This post was updated May 26 at 5:47 p.m.
The Indian Student Union is ready to end the quarter in style.
ISU’s annual Culture Show is set to take place May 31 and will consist of a skit, a fashion show and a capella and dance performances from numerous South Asian clubs across campus. Twisha Chawla, one of ISU’s directors of performing arts, said her team went through an extensive planning process to put together the event.
“What we first did is we had to write an entire show script. … And then we had auditions. We would put out an open call … (and) we had four days of auditions. … We also put out an open call for anyone who wants to do their own performances. They don’t have to be affiliated with a team,” Chawla, a third-year cognitive science student, said. “We go over their audition tapes and see if they’d be a good fit for the show. … The whole point of the show is to promote South Asian clubs on campus, … South Asian performing arts.”
Chawla said the skit for this year’s show is based on the hit Bollywood movie “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.” The story follows four characters that all fit into different stereotypes, she added. Chawla, who wrote the script, said two of the characters were creatives and said she wanted the skit to encourage people to follow their dreams, even if some members of the South Asian community shies away from the arts.
Chawla explained the exhaustive rehearsal process the actors went through for the skit. At weekly ISU meetings, she said, they would also conduct meetings with their actors and gauge where they were in their practice. Chawla said they would set deadlines for when they would be off book and also worked with the actors on staging and other aspects of the performance. Vishnu Manathattai, the co-director of performing arts alongside Chawla, detailed how they prepared for the skit over the last few quarters.
“We started around the start of the school year. … Throughout winter quarter, we were writing the script and finalized that probably around spring break. During that time, our goal was just mainly on the quality of the script and making sure that it was something people would enjoy,” Manathattai, a third-year computer science student, said. “That was mainly the first two quarters, … and then this quarter, a lot of the preparation has to go around preparing the actors.”
Beyond the skit, ISU’s Culture Show also hosts a fashion show where UCLA students get the chance to show off their South Asian cultural wear. Chawla said ISU wanted to let anyone who was interested in walking to show off their attire, adding that they hoped to also showcase multiple styles of South Asian clothing.
Manathattai said the fashion show has been a tradition for ISU for a number of years of hosting the Culture Show. He explained the goal of the fashion show aspect was to have fun and allow students to show off their cultures and the beauty of Indian fashion. The fashion show is interspersed between the scenes of the skit and will have the models walk down a red carpet, he said.
The organizers said hosting such an expansive show comes with hiccups. Chawla and Manathattai both said their show was pushed back from its original date because of complications with the venue – Chawla said the funding for their original venue fell through, so they had to regroup and find another venue to still put on the show.
“One of the biggest things on campus with any club, its very hard to get a venue because there’s so much funding involved,” Chawla said. “There’s still going to be a couple things we have to work through with the auditorium, because it’s not what was in our original plan, but I think it should be fun.”
Asher Rao, an intern for ISU, said the show has a personal meaning for him, adding that he takes pride in being able to display his culture through such a large event.
“Being half Indian, but obviously being a little more white-passing, I’ve always struggled to thread the line between being a part of my culture but not feeling like I’m overstepping. And being part of this planning process has really connected me with my fellow students. I’ve really created an Indian community here at UCLA,” Rao, a first-year world arts and cultures student, said.
Rao added that he wanted to create a space where people can learn about their culture and engage in dialogue and community bonding. Chawla said Culture Show had a unique meaning to her because the performing arts are her emotional release. She said it was very meaningful to be able to showcase UCLA’s South Asian performing arts scene, especially because of the impact of entertainment on her own life. Chawla said she was looking forward to seeing her old dance team, Nashaa, perform as well.
Manathattai also said he has a personal connection to Culture Show, saying he feels ISU’s mission is bringing Indian culture to UCLA and letting students take part in that.
“Our show is a representation of our culture, fundamentally, so it means a lot to put on such an event. Because we’re representing Indian culture to the UCLA population, so from that aspect it’s super impactful,” Manathattai said. “We always try to incorporate Indian-based dance teams and other cultural teams.”
Rao said he was excited for the event and was looking forward to the humor of the skit and the skill of the Indian dancers.
“The entire point of Culture Show is to make a statement, and for it to be bold, and for it to be long, and for it to occupy a person’s day,” Rao said. “Having an event that really tries to connect to the UCLA community and have it be a bold statement is really a testament to culture.”
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