On the occasion of the Independence day of Indonesia, The Indonesian embassy is screening two Indonesian documentaries on 13 and 14 August, 2014.

On 13th August, 2014 Habibie and Ainun Duration : Two Hours
The movie depicts a true love story of the third Indonesian President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (Habibie) and his beloved wife Hasri Ainun Habibie (Ainun). Habibie and Ainun were class mates in school. They met again in Indonesia upon Habibie’s returned from Germany for a temporary sick leave. On their first meeting at Ainun’s house in Bandung, they instantly fell in love. Their love journey continued when Habibie returned to Germany in order to pursue his studies in Aachen as well as when he was called by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to serve his country in the field of technology, aircraft industry and then politics. His ultimate services were to be CEO in Indonesia’s aircraft enterprise. Minister of Research and Technology, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, and President of the Republic of Indonesia. Along Habibie’s outstanding career journey and dedication to Indonesia. Ainun was his loyal and loving partner and soul mate who was always there for him to provide endless support. The journey ended when Ainun became gravely ill and finally passed away. Habibie and Ainun’s love has been built on the journey to pursue their dreams. For Habibie, Ainun was his everything. She became the eyes to oversee his wife. For Ainun, Habibie had been her everything whom could fill love in her life. Every story has an end, every dream has a limit. Yet, Habibie and Ainun’s love never ended.

On 14th August, 2014 (open for all) The Border between Desire and Reality Duration : Two Hours

Abstract of the film: Border tells the story of Jaleswari, an ambitious and assertive woman who as assigned by her office from Jakarta to the rural area of Kalimantan located at the border of Malaysia and Indonesia to promote education to the local people. Her assignment was the promote education to the local people. Throughout her time in the rural area, she faced emotional battle when her vision to promote education was challenged by the values of local tradition and culture. This is a story of Jaleswari’s struggle for a better life of the people of Kalimantan through education, It also depicts her journey to introduce program to the people of Kalimantan without alienating them from their traditions and culture.

Venue: IGNCA Auditorium, C.V. Mess, New Delhi – 01

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One of the best exponents of this art, Shri Bhaskar Kogga Kamath will be taken to educational institutions in Bengaluru for performance of “Choodamani: Lanka Dahana” episode.

Venue and Time:

11 August 2014: At IGNCA Southern Regional Centre campus Amphitheatre, Kengute Circle, Magadi-Kengeri Ring Road, Near IIPM, Mallathalli, Jnanabharathi Post, 10 a.m.
11 August 2014: Vidyaniketan School, 2.00 p.m.
12 August 2014: Mirambika School, J.P. Nagar, 10.00 a.m.
12 August 2014: Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Electronics City Phase 1, 2.00 p.m.

YouTube Link – Choodamani – Lankadahana (Puppet performance)

Join us as we pay homage to one of the most inspiring trailblazers; Zohra Sehgal. Zohra Sehgal went to Queen Mary College, Lahore at a time when strict purdah was still observed. She followed her heart, become a dancer; went to Germany and got a three year diploma in dancing. In the documentary, she shares about her training in expressing the consciousness of one’s body. On her return, she joined the dancing school of Uday Shanker. She joined the theatre group of Prithvi Raj Kapoor and worked with him for fifteen years, and even acted in films with him. The personality of this great danseuse, actress and the theatre person is unveiled by Dr.Kapila Vatsyayan – the well known visionary of art and culture.

IGNCA collaborated with the Times International Folk Festival 2014 . A special exhibition of Phulkari and Gond paintings from the IGNCA collection was arranged and this was widely appreciated.

A special exhibition of Phulkari and Gond paintings from the IGNCA collection will be on display, artists will demonstrate their crafts. IGNCA documentary ‘The Story of Ram,’based on folk performances will also be screened on 9 August, Saturday 12.15 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. The documentary highlights the mythological and linguistic nuances of the Ramlila at Ayodhya as a blend of Braj, Madhubani region and Avadhi Dialects.
The Festival has a wide range of performances from the desert echoes of Rajasthan Josh of Chugge Khan and party to the Sattriya of Assam, Shabnam Virmani , Waee singers and Mooralala Marwada, to Ottan Thullal of Kerala, Indic-Greek production of Dr Sonal Mansingh, Purulia Chhau of Bengal, Mallakhamb of Maharashtra and puppet theatre of Karnataka: Yakshagana Gombeyaata. Also the best of international troupes- Indonesia ballet and shadow puppetry, Sri Lankan dance and Norwegian folk performances, Workshops and stalls for handicrafts, cuisines of India, film screenings and lots more! Details of the festival on the website! http://www.tiffblr.com/

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• Invitation

On the occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in collaboration with Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi produced a puppet show on the life of Swami Vivekananda. This show, created by BharatiyaLok Kala Mandal, Udaipur, has already travelled to around 200 centres in the north, north-east and western India. It has been received very well. An English version of the puppet show is ready. Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik will inaugurate the English version of the puppet show at Ramakrishna Mission Auditorium on 31 July 2014 at 6.30 p.m.

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By Dr. Akira Shimada, State University of New York, New Paltz

• Abstract for the talk (PDF)

Abstract for the talk (PDF)

Shri. G. Venu shall be present to take questions from the audience.
Origin of Pavakathakali or Puppet Kathakali is attributed to the Andippandaram community,an itinerant group who travelled from Andhra Pradesh and settled in Kerala. They performed puppetry as they moved from village to village for their livelihood. When Kathakali became popular in the eighteenth century, they began to dress up their puppets in Kathakali costumes and make up and also adapted attakatha, the text of Kathakali, creating a new form of puppetry called Pavakathakali. This 56 minute long presentation traces the history; the challenges the art form has faced in various phases of its existence and the present day efforts to rejuvenate it in the rustic setting in Kerala.

Release of DVD ‘Masters of Hindustani Classical Music Series‘ Pandit Laxmanrao Pandit. The DVD release will be followed by a concert by Pt. Laxman Krishnarao Pandit accompanied by Ud. Faiyaz Khan – Table and Pt. Bharat Bhushan Goswami – Sarangi.

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Exciting works of fiction, non-fiction and those of academic interest will be showcased through readings, panel discussions and informal conversations. The aim is to tap into the rich intellectual wealth of Delhi and the IGNCA, and bridge the divide between the reader and writer in the wonderful setting on the IGNCA Library.

Panelists: Ms Aruna Chakravarti (Academic, Translator, Creative Writer) Ms Reba Som (Academic, Writer) A discussion on Ms Chakraverti’s translations of Sunil Gangopadhyay’s work First Light and Those Days with a focus on the Bengal Renaissance as it emerges in the novels.

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