Vinay Varanasi wants to create a platform for collective learning of mythology
These stories have been heard many times by someone whose sketchy outlines form part of our vastly remembered repertoire of mythology. But when this young man narrates stories of Ganesha and Chandra, Kali or Sita, something makes you listen. He tells tales casually, in English, and it’s like watching them come alive through a fresh pair of eyes.
Meet Vinay Varanasi, 29, from Bangalore, who has covered himself in many worlds. He is an architect and design researcher by profession (he is the co-founder of Anbind, a design education startup), a classical music lyricist, a painter and a storyteller. Although these look like separate compartments, they believe that one thing flows into another, which works to their advantage.
Recently, she completed the fifth season of ‘The Goddess: Six Folds’, an immortal story series organized by Chennai-based cultural platform Aalap, with whom she collaborated to tell the stories of six gods and goddesses. “I used to be careful in choosing gods and goddesses that are negatively represented in patriarchal redecoration. Sita, Radha, Kali…,” says Vinay. The series also helped him realize that people are asking for honest answers.
He believes that this same discovery by the contemporary generation has revived interest in mythology. “Today’s generation really has the brains to listen and read. Our parents didn’t have the luxury of questioning. We have the resources, desire and access to more information. I can get good translations of both epics.” Of course, we also have internet. I see many youngsters in the audience in my storytelling sessions,” says Vinay.
interest in mythology
Like most Indians, Vinay’s interest in mythological stories grew when he started reading Amar Chitra Katha. “It was the biggest influence in my childhood. I liked the pictures; I would read the same book a dozen times, wondering if there was more to the story.” But unlike most children, this fascination lasted until their formative years. and, much later, when he began to attend the sermons, he looked at them from a new perspective.
Vinay Varanasi and Vivek Sathasivam.
“I used to accompany my mother for discourses in Guyana Samaj, Ram Mandir and other temples. That’s when I went beyond the physical layers of stories; I realized that they are not just stories but a gateway into a new realm of understanding. When I realized that every story contained it all, my belief in the power of stories got stronger,” says Vinay.
Then, a few years ago, the young man discovered a passion for telling these stories to others. After attending and reading several sermons, he realized that “there are mistakes in the way these stories are presented. I wanted to question this for myself and open up a space where others also raised questions.” Let’s do it, without becoming official.”
As a self-taught artist, Vinay also found that the most powerful way to tell stories is through art. He is also very fond of Carnatic music, and listening to the concerts caused some stir in him which led Vinay to explore the songs. After learning to play the veena from his mentor Kashi Vishalakshi, he says that it was he who introduced him to the power of song. “That is how I started writing songs for musicians. I mainly write Pallavi. Ranjani-Gayatri has sung many of my Pallavis. He writes mainly in Sanskrit, but also in Telugu and Kannada.
Going forward, Vinay says that he would like to collaborate more with visual artists, musicians and dancers. “I want to create a platform for the collective learning of mythology.”
The author is a freelance journalist based in Bengaluru.
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