Prize Call

It is considered one of contemporary Indian arts most prestigious awards as well as the most fiercely contested.

It is considered one of contemporary Indian arts most prestigious awards as well as the most fiercely contested. As the Skoda Prize turns three this year,the hunt is on to find another artist. Many artists across India have been filling up forms ever since organisers made a call for entries. Candidates can apply till August 31. Artists need to have held a solo show between May 1,2011 and April 30,2012,and can be working with any medium,including video,photography and performance. The winner takes home a prize money of Rs 10 lakh. Delhi-based artist Mithu Sen had won the prize in its first year for Black Candy,an audio-visual work that commented on male sexuality. Bangalore-based Navin Thomas,the winner for 2011,bested fellow artists LN Thallur and Jitish Kallat,with his work From Towns End,which explored the afterlife of telephones,transistors and other electronic items that have been discarded.

The Emperor Returns

What role does the ghost of Babur,the first Mughal emperor,play in the 21st century? On a ghostly visit to London,he breaks the terrorist plot of four men and women in a suburb there. This is the premise of Babur in London,an opera being staged in London by The Opera Group,London. The storyline follows the religious and political dilemma that plagues the protagonists Faiz,Mo,Nafisa and Saira. Indian poet Jeet Thayil has written the libretto for the piece,while Edward Rushton is the music composer and John Fulljames,well-known for his fresh approach to operas,is the director. Babur in London is a disturbing tale of todays young people coming to terms with their beliefs and the consequences of their actions. The five actors in the cast are from India,Switzerland and the UK and the production opened in Zurich in March. According to the website of The Opera Group,the play will travel to Switzerland,UK and India this year.

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