In a land that is marked by diversity, the Indian canvas has a unique richness of cultural expressions that transcend beyond its geographical boundaries. Neeti Prakash asserts it specifically stands out as a reflection of the country’s linguistic and cultural heritage. Regional literature in India presents a kaleidoscopic view of this diversity in terms of customs, traditions and beliefs. Rightly referred to as the land of diversity, India has a unique richness of cultural expressions that extend beyond its geographical boundaries. Indian literature specifically stands out as a reflection of the country’s linguistic and cultural heritage. From the ancient Tamil…
Author: shubhangi
Soumya Nair takes a long look at the bustling realm of Indian theatre and points out how from the golden period of the Sanskrit era to the present theatrical excellence, Indian drama has retained its flavour and finesse through generations. She explains that through the changes that obtained, the literary traditions in theatre remain guarded, and points out, many contemporary plays are adaptations or interpretations of ancient texts. Dating back to the ancient times, Indian drama and theatre have evolved through centuries, inspiring art forms and literature around the world and leaving a lasting impact on the world of performing…
Known for its stunning natural beauty and dramatic landscapes, Dharamshala lies in the shadow of the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas. The picturesque hill town is much more than a paradise for tourists seeking peace, tranquillity and breath-taking cameos. There is a gamut of activities that tourists can enjoy from dawn to dusk. Beyond Mcleodganj, the epicentre, a world replete with jaw-dropping sights and adventure awaits. We were lead actors in a fairy tale, we felt, as we woke up to a new dawn at the juSTa Birding Resort and Spa, a half hour drive from Dharamshala. The scenic hill…
“Improvisation in Carnatic music is a widely misunderstood concept. It is unfortunate that people have started to think that improvisation has to be complex.” Chennai-based Sivasri Skandaprasad (27) is multifaceted — a professional Carnatic vocalist, Bharatnatyam dancer, engineer, choreographer, art activist, playback singer, etc., she has also lent her voice to various TV commercials. She started singing at three and has given playback for the films Ponniyin Selvan 1 and 2, which has A R Rahman as composer. She won plaudits from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her Kannada rendition of a devotional song. In a free-wheeling interview with A.…
Deft strokes, breath-taking colour palettes and an outpouring of creativity were the hallmarks of Chitrashaala 2024, an annual art residency held near scenic Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The setting proved, if at all it was required, that art is a bridge between cultures, civilizations and perspectives. He painted like a man possessed – long, sweeping strokes – looking up occasionally to embrace the eternal mountains that reared on the horizon. In two days, artist Sangiam Yarangsee, from North Thailand, had created 15 canvases at Chitrashaala 2024, an international art residency held at juSTa Birding Resort & Spa near Dharamshala. A total…
The recent flash floods that brought Dubai to its knees once again put the spotlight on cloud seeding and its effectiveness in controlling pollution or increasing rainfall. Worse still, there is a raging debate whether it was because of cloud seeding or climate change – one a desperate measure, and the other, majorly a fallout of human indiscretion. Raju Korti analyses. You just do not tinker with Nature. It is simply what it is and not what it ought to be. For all its famed resilience, it has an uncanny knack of getting back at you hard, and though gradual,…
Citing a number of instances from the affected states as also the concern expressed by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and UN, Tuhina Bannerji points out how the man-animal conflict is fast spiralling out of control and suggests what can be done to ensure that both remain in their natural habitats and co-exist peacefully as they should. It was never such an “uneasy coexistence” between humans and wildlife. Worse still, nobody knows where it’s headed. A recent spate of man-animal conflicts – mostly reported from Kerala and Uttarakhand – have jolted the policymakers out of their slumber and left…
Kitareba 2.0, a dance performance by Sapphire production creates a wonderful tribute to the women and children of the newly formed East Pakistan who suffered the impact of forced, political migration, writes Shoma A. Chatterji. Kitareba 2.0 is a stage performance presented as the annual performance by Sapphire, a post-modern dance company founded and directed by the ever-enthusiastic Sudarshan Chakraborty. Kitareba is a word in Sylheti dialect which indigenously means ‘How do you do?’. Sylhet is a metropolitan city in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. It is situated on the banks of the Surma River. The city has a population of approximately 700,000…
Hero of Burma Campaign Wing Commander Karun Krishna Majumdar was born in Kolkata on 6 September 1913. His maternal grandfather, Womesh Chunder Bannerjee was the first president of the Indian National Congress. As Karun was over six feet tall and well-built, he acquired the nickname Jumbo. Jumbo gave the fledgling Indian Air Force its first war hero in World War ll. He was the only pilot in the IAF (Indian Air Force) to be decorated with the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross), twice, that is DFC with Bar. He completed his schooling at St Pauls School in Darjeeling. In 1932, he…
Cinematographer par excellence One of the earliest Hindi films to be recognised for the quality of its special effects was the super duper hit ‘Mr India’ directed by acclaimed international director Shekhar Kapoor. The film was released on 25 May 1987 and had a phenomenal run at the box office. The cinematographer who cranked the camera for the film was Peter Pereira and he was the brain behind the special effects scenes as well. Peter was the mainstay of several films directed by successful commercial film-maker Manmohan Desai. Peter, whose father had an abiding interest in photography, was born in…