Treat for city’s culture vultures

A Festival of the Arts which marks the 13th anniversary this year will be held from October 22-26 at India International Centre.  What is distinctive about this festival of the arts is the range it presents – dance, music, theatre, films, exhibitions and special cuisine with IIC’s fine open air spaces hosting most of these events.

The IIC Experience: A Festival of the Arts this year has a strong focus on Bengal. The festival opens on October 22 at 6:30 pm with a presentation of ‘Chaturvidh’, four dances in the Odishi Marga, presented by Odishi Vision and Movement Centre, Kolkata and choreographed by the noted dancer, Sharmila Biswas. 

A morning concert will be presented on Sunday with a tribute to mark the birth centenary of the legendary artiste, MS Subbulakshmi with ‘Born to Sing: A Shy Girl from Madurai’ presented by Just Us Repertory, Chennai. In the evening Ghazab Teri Adaa- a comic musical theatre which marks the centenary of World War I and is a tribute to the victims directed by Prof Waman Kendre, Director NSD and will be presented in Hindi by National School of Drama Repertory Company. 

Arias, Opera and Musical Theatre on October 24 at 6:30 pm, marks the launch of an exciting new group, The Lyric Ensemble of Delhi with music direction by Clayton Duggan, artistic direction by Diniz Sanchez and Founder/Voice Coach by Situ Singh Buehler. IIC would host a Hindustani vocal music by Jayateerth Mevundi of the Kirana Gharana, disciple of the late Pt Arjunsa Nakod and late Pt Shripati Padegar on the next day. The final performance of the festival on October 26 will feature an international concert by Accordion State Youth Orchestra of Baden-Wuerttemberg with the Conductor, SilkeD’Inka, a 30 piece orchestra.

The exhibitions in the festival, both indoors and outdoors include ‘Time Past and Time Present: Treasures of Human Knowledge’ at the Asiatic Society, Kolkata, an exhibition on the history and contribution of the Asiatic Society to the knowledge and study of human civilization in Asia since 1784.

‘KG Subramanyan: An Aesthetic Journey’, celebrates the life and work of the renowned artist with an exhibition of original works in gouache, ink on paper, acrylic - reverse painting on acrylic sheet,the artist’s own writings and illustrated books for children. Curated by Vijay Kowshik, the exhibition will be on view at the Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex until November 4. 

‘In the Language of Clay’ will be an exploration and tribute to artisans and craftspersons working with clay with an exhibition of terracotta objects and live demonstrations by craftspersons.

Concurrently IIC Experience will also be hosting two thematic film festivals: ‘Celebrating Six Decades of Spanish Cinema’ and ‘A Date with Shakespeare’ featuring 6 Shakespeare adaptations by diverse directors. As a cross over between performance and film, screening of a restored version of a  silent Italian film made in 1916, Cenere directed by Febo Mari with live soundtrack will also be held.