Remembering Raghu Rai

Raghu Rai (1942–2026), legendary Indian photographer and photojournalist, widely regarded as a pioneer who documented India’s modern history over five decades, a protégé of Henri Cartier-Bresson and a member of Magnum Photos, he was renowned for capturing iconic, intimate images of political figures and the everyday lives of ordinary people.

Talk on Raghu Rai's art and vision  by Roobina Karode, Kishore Singh, Ananya Vajpeyi and Jatin Das.

Followed by screening of the film “Raghu Rai: An Unframed Portrait”( 54 mins)  

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)
 

Australia, India and The New World Disorder 
Speaker: Peter Varghese AO, distinguished Australian diplomat, former Australian High Commissioner to India (2009-2012) and Australian Foreign Secretary (2012-2016), currently Chancellor of The University of Queensland and Chair, Australian Public Policy Institute

Moderator : Indrani Bagchi, CEO Ananta Aspen Centre


Discussants:  Prof Amitabh Mattoo, Dean, School of International Studies, Professor and Chair, Centre for International Politics, Jawaharlal Nehru University Gopal Baglay, former Indian High Commissioner to Australia

Punishing the Professor

(28 minutes;2025; Tamil with English subtitles)

Director: Aayna, documentary filmmaker at People’s Archive of Rural India.

Special mention at Panchajianyam International Film festival (Kerala)

Dr.P. Senrayaperumal a Dalit folk artist was forced to drop out of school to play his part in the ancestral caste-bound genre of Raja Rani Attam folk performance. He and his brothers spent their childhood playing female roles — enduring slurs, sexual harassment, and bearing the burden of tradition. After 12 years at age 23, he made a desperate gamble to reclaim education all by himself, even while dancing through nights to survive. But his education, the very tool meant for liberation, became the reason for his punishment. Today, he is being questioned: Why did you even get educated?

Bollywood calling Lal Singh

(19 minutes;2026; Hindi with English Subtitles)

Director:  Aayna, documentary filmmaker at People’s Archive of Rural India

Pechanan (Identity)" traces Lal Singh's ongoing struggle to claim his identity. Hailing from a small agricultural labour family, he works as a cook in Mumbai to survive while over a decade tirelessly pursuing a dream that is questionable not for his lack of hard work and talent but for the space that he wishes to be a part of. This documentary follows Lal’s persistent journey through this intimidating and inspiring city space, where he navigates a capitalistic world to arrive at his individuality by claiming his aspirations.

The film screenings will be followed by a Q&A with P Sainath, Founder, Pari Network and the Director, Aayna

(Collaboration: People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI Network)
 

Samanvay - Melodies That Build Us

Piano Recital by Gauri Mishra, distinguished pianist, awarded the National Award-Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, All India Radio graded artist.

An immersive experience taking one through the depth of Indian classical music and the pianist’s signature fusion compositions, filled with musical surprises along the way. Accompanied by renowned artists, each performance creates a seamless blend of tradition, innovation, and harmony, promising an unforgettable and enriching musical journey.
 

AAJ KAVITA
Bodhisattva, Shailja Pathak (Mumbai); Rakesh Renu (Delhi) and Nand Bharadwaj (Jaipur) will read their poems.

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)
 

Piano Recital by Balázs Fülei

Balázs Fülei, Professor at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, recipient of the Liszt Ferenc Prize, the Kodály Prize, the Artisjus Award, and the Junior Prima Award.  Since 2015, Professor Fülei has served as Head of the Chamber Music Department at the Academy

(Collaboration: Delhi Music Society)

MUSIC APPRECIATION PROMOTION
Music in the Cinema of Ritwik Ghatak 
An illustrated lecture by Partha Chatterjee

Ritwik Ghatak used music in his eight feature films, and several documentaries both as a counterpoint, and even as a counter-melody in conjunction with the image that unravelled the story or the narrative thus adding clarity and richness to the whole film. He used Folk melodies of both East and West Bengal, Hindustani music – both vocal and instrumental, Rabindra Sangeet, and on occasions small selections from Western Classical instrumental music.

Partha Chatterjee is a filmmaker, journalist and rasika of the Arts.