Programme Details

Organised in collaboration with Natya Vriksha; Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India; and with the Support of Friends of Natya Vriksha

In the Multipurpose Hall from 09:30 to 13:00 
Movement Techniques in Sattriya

A workshop led by Prateesha Suresh with artists from Assam

At 16:00 in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
Natya Vriksha Lifetime Achievement Award

To be conferred to Smt Leela Venkataraman, renowned dance critic/commentator/writer and author

At 16:15 – Celebrating Rukmini Devi Arundale
To mark the 120th birth anniversary of the dance legend, release of the book Rukmini Devi Arundale, Arts Revivalist and Institution Builder by V.R. Devika (Niyogi Books, 2024)
Dr. V.R. Devika, author of the book will make an illustrated presentation along with a video screening to bring alive the magic of Rukmini Devi Arundale

The book will be released by Dr. Karan Singh 

At 18:30
Young Dancers Festival: Tribute to Lakshmi Vishwanathan
Bharatanatyam performance of Varnam

By Vaishnavi Srinivasan and Nivedha Harish, disciples of Guru Smt Roja Kannan

Dancer Tanjore Gnyana danced the Useni Swara Jathi for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1875. That same varnam, taught by devadasis to Lakshmi Vishwanathan, was then in turn taught by Lakshmi to Vaishnavi and Nivedha

Followed by
Kathak Recital
By Divya Goswami

Two decades of working with cultural heritage and traditional makers
 

By Siddhartha Das

The exhibition presents traditional paintings – botanical, miniature, pattachitra, pichwai, palm leaf engraving etc.; textile inspired by historic pieces; bamboo and basketry; stone pieces; wood carving; inlay with wood, stone and bone; lacquered wood are among some of the exhibits. The display includes site-specific art; audio-visuals and short films on the conceiving and making of the art and craft pieces as well as others that give an insight into a “way of seeing”

Preview on Friday, 19 April 2024 at 18:30

The Lost Songs of the Courtesans

Illustrated talk by Manjari Chaturvedi

The talk will explore the many genre of songs sung by the erstwhile Tawaifs and Baijis and how these songs find a place in our popular culture

Manjari Chaturvedi is a classical Indian dancer, the creator of Sufi Kathak and the restorer of the dance of Tawaifs, Director and Choreographer, TedX Speaker and Cultural academic

Music as Memory

A discussion with Sudhir Chandra; Meeta Pandit; Sudha Raghuraman; and Irfan Zuberi

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)
 

Looking for Aranyani and The Chant of Om

An exhibition of paintings – oil on canvas and ink
By Neha Bisht

The exhibition will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 16 April 2024 at 18:00 by Guru Nalini Ravi Jain and Richa Jain, celebrated Kathak exponents and empanelled artists with ICCR, Ministry of External Affairs

Guest of Honour: Radhika Dhumal, conservation Architect and Art Connoisseur and Romendra SaGar, Celebrated senior artist and media professional

Piano recital by Marouan Benabdallah, acclaimed pianist from Morocco

The night is the realm of indistinguishability, the moment of revelation, of enlightenment. The night has always been paradoxical and malleable, it is reassuring as it is disturbing. It is a place of the imagination and the subconscious, a place that inspires artists and fires their creativity. Marouan Benabdallah invites audiences to an exploration of the night through paintings and music focusing on French composers from the early 20th century. Works by Ravel, Duparc, Debusy, and other French composers

(Collaboration: Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in New Delhi and Delhi Music Society)

Integration of Bharat: Political and Constitutional Perspective

By Yashraj Singh Bundela (Mohan Law House: 2023)

Discussants: Shri Justice Hemant Gupta, former Judge, Supreme Court of India; Ms Madhavi Goradia Divan, former Additional Solicitor General, Supreme Court of India; and Shri Yashraj Singh Bundela, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and author of the book

Chair: Shri Balbir Punj, journalist and columnist

Presented by Nirali Kartik (vocal) from Mumbai, disciple of Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar

Accompanied by Zaheen Khan (tabla); and Sumit Mishra (harmonium)

WEBINAR 

Curatorial Strategies for Museum Displays

Speaker: Dr. Alka Pande, Consultant Art Advisor and Curator, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre and is responsible for setting up Bihar Museum, Divine Gesture, Udaipur City Palace and Kanha Museum. She was involved in the planning behind Bihar Museum Biennale 2021, and was the chief curator for Bihar Museum Biennale 2. An academic who has taught Art History and Art & Aesthetics at Panjab University, Delhi College of Art, National Institute of Design and the DJ Academy of Design, Coimbatore. Dr Pande’s fields of interest and scholarship are in gender identity, sexuality, traditional arts, Indian aesthetics, visual culture and photography, her most recent contribution being the 108 Portraits of Indian Culture and Heritage series.
 
Involved with the world of art for more than three decades, she has been responsible for curating several significant and perceptive exhibitions in India and abroad.
  
About the talk
As a Curator, Dr Pande has worked in different areas; from being the director of a university and state-run museums to a private museum. The talk centres around the different strategies required for setting up collections that may be permanent, as well as curatorial strategies for temporary exhibitions.  
 
(Collaboration: J.D. Centre of Art)

Zoom Registration link:  www.zoom.us/j/84908646683
Meeting ID: 849 0864 6683

Author, playwright, theatre director, filmmaker and actor, Manav Kaul in conversation with Sujata Prasad and Oroon Das

(Collaboration: Ahad Anhad)