Bursting with Jimsi-ness

The go-getter, cannot-be-bothered kinda girls have a bit of Jimsy in them all and they just can’t stop loving her. Her offhand candour and demeanour deep rooted in rustic premises, yet, has something to do with the Gen-Y boho-chics, to be called an ‘it’ factor that made her click.

Those who walked out of the Maheshinte Prathikaram screens may vouchsafe the same and Aparna Balamurali, the onscreen Jimsy has no escaping the love and fame she has been heaped upon. She, who played the village belle in the movie, in real life, is a city slicker with the early part of her childhood spent in Qatar and the rest in Thrissur.

There is one Rajesh, who is from Kaduthuruthy, who teaches in Zurich, which is in another part of the country.” India was a ‘fairytale country’ for Heidi during her growing-up years. “My mom had a cousin in Bengaluru and parents used to visit India and come back with all kinds of stories. But my interest grew manifold after I read The Autobiography of a Yogi. At 13, I started practising yoga on my own by reading instructions given in a book.”

An introvert by nature, Heidi knew she lacked in self confidence and tried to make up by learning various martial arts including Jujutsu, Wing Tsun and Kung Fu. It was then that she read about Kalari, Kerala’s gift to the world, in a glossy magazine. “It explained the basic principles and how the martial art was used for self defence as well as healing. The article had the contact details of one Cecile Gordon but she replied only a year later.”

Meanwhile, she researched more and sent a mail to Philippe Colinet who was the one who took Kalari to France. “Philippe instantly replied, asking me if I was interested in joining her while she was having a stint with a Kerala guru called Baiju Varghese in Eravinalloor.” Without any idea of India’s geography, she took a plane to Kerala. “Mother India welcomed me with open arms. A stranger called Joe whom I had met at the airport took me to this Kalari centre.”

Thus began her frequent visits to Kerala. “There was this Kalari enthusiast called Rita in Paris who directed me to the CVN Kalari in Kozhikode where I had wonderful training and equally wonderful food.” Meanwhile, she designed clothes, worked as an art therapist with mentally challenged people and also as a museum guide but always craved for those Kalari vacations in Kerala.

Meanwhile, a small group of Kalari enthusiasts started having regular workshops in Geneva and she was quick to enroll but found that the style was all different and that it had its origin in Kannur. When the time came for the next Kerala trip, she chose to train under Sherif Gurukkal in Kannur, so that she can practice in harmony with the group that was active in Switzerland. But much to her chagrin, this group soon dissolved and it was goodbye to that style too. Subsequently, she has visited Chavakkad to train under Krishna Das at the Vallabhatta centre and Madhu in Vadakara.

“What makes Kalari stand out from other martial arts techniques is its flowing and artistic quality. It is graceful and smooth. After a Kung Fu session, I would feel a surge of energy while a Kalari session not only makes me energetic but also relaxed.”