Sundari Maheswaran is a a poet of Malaysian Sri Lankan Tamil descent. She is also a doctor.
She has performed in the West Midlands and is currently putting together her first poetry collection which encapsulates her unique identities. She showcased her work recently at Dudley Library with Saturday Books and Jay Lewis from Black Country Radio.
On Sunday 28th September she performed with the New Moon Players in an Arts Council England funded project at the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre for the Mid Autum Festival organised by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee.
She participated in the sold out event at the Mid Autumn Festival in the Birmingham Conference Centre and performed her stylised Manglish poetry at a further festival event at the Ming Moon in the vibrant Chinese Quarter.
"There were two performances" said Sundari "and each show had 750 tickets for sale. The first show sold out quickly. 750 tickets for just one show. Then the second show sold out - another 750 tickets - and people were being turned away at the door! 1,500 people!"
The production was the Chinese creation myth which featured actors and actresses of Chinese heritage. Following the two sold out performances Sundari and the rest of the Players were then invited to perform at the Ming Moon Restaurant in Birmingham`s Chinese Quarter for the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association.
"The venue was also packed" explained Sundari "and it had a different vibe to the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre. We kicked off with some of my poetry and then into the play. It was brilliant - and so was the food afterwards!"
Here is one of the poems Sundari performed for the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival:
Durian talk is everywhere On the streets,
it’s in the air. WhatsApp, Insta, TikTok too
The talk is feverish on the verge of mabuk
Tell me what else do we all do ?
The fruiting season is ever more,
Kita bercakap durian like it is flying out the door
Durian markets, durian stalls, In an old car boot,
In a rattan basket, tied to a bicycle bar
The king of fruit is revered.
And our pursuit knows no bounds
You know ah I travelled all the way to Tanjong Malim for my supply
Eh! brother. That is nothing , I drove to the Thai border this morning
Kampong, golden phoenix, red prawn and black pearl too
Are we chasing the dragon ?
or a jewel that fell out of an oyster’s wagon ?
D13, D24, D101,
Ah but what about XO eh?
That my dear is a Napoleon Solo
My aunty eh she like Musang King, The Kingpin
But only when I belanja her
Apa, seratus ringgit ?? Itu beli, Biji atau buah?
Durian ice cream , durian pancake, durian mousse, and durian fool
But the durian fruit is no fool.
Spiky thorns and a thick exterior, protecting the curd of a creamy interior
Some say why the fuss The thing smells like old socks
But that someone Mat Saleh.
So you can keep your Gorgonzola and your fancy Brie
And orange is not the only fruit. Mine’s a durian So shh please
