Leela Rammohan Rao is a very unique and a truly multifaceted person and founder of the Raagalaya foundation, USA. She is a Bharatnatyam dancer, Carnatic musician, song composer, choreographer, veena artist, trainer in music and arts, painter and also a businesswoman. She is the President of GoodWin Asset Management Inc., USA. Leela is a portfolio manager and a Fellow Member of the Securities Institute, UK. Leela is the daughter and disciple of the musical genius Mrs.Sarojini Sundaresan. She shares with us poignantly some of her experiences.

You are truly multifaceted. How would you like yourself to be identified - as a dancer or painter or a business woman?

It is a very difficult question (smiles). The thing is I try to take the role of whatever I am doing at that particular time. That is the best way to do justice to the task in hand. Fortunately I was able to learn art at a very early age, thanks to my mother. I am blessed with a wonderful mother. She still continues to be my teacher in music. So if you are living with your teacher you tend to put in a lot of effort. As far as dancing is concerned it is because of her that I learnt dance. In those days we did not have much choice. We were put into it and we did it. That is the best way to bring up children, I think. Also, I never took this as a means of making an earning out of it. Once you relate money to art, you can live, but the art dies. I chose business as a profession, of course I love Finance that is the reason I am a portfolio manager. I have offices in New York as well as in Florida.

Apart from your mother, are there any other persons or any incident in your life that influenced you the most to achieve your career objectives?

In Bharatnatyam of course I have quite a lot of role models. I always wanted to learn dance under Vazhuvur Ramiaih Pillai. It is a great honor to be his student. And thanks to my background in music I was able to learn from him and he was a good friend of my mother's guru. My other role models are Kamala, Vyjayanthimala and in the present days I love the dancing of Malavika, she is a perfectionist and she is my manaseega guru.

Tell us about your students....

Yes, I have students here in Florida. I have American students as well as Indian students in both music and dance

How do you feel the younger generation NRIs have taken to the notion of contemporary Indian art and music?

It is very unfortunate younger generation here try to understand our culture by film music and film dancing. I am not belittling film music. Many films have come out with aesthetic sense, but, it is the western influence in the Indian film music and dance that is diverting our younger generation from traditional values of our rich art. When we go to Indian festivals here we tend to see more and more of film music and dance.

Do you have any foreign student highly motivated by Indian classical music or dance?

Yes, I have a music student who is an American and works very hard. He practices as if he is learning back home in the Gurukula style of training. I have quite a few enthusiastic students in dancing as well. One thing I should stress is, in order to become a perfect dancer you should have a strong background in music. As otherwise, you cannot understand what you are dancing. I always insist on this. I had a good background in music and of course this helps you to become a teacher and choreographer.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievements to date?

There is so much to be achieved. I won't say I have done anything great. I still have lots to do.

What things give you the greatest satisfaction at work?

If the rasikas enjoy your concert and merge into it with you, it gives you the greatest pleasure. In business, as a money manager, when I make money for my clients they are happy and that makes me happy!

As a businesswoman how would you describe yourself?

Yes, I am entrepreneurial by nature. Of course I wanted to work for myself though I started working for others after my business school. Very early in India I started an export business when I was sixteen years old and made some money. But my father wanted me to concentrate in my studies and thankfully, I was able to reach formidable heights in the field of finance. Before I started my own company I worked in international financial institutions and rose to the level of a Vice President. Entrepreneurial instincts do not allow you to work for others for a long time. Luckily running my own firm helps me spend time both in New York and Florida where my husband practices as a physician..

Has being a woman or Asian been a disadvantage to you any time?

No, in fact I should say when I was in London, taking up the Diploma of The Securities Institute the authorities were able recognize that it was unusual for a Fellow member to be a lady from the Asian community, and devoted a special profile on me. My finance professor used to say that I must use these attributes to my advantage.

You are a successful woman. In your opinion what is the vital component anyone needs to be successful?

You have to be highly motivated and need to have a lot of ambition and put in a lot of hard work. You should not say "I don't have time for this ". If you budget your time properly you have plenty of time. I still have a lot of things to do. I am planning to have an exhibition of my painting and I am working on it.

Do you need an inspiration to paint or what do you paint?

I started painting when I was five or six years old. I did not have initial training in painting at all. The Almighty is my guru in that. I was highly motivated by my parents. They allowed me to develop my inherent skills. I paint nature and also do Tanjore paintings. Since I do not have a teacher, I am able to experiment in different mediums and styles. Once two of paintings were sold in an art exhibition in India and as you asked about my achievements, I felt really happy when the proceeds were donated for those affected by the earthquake in Gujarat. This kind of incidents makes me feel that if you make strong effort you can achieve something. I am choosing a theme on Lord Krishna and working on an exhibition now..

You must have had variety of experiences being in many fields, what has life taught you so far?

That is a very good question. Life has so much to offer. You are the one who has to pick and choose. Life is like a seed. When you sow the right seeds, you reap the right fruits. Life is a mixture of good and bad. The difficult times are a foundation for the success to be achieved..

Picture courtesy: narthagi.com