Our Arts: Our Society

Speaker: Shri Ashok Vajpeyi, poet, essayist, literary-cultural critic, and eminent cultural and arts administrator

Opening Remarks: Suhas Borker, Convener, Kapil Vatsyayan Memorial Committee and Trustee, IIC

Closing Remarks: Dr. Aditya Malik, Member, Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Committee and Founding Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, Plaksha University

Chair: Shri N.N. Vohra, Life Trustee, IIC

(Collaboration: Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Committee)

Traditional Folk Songs from Bihar/Uttar Pradesh
Kajri and other Bhojpuri folk songs presented by Dr. Revati Sakalkar from Varanasi

Kajri is a folk song and dance presented by women from Uttar Pradesh and the adjacent regions during the rainy season. A Hindustani classical form, the lyrics of the songs often describe the longing of the maiden for her lover as the black monsoon cloud arrives in the summer skies

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

Ruchika Theatre’s production of Maxim Gorky’s classic play
Directed by Feisal Alkazi

First premiered in 1902 under the direction of Konstantin Stanislavski, and where he developed ‘Method Acting’, the play is a hallmark of Russian social realism. The play depicts a group of impoverished Russians living in a shelter near the Volga. Considered a theatre classic, new productions of the play in every conceivable language of the world are performed regularly.
 

By Maestro Izumi Tateno

The artist will present a concert programme of works by Bach/Brahms; Scriabin; Nordgren; Koichiro Mitsunaga; and Takashi Yoshimatsu

(Collaboration: Embassy of Japan; and Delhi Music Society)
 

Outhouse (97 min; Hindi with English subtitles)
Director: Sunil Sukthankar
Produced by Dr. Mohan Agashe who will introduce the film

With Sharmila Tagore, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Jihan Hodar

Screening will be followed by a discussion with Hema Devare and Suhas Borker, co-conveners of the Maharashtra Sanskritik Divas

Nana, a retired single adamant old man, has no idea that an unwelcomed guest on his four - a puppy is going to change the course of his life. Aadima, a senior graphic designer artist, doesn’t have the faintest inkling that the same puppy is going to force her to go on adventures she otherwise wouldn’t. And Neel, her grandson has no clue that he is going to help Nana and Aadima understand the needs of elderly singles.

(Collaboration: Maharashtra Sanskritik ani Rannaniti Adhyayan Samiti) 

By Dhananjay Hegde from Mumbai, disciple of Pt. Venkatesh Kumar and Pt. Vinayak Torvi. Recipient of the Sanskriti-Madhobi Chatterji Memorial Fellowship

(Collaboration: Sanskriti Pratishthan)

With Susmit Sen, well-known music composer, guitarist and the founding member of the iconic band, Indian Ocean; and Krishnendu Bose, the National Award and multiple award winning documentary filmmaker. Together they will recreated some of the pieces that Susmit has composed for the films of Krishnendu, along with film clips and ending with the chilling Bay of Blood, the film on the Bangladesh genocide of 1971.
 

An evening of the Punjabi poetry 
Recited and sung by Rekha Raj, Shumita Didi and Poonam Singh

Conceptualised by Reena Nanda

Chalo Faqiran de Mele attempts to revive interest in the Punjabi language through its rich literary heritage. Guru Nanak Dev is revered as the founder of the Sikh religion and his teachings in the Guru Granth Sahib are in the form of the poetical Shabads set to specific ragas. Not just a holy book, it is one of the greatest works of literature that also includes 14 other Sants of the Bhakti tradition like Kabir. Among them, Baba Farid is the only Muslim of the Chishti Sufi silsila. Bulleh Shah and Shah Husayn hugely popularised by Nusrat Fateh Ali and Abida Parveen composed in Panjabi and called themselves Faqirs, not beggars but humble disciples of their particular Murshid/Guru. They recited and sang their poems amongst the populance at large who have kept this oral tradition alive, that, today, constitutes a large body of Punjabi literature. 
 

A ‘stage documentary’ based on the award-winning biography by Sahar Zaman, grand-niece of Talat Mahmood, well-known playback singer and considered the ‘Ghazal King’. The production is a mix of narration, performance, film projection and choreography

Conceptualised and Directed by Sohaila Kapur
Produced by Three Arts Club and Katyayani Production

The author, Sahar Zaman will speak briefly about her experiences writing the biography and share personal anecdotes about her great-uncle.
 

Devrai (Sacred Grove/India)
(108 min; 2004; Marathi with English subtitles)
Director: Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukthankar

Recipient of the Best Film Award for Environment Conservation/Preservation, 52nd National Film Awards 2004; Special Jury Prize, Bombay International Film Festival 2005; awards for Best Film, the Best Director, the Best Actor, and the Best Actress, Screen Awards 2004; and Award for Best Film with Social Message, 42 Maharashtra State Film Awards 2004; among others

The film will be introduced by Dr. Mohan Agashe, well-known actor and psychiatrist who will lead a discussion following the screening

The film received critical acclaim for the portrayal of schizophrenia and for the performances of its lead actors. The story of a man who has schizophrenia and is struggling to come to terms with his illness and the frustration of his helpless sister.

(Collaboration: Brotherhood)