VARSHA RITU: IIC MONSOON FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Hindustani Vocal Recital 
By Siddharth Sahai from Delhi, disciple of Guru Sanjeev Jha
Accompanist: Roman Das (Pakhawaj)

Dhrupad Bandhu 
By Sanjeev Jha and Manish Kumar from Bihar, disciple of Gundecha Brothers.
Accompanists: Pandit Dalchand Sharma (Pakhawaj)

IIC MONSOON FESTIVAL OF DANCE: 20 & 21 AUGUST 2026

Odissi Recital
By Geetanjali Acharya from Gurugram, disciple of Late Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra & Guru Sujata Mohapatra

At 19:00

Bharatanatyam Recital
By Apeksha Kamath from Bangalore, disciple of Acharya Smt. Indira Kadambi  

Amma’s Way: A Journey to Embrace the World Again
(2022; 85 minutes; English)

Directed by Anna Agnelli  
 

A documentary that follows the life and humanitarian work of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, widely known as Amma or "The Hugging Saint." The film explores how one person's message of love and care has inspired millions around the world, inviting reflection on the power of kindness and our shared responsibility toward one another in an increasingly divided world.

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
 

Raseedi Ticket – A Journey into the Soul of Amrita Pritam

(Inspired by the autobiography, stories, and poetry of Padma Vibhushan Amrita Pritam)

Design and Direction: Dr. Savita Rani; Writer: Sudha Adukula; Actor: Shalom Sannutha; Art: Khaju Guttal 
Music: Munna Mysore

Inspired by Amrita Pritam's autobiography, stories and poetry, Raseedi Ticket is a one-woman play that traces the life and literary journey of one of India's most celebrated writers. The play explores themes of love, rebellion, freedom and the resilience of women, offering an intimate portrait of the woman behind the words.
 

Afsaana Hui Shaam: Dramatized reading of short stories of Begum Masroor Jahan

Performers: Saira Mujtaba; Sunita Singh; Tariquee Haameed

The play is an endeavour of promoting intimate literary ‘mehfils’ where the storyteller/raconteurs present short stories through voice acting alone. Four stories would be read – Lootera, Kunji, Khoye Huye Lamhe and Jilawatan.

(Collaboration: Wings Cultural Society)

Nar-Hari: 6 Verses from Shri Guru Granth Sahib & Panchvani

An Inclusive Sankirtan where Music, Mysticism & Spirituality Meet Science

Performers: Ayush Jha, vocalist and/or on Harmonium; Kanha Trehan, vocalist & with khartaal; Rajat Kanungo, vocalist and/or on harmonium; Sanvi Katoch, vocalist and/or on harmonium; Dr Sangeeta, vocalist and/or on harmonium; Satvik on Tabla; Amar on Guitar; Pragshu on Cajun; Anya Katoch, chorus singer

Guest of Honour & Patron: Prof. Charanjit Singh Shah, Chairman & Founder, Creative Group LLP

Performance inspired by the teachings of the 15th-century Bhakti saint Ravidas, whose compositions are enshrined in both the Shri Guru Granth Sahib and Panchvani. Blending devotional music, participatory Sankirtan and narration, the programme explores the dialogue between spirituality and contemporary scientific thought, offering a reflective experience that celebrates joy, inclusivity and inner transformation.

Rhythms of Maharashtra :  Lavani & Jogwa

A Folk Dance & Music Performance from Maharashtra

Presented by Amrapali Lavani Loknritya Kala Manch, Maharashtra

Led by Ritu Akash Bahadure; Musicians, Lokesh on Keyboard; Ajay and Rahul on Dholki; Divya on Vocal; Dancers, Riya, Mehak, Soumya, Arshad, Akash and Samrudhi.

Present the vibrant traditions of Lavani and Jogwa, two distinctive folk forms of Maharashtra that seamlessly blend music, dance, rhythm, and storytelling. Through energetic choreography and evocative performances, it will celebrate the region's rich cultural heritage while reflecting themes of devotion, resilience, and the lived experiences of its communities

(Collaboration: NCZCC, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India)

Victoria

(2024; 85 minutes; Malayalam with English subtitles)
Director: Sivaranjini

With Meenakshi Jayan, Stephy Zaviour, Jolly Chirayath

Recipient of the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film by a Debut Director at IFFK 2024; Official Selection, Shanghai International Film Festival (Asia New Talent Competition).

Victoria is a young beautician working in a modest beauty parlour in Kerala. On a day that promises a new beginning, she prepares to leave behind the life she has always known and elope with the man she loves. As the hours unfold, however, a series of encounters with the women around her, friends, colleagues and clients compel her to reflect on the choices before her. As Victoria finds herself increasingly torn between duty and desire, certainty and doubt, the film becomes a sensitive exploration of agency, companionship and the courage required to chart one's own course.

(Collaboration: FIPRESCI India)
 

Yakasi's Daughter
(2025; 74 minutes; Mising with English subtitles)
Director: Jayanta Madhab Dutta
With Rina Dole, Diganta Pegu 
Fourteen-year-old Jariyum lives with her family on a remote river island in Assam, where annual floods, poverty and isolation shape everyday life. A member of the Mising community, she dreams of a future different from that of her mother, Yakasi, whose life has been marked by hardship and domestic drudgery. As Jariyum prepares to elope with her young fiancé in the hope of a better life, she finds herself confronting the realities of the world around her and the uncertainties that lie ahead. 

 (Collaboration: FIPRESCI India)

Whispers of the Mountains
(2025; 90 minutes; Rajasthani with English subtitles)
Director: Jigar Nagda

With Harshant Sharma, Rajveer Rao and Kunal Mehta.

Official Selection, Indian Panorama, 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI); Official Selection, Indian Language Competition, Kolkata International Film Festival 2025.

Set in Rajasthan's rugged Aravalli region, the film follows Tilak, a widowed tea stall owner struggling to make ends meet, and his twelve-year-old mute son Raghu, who shares a deep and instinctive bond with the mountains surrounding their village. While Tilak sees mining as a path to economic survival, Raghu witnesses the gradual destruction of the landscape he loves. When a scholarship offers him the possibility of a different future, he finds himself torn between personal aspirations and familial responsibilities. As economic hardship and environmental degradation increasingly shape their lives, the fragile relationship between father and son is tested. 

(Collaboration: FIPRESCI India)