ARTISTS TURN KATHAKARS AT THIS CITY FEST
International Storytellers Festival in Delhi will see Imtiaz Ali and Manoj Bajpayee narrate stories
Henna Rakheja
Which is your favourite story? Okay, wait. Don’t begin narrating it just as yet, since the stage is set for the International Storytellers festival in the Capital, and your choicest pick might just change. The upcoming Kathakar — International Storytellers Festival will have storytellers not only from India but also from UK, Australia, and Poland, spinning yarns of tales with actor Manoj Bajpayee and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, too, turning kathakars (storytellers) this season.
In its 12th edition, the festival will have some returning raconteurs with new stories. Shaguna Gahilote, curator of the festival, says, “In Delhi, we have been doing this festival for nine years now, and are very conscious of what we bring. For instance, Emily Hennessey will perform for the third time, but this year she will narrate stories of Kali, and from Mahabharata.”
Actor Danish Husain, who will perform for the fourth time, will present Dastangoi in Qissebazi-style. Husain says, “What excites me is that it’s truly an international storytelling festival. They manage to get oral storytellers from across the world that increases your exposure and tells you what others are doing; there’s so much to learn from each other.”
And taking Delhiites to Australian aboriginal culture will be Uncle Larry. “I’ll be talking about the story of the Koala among some other stories. All dreamtime stories relate to how we are connected to country and each other — they give us lessons about social structure, the creation of the environment and teach us how to survive on your own and on our neighbours country,” says the artist, for who the two heroes of storytelling are Mahatma Gandhi and singer-activist Paul Robeson.
It’s truly an international storytelling festival. They manage to get oral storytellers from across the world that increases your exposure and tells you what others are doing.
DANISH HUSAIN ACTOR