FILMS OF THE SPIRIT

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

 

Kanchana Sita (Malayalam; 90 min; 1977; dvd; English subtitles)

Directed by G. Aravindan

 

With Ramdas, Venkateswarlu, Chinna Pulliah, Kesava Panicker

 

Recipient of the National Film Award for Best Direction 

 

Aravindan’s film is a retelling of an episode from the Ramayana. Derived from Sreekantan Nair's play and Valmiki's epic, the film alludes to the golden image of Seeta which Rama sets by his side for the Ashwamedha Yagya, the ritual sacrifice of a horse to Agni, the god of fire. The film has been widely appreciated for the uncompromising exploration of the ancient epic through a new cinematic language, moving its focus from the central characters to Nature. Ram and Seeta represented here only as aspects of nature such as the rustling of the wind in the trees or as rain bringing harmony where discord threatens 

 

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H.H. The Dalai Lama)

 

 

 

(Collaboration: Embassy of Israel)

 

 

Hindustani Vocal Recital

By Indira Naik from Mumbai, disciple of Pandit Dayal Thakur and Pandit Vithal Rao

 

The artist will present a concert inspired by the spring season rendered in sufi, thumri and other songs

 

 

 

In Conversation

Ebba Koch,historian and editor of the forthcoming book, `The Mughal Empire:From Jahangir to Shah Jahan' in conversation with Kavita Singh and Jyotindra Jain

The book is edited by Ebba Koch in collaboration with Ali Anooshahr
 

(Collaboration: The Marg Foundation)

 

 

 

ART MATTERS

 

Indian Modernism

Speaker: Ms Catherine David, Curator, Pompidou Centre, Paris

 

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

 

Poetry in Sunshine and Shade: Poems of a Traveller

Discussion and Book Launch of Eternity by Vijaya Goel

 

Discussant: Smt. Krishnalekha Sood, IAS (Retd); Smt. Abhilasha Singhvi; and Ms. Seeme Qasim.

Chair: Dr. H. K. Kaul, President, The Poetry Society (India)

 

(Collaboration: The Poetry Society, India)

 

 

Calcutta Sonata (60 min; 2018; blu-ray; English)

Directed by Subha Das Mollick who will introduce the film

 

Screening will be followed by a discussion

 

Calcutta Sonata tells the story of gradual assimilation of the grand musical instrument piano into the cultural fabric of the city. Through the piano, the Indian was introduced to the ideas of chords, and harmony as opposed to a pure line of melody. Indian musical compositions were infused with western ideas and the well-tempered keys of the piano were struck to yield to the microtones of the Indian raga