Mudgal, other stalwarts to feature in Jaipur cultural fest
The nine day festival of performing arts will present a series of rich and diverse productions of theatre, dance, sufi, classical, pop and fusion music
Jaipur will witness a star-studded week when music stalwarts like Shubha Mudgal and Vidya Shah will come forward to perform at Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) as a part of Navras 2017 – a performing arts festival, spanning over a period of 9 days from March 18 – 26. The festival will present a series of rich and diverse productions of theatre, contemporary dance and sufi, classical, pop and fusion music. The idea is to give the audiences a chance to experience the arts and its impact in a range of spectacular spaces within the JKK premises. Says Pooja Sood, DG, JKK, “We
are proud to present a variety of nationally acclaimed performances in art, music, dance and theatre to the audiences in Jaipur. If Navras means to have new experiences, then it is our endeavor that the audiences enrich themselves in experiencing theatre, dance and music in new and diverse ways.” Noted singer Shubha Mudgal and her band Koshish, will be opening the festival with a sonorous performance. Equally at ease with popular music and fusion projects, Shubha Mudgal is one of India’s acclaimed vocalists who has specialised in Hindustani classical music. The days that follow will witness many artistic presentations including dance productions – Ganapati by Adishakti andtimeless by Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company, theatre productions – Kaumudi by Abhishek Majumdar and White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour. The fes- tival will also witness the premier of ‘Phool Kesula Phool’ – a theatre production commissioned by JKK and directed by Rajasthan’s bright talent Rajendra Panchal. JKK will also be presenting ‘Tilchatteyki Diary’, a play for children that was also commissioned in summer 2016.
In an attempt to introduce audiences to alternative viewing strategies, several experimental productions have been invited to Navras. For example, in White Rabbit Red Rabbit, there is nothing between the actor and the audience – no directorial vision and no production design. The script is handed over to the artist on the stage and then he/she has to improvise and make it interactive. Dil-o-danish, a long durational reading of Krishna Sobti’s celebrated novel about Delhi and the Ganga-jamuna tehzib of the city will be held in a specially conceived tent outdoors. As the audiences immerse themselves in the story of Delhi they will also get to ‘taste’ ‘Dilli ka khaana’ which will be served as a part of the reading session. Directed by Anuradha Kapur, this work borders between theatre and a reading.
There will also be an exhibition, ‘Women on Record’, curated and designed by photographer Delhi-based ace photographer Parthiv Shah on March 26. The exhibition which will run in the Museum Galleries 2 and 3 of Jawahar Kala Kendra till the end of April, is a showcase of a world of incredible women, of black and white era, of the Salon, the Tawaifs, stories, riddles, anecdotes, photographs and songs. This will be enunciated by a performance of classical music by Vidya Shah .