Small Talk

Starry night
Yet another over-night concert by Spic Macay witnessed stalwarts like Vishwa Mohan Bhatt,Darshana Jhaveri,Padma Talwalkar,Venkatesh Kumar and Bahauddin Dagar took audience in a state of trance with their exhilarating performances. Geeta Prakash from Spic Macay,says,”This is our second over-night event and it is a wonderful idea to end and then start your day amid some soulful music from our own land.” The event,which was held at Sant Dnyaneshwar Bhavan,MIT College,went on till seven in the morning. Talking to the organisers and media,Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt says,”Classical art too needs right pacakaging and promotion. I don’t see why big actors and businessman,who are themselves artistes,in a way,buy cricket and not sponsor art. I would be happiest if we also have a channel dedicated to classical art forms.” Expresinh his opinion on fusion music,he says,”It is common for a classical art follower to mind fusion music. But to me,fusion is just another form of music and it is as pure as classical. We cannot work in vacuum and be purist,music crosses boundaries and not makes them.” Making an appeal to parents and schools,Veteran Manipuri dance exponent Darshana Jhaveri says,“We dont perform for money. the pleasure that we get in making an attempt in instilling values and respect for indian art forms in children through our performance is what that inspires me.”
Though Jhaveri feels that every classical form needs support,she is sure that Manipuri dance will not fade away given the fact that its is inter-wined with the socio-cultural-religious life of people.
Apart from Jhaveri,Bahauddin Dagar memserised audience by playing Rudraveena,a rare intrument in the classical secne.

Peep into history
IN an attempt to bridge political differences through creativity,Lokayat is organising a talk by world renowned scholar Dr Asghar Ali Engineer and the screening of film Had Anhad,a musical journey into the politics of religion in both India and Pakistan. The movie is directed by Shabnam Virmani from Bangalore. The event is being organised under the head- Understanding Jinnah,understanding Pakistan,and will take place from 4 to 8 pm at Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal Hall, Sadashiv Peth.