Using Indian classic cinema as a channel for dialogue for this project reflects my encounters with lonesomeness and amorousness under the shades of machismo. My core ideas of romance sprouted from Pakistani classic dramas and predominantly Indian films from 80s and 90s in which hero and heroine were shown against very romantic backdrops of lush green scenery and flowers, climaxing in elaborate songs and choreographies. Many of these scenes were shot either in Switzerland or The Netherlands. 

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This performance piece is inspired by the film Indian film “Silsila” from 1981, which is romantic drama film that over the years has acquired a cult following, considered to be a benchmark of Bollywood romance. The songs in the film were shot in the Duin- en Bollenstreek that features coastal dunes and fields of flower bulbs stretching to the horizon.  Silsila, starring Bollywood’s most famous stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha as main lead, is still one of the most talked about and coveted films for many reasons: one being the Amitabh-Rekha love story in real life. This film made the career of legendary lyricist, poet and writer Javed Akhtar. I have been translating some of these songs in English for my project ‘love letters’. This is an excerpt from a longer performance.