July 2 – this day in history Culture Vulture Frozen in Time Performing Arts July 2, 2016 Live 8 concert was a string of concerts that took place in the G8 cities across the world on July 2, 2005. These concerts were organised with the main aim of raising awareness about poverty. The concert aimed to highlight UK’s Make Poverty History campaign and the Global Call for Action Against Poverty. It was also meant to put pressure on the G8 leaders, who were to meet for a G8 conference in Scotland from 6th – 8th July so that they
Remembering the king of pop, Michael Jackson Culture Vulture Frozen in Time Performing Arts June 25, 2016June 25, 2016 With a career graph spanning more than four decades, the King of Pop, breathed his last on the unfateful date, June 25, 2009. The pop singer, songwriter, dancer, actor and record producer, Michael Jackson ruled the hearts of millions world over. He made his debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. Apart from being a member of the Jackson 5 and giving several hits, MJ, became a solo performer in 1971. Michael Jackson has been credited
#Worldmusicday: Five musicians that inspired social change Culture Vulture Performing Arts UniFying June 20, 2016 Many musicians upheld the flag of social causes to alleviate suffering from war, civil rights, environmental abuse and homophobia. They have proved that music can be used as power change agent and as a medium for raising awareness on social issues. Choosing five out of the most iconic musicians is a task not many would be happy to do - but this is a personal favourites list. 1. John Lennon Lennon is perhaps the most popular poster boy who promoted social change
Bharangam2016: Parvateesham ban gaya Barrister Culture Vulture Performing Arts February 11, 2016April 28, 2016 Fuelled with a lot of mixed emotions, Barrister Parvateesham is a beautifully crafted play. THN got to witness it at the ongoing Bharat Rang Mahotsav by the National School of Drama. Directed by Shiva Prasad Tamu, an NSD alumnus, the play is an adaptation of a famous Telugu novel of the same name. Set up in the pre-Independence era, it is the story of a young man inspired by Bipin Chandra Pal’s speech during the freedom movement. Parvateesham decides to become
Mumtaz Siddiqui, Pankaj Kapur and a Dopehri Culture Vulture Performing Arts February 9, 2016April 28, 2016 As soon as I entered the Kamani auditorium, I was intrigued by the set up on the stage. It was all set and a curious audience was waiting for the showman of the day, Pankaj Kapur. Kapur has made a comeback on the stage almost after 18 years with Dopehri to take the audience into a different world with him. The auditorium lights went dim and there entered Kapur from the right side of the stage. He lights a lamp and
Ramayana, the puppet dance drama at BHARANGAM2016 Culture Vulture Performing Arts February 5, 2016April 28, 2016 Opened to a full house at the Sri Ram Centre, Ramayana shows the diversity and integrity of India in a true way. It was conceived by a man from Uttar Pradesh while in Mumbai with a theme that is entirely from Rajasthan. The play is a novel combination of ballet and puppetry. The artists with stylised movements, costumes and masks create an illusion of wooden puppets. Though the masks have faces, crowns and headgears painted on them but the skillful
Antigone at NSD’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2016 Culture Vulture Performing Arts February 4, 2016April 28, 2016 What a swift transition from page to stage it was! Even before the theatre commenced the actors were amidst the audience busy playing their roles with much elan. Sophocles of Kolones, one of the most famous and celebrated writer of tragedy plays in ancient Greece is credited with the authorship of the play 'Antigone'. 'Antigone', a production from Swapna Sandhani was all about a perfect synergy between the actors acting and direction. Upon her arrival at Thebes in Egypt, Antigone learns
Swachchh Bharat Abhiyaan with Kishan vs Kanhaiya Culture Vulture Performing Arts December 11, 2015April 28, 2016 The 131st show of Kishan vs Kanhaiya directed by Umesh Shukla was staged at Siri Fort auditorium, New Delhi. The main actor Paresh Rawal pulls in the audiences and how. The show had to be seened to be believed - that such wit, command on such tricky situations, subtle language use could result in a gem of a show in Hindi. Seldom does one hear such applause from audiences; loud laughter could be heard and clapping at the right moment and smiles
Niladri Kumar – The changing face of sitar Culture Vulture Performing Arts February 9, 2014June 25, 2017 Famed for inventing a ‘zitar’, Niladri Kumar has a repertoire ranging from traditional, classical compositions on the sitar. Zitar is a combination of guitar and sitar that aims at targeting the younger generation in India and popularise Indian classical music amongst them. He will soon be releasing his new album Sur Yajna (Universal Music Publishing Group). An email conversation reveals some interesting facets of the artist: Please tell us about your journey. I started playing sitar at the age of four under
Dancing and singing divine stories Culture Vulture Performing Arts November 1, 2013June 24, 2017 Richa Jain lives and breathes kathak. Trained in Hindustani classical vocal music also, she is among the few who exhibit the rare quality of divine dancing and singing simultaneously while presenting abhinaya (expressions) on thumri, dadra, ghazals, geet and more. This weekend, November 9, 2013, she will be performing Sufi compositions aptly titled Tere Ishq Nachaya, under the Kala Kunj umbrella.Born to dancer parents, Jain has been performing professionally since 2008. Her performances are a blend of three gharanas—Lucknow, Benaras
