ROUND-UP

Borpujari in Montreal World Film Festival jury

Film critic-journalist Utpal Borpujari has been nominated as a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) jury for the 34th Montreal World Film Festival (MWFF), considered among one of the most prestigious film festivals globally. Borpujari will serve in the jury that will decide the International Critics’ FIPRESCI prize at the festival that will run from August 26 to September 6.

The other members of the jury, chaired by Andrea Dittgen of Germany, are Mario Abbade from Brazil, Diego Cabrera from Peru, Jon Frosch from France, Pascal Grenier from Canada, Anders Larsson from Sweden and Jake Wilson from Australia. Borpujari, who had won the Swarna Kamal for the Best Film Critic at the 50th National Film Awards in 2003, has served in FIPRESCI juries earlier also, in international film festivals like MAMI in Mumbai, Osian’s Cinefan in Delhi and documentary festival MIFF in Mumbai.

Huge boost for music trade industry

The first focused music trade magazine of the country was launched recently. The magazine, Sound Box, is published from Mumbai and is edited by Aparna Joshi. Published by Nitin Tej Ahuja from Mumbai, this is probably the first time that someone has attempted to bring out a music magazine that covers all aspects relating to the creation and usage of music in India. With a vibrant music industry and the music market covering various languages, the need for a focused music trade magazine had been long felt. Let’s hope Sound Box fills the gap.

Theatre season starts in Nagaon

The much awaited theatre season of 2010 began here at Nagaon with ‘Brahamputra Theatre’ leading the pack with six days of show last Wednesday. While the fest marked the beginning of their run this season, theatre lovers are excited at the prospect of being able to watch celebrities from all across the State, like Krishnamoni Nath and Gayatri Mahanta, performing at their very own Nehru Bali field. Most of the scripts in the six-day festival have been written especially for Nath and Mahanta; one of them, Mur Naam Junali, is being eagerly awaited by the people.

Painting and photography exhibition held in Diphu

A painting and photography exhibition was held at Diphu last week. The exhibition was organised by Curves & Shades and the same attracted attention from artistes and patrons alike. The exhibition was conceptualised by artist Ranjan Engti. According to Engti, “Curves & Shades was formed in the year 2004 to limelight and endorse the creative aptitude of youths in the field of painting and photography ; in order to create a space where youths from diverse field can come together to represent artworks depicting people, life, culture and nature.”

Poetry for a change

I recently came across a collection of poetry, Echoes of Spring, which features the works of two sisters – Agnes and Vishu Rita Krocha – who are based in Kohima, Nagaland. Among the new breed of poets in the Northeast, especially in the State of Nagaland, these sisters stand out, primarily on account of their sensitivity and love for nature.

Coming from a land where there are not that many takers for poetry, Echoes of Spring has been superbly produced, and packaged and marketed pretty well. The foreword of the book has been written by Ruskin Bond. The collection of poetry is primarily about nature and has been penned by the Krocha Sisters citing instances from their growing up years – a view of the world through their eyes. As a reviewer noted: ‘Readers, collectors or aspiring writers over the globe, will surely find one thing difficult to keep up along with this book, apart from the poetry i.e. its detailing of folk art and its unusual hardcover size. It would mean that it deserves a special shelf’.

Talking about the book, Vishu Rita Krocha says, “We grew up in Kohima, still live there and share a common love for nature-the poems in the book are thoughts collected over the past few years, mostly based on nature with a few lights thrown on societal concerns.”

The hardbound book was printed at Thompson Press, New Delhi and is a self-published venture with support from NEZCC and well Wishers. It is priced at Rs 375.

An inspiring alternative space for today’s youth

The most talked about event by the young artists from Delhi, “Curves & Shades”, was held at the State Art Gallery recently and the same is also creating quite a buzz in concerned circles. Held from May 29 to June 3 last, the event has been able to attract a lot of attention from both artistes and patrons alike. It is a platform that India Today quoted as being a “stroke of inspiration” for young budding talents and since then it has been a “runaway hit” (as reported by IANS). This amazing alternative space for encouragement to young artists from different fields of art form is in fact a innovation of Ranjan Engti, a popular Karbi artist from Karbi Anglong.

“Curves & Shades was conceived as an annual event in 2004 to highlight and endorse the creative aptitude of youngsters in the field of painting and photography from the North-east so that youth from diverse fields can come together to represent artworks depicting people, life, culture and nature. These art forms manifest themselves through the works of artists and photographers from each State of the Northeast. This year’s editions of Curves & Shades will tour all the eight northeastern States, exploring and providing a new platform to budding and new talents from various parts of the region.” says Ranjan Engti, the chief coordinator of the event.

A lot can be depicted through a few sketches of the brush; a framed photograph or a mud sculpted art form. Event coordinator Jinki Saikia say that Curves & Shades is a conglomerated platform where talents from different spheres of the Northeast, as well as India, can come together to portray artworks depicting people, life, culture and nature. The motivating crux for Curves & Shades is the need to preserve and depict the cultural traditions of the diverse Northeast region of India through multiple folds of aestheticism, she added.

Since 2004, Curves and Shades has successfully organized a number of events, which included painting and photography exhibitions in various stages of Delhi, as well as Karnataka Bhavan and Karbi Anglong in Assam. One of their major achievements was the successful screening of certain epics in the world of Assamese celluloid in several places of Delhi. For instance, Joymoti was screened at Spic Macay Hall in New Delhi on 2008, while Hastir Kainya and Aaideu were screened at the same venue in January last year.

This year’s episode of Curves & Shades featured three artists and three photographers. Along with Ranjan Engti, internationally renowned Karbi artist Augustine Rongpi also showcased their paintings. Rongpi has been successfully exhibiting his works in France for the last five years. Writer and poet Jinny Barman also displayed her colourful works which are inspired by nature and a positive attitude. Shutterbugs like Dhritiman Deori, a talented music composer from Guwahati and Pankaj J Dutta, a product of Sari Academy of Professional Photography, in Mumbai also participated in the event. Photographer and digital artist Sishir Basumatary also showcased his works this year. Jinki adds, “Bajok Doba – an upcoming album by Trideev Bora and Priyanka Bharali, two singers from Guwahati, is one of our discovery and we are providing them the stage to do well in their field.”

Ranjan believes that only creativity amongst the youth of the region can herald peace in the region. In his words, “Curves & Shades is committed towards encouraging and ensuring the involvement of our youth in achieving these objectives. We firmly believe that only creativity and the highest stakeholder of youth in it will lead to peace in the trouble torn areas.”