Journalism of Courage
Ujwal Nagar and Chayan Adhikari, part of music outfit Advaita, give a contemporary twist to classical music; dastangoi performers take off on magical adventures in their storytelling; and dancers Shreya Kumar and Rajan Rathore show how rhythm is the best body language. If these performances are special, so are their venues. Part of an event titled “Lost & Found Festival”, the shows are being presented in community halls in Pitampura, Sarita Vihar and Vasant Kunj. Kumar and Rathore will reprise their pieces at Sarita Vihar’s Community Hall (C Block) today.
Central Delhi has long been the centre of gravity for the arts and culture scene but the Lost & Found Festival, whose tagline is “Milo, Dekho, Khelo”, has shifted some of the action to satellite venues. “For several years, I have thought that art and culture should be available and accessible to everyone. As prices for regular auditoriums rise, artistes have begun exploring alternative venues. The audiences are new but who is to say that they cannot be consumers of our kind of art and culture?” says Mallika Taneja, theatre actor and the Festival Director.
Theatre group Tadpole Repertory, dance forum Gati, and music organisation for at-risk youth Music Basti have come on board. The festival, spread over two weeks, began on November 1 with workshops and wall art making up the first part. “Since we were engaging with a new audience, we wanted to create active participants. There are people who have wanted to sing or act and then life snuffed out these dreams.
The workshops gave them a platform,” says Taneja. Sessions included “Theatre for Senior Citizens” and “Music for Everyone”.
The festival ends today with a dance performance at Sarita Vihar.
Entry: Free
