla (like we used to call him) is doing and the developments of the rest of the gang! And there were struggles no doubt - And the biggest struggle was self-doubt! Sheer perseverance of Isla to do what he likes has got him all the way here. And so many of us want to see Isla successful for his selfless love for dramatics - we all want him to do what we were passionate about but did not/could not(whatever we want to tell ourselves!)

Isla could have been a lecturer - Multiple Gold medals in college, He could have been successful at Qyuki (Artist focused network founded by?Shekhar Kapur, AR Rahman and Samir Bangara), He could have continued to stay at Sutherland and worked somewhere. But nahi he had to come back and continue what he was passionate about - directing movies!

There were struggles no doubt (More about that in my next article) but what makes you the happiest? Doing what you love to do. No compromise in that right?!

I am sure there is a lot more to do and there is a long way to go.. This is a shoutout from all those who have heard me over the years praising you Isla for being able to follow your passion - All the best for your movie!