Sunday, January 29, 2012

Rayakote, 1858

Photo Title – ‘Gate of the Hill Fort Ryakotta', from the photograph album by Capt. Linnaeus Tripe, 'Photographic Views of Ryacotta'; South India, 1858.

Original Transcript from pages of Rare Book Society of India

This photograph is part of the album he produced of Ryacotta, or Royacottah, and the Salem district. This is an extract of the accompanying text published with the image in 1860:

'Near the massive gateway represented in the view, there is said to be a subterraneous passage, and a story is told of the place which illustrates the great hold which the British Government possesses on the fidelity of the native troops. It is thus related by Mr. J.W.B. Dykes C.S. in his ‘Salem an Indian collectorate,’ page 348.

‘Down this mysterious chasm some five or six adventurous Sipahis [Hindu for soldier, meaning here an Indian soldier] had once rashly wandered in search of treasure said to be hidden there. They never came back, and their troubled spirits were nightly heard wailing around the rock. In those days the castle was guarded at all hours, and each night as the clock struck twelve, the sentry at the gate heard a wild and unearthly voice asking three times over, “Where is my family.” The boldest of the garrison were afraid and for three successive nights none durst answer, but at last one more courageous than the rest, when the sad question was once more put, “Where is my family,” loudly replied, “In Raya Vellore, in Raya Vellore, drawing a pension, drawing a pension,” and then say the Sipahis, the ghosts went down to their long home, glad, and for ever. Their families safe, the ghostly minds were at rest and the ill starred treasure-seekers troubled their comrades no more.'

Source: V&A, London.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Nannavala Kagada

WeMove theater brings play called “Nannavala Kagada” written by S. Gundurao in a whole new flavor on stage.

Nannavala Kagada play can be coined as “Old wine in a new jar” a humorous play, WeMove theater intends to spread the awareness of “Letter writing” among the younger generation through this play. The play is set to enthrall the audience with a new look designed to suit the present generation, it is long believed among the audience that theater is just for intense and certain set of audience; WeMove’s new Nannavala Kagada is believed to break this jinx and make theater and plays approachable and attractive to a wider set of people.

Nannavala kagada is a humorous play; the main protagonist of the play is supposed to be a Kannada poet who is admired to write poetic verses for his house helper's upcoming Bayalu Nataka (Musical drama). On the other hand, the helper dreams of giving the best performance in the upcoming village fair with the help of his master's poetic talents; least he knows about his own ability to act. The play then takes a different route when the post man of the village encounters the helper when he is busy practicing for his musical drama. At the same time his wife, a typical middle class woman who is an illiterate condemns her husband's ability to be a poet. Upset by his wife's poor support, the hero of the play teases his wife as an illiterate. This is where the wife challenges her husband and pledges to read and write within a month’s time. What happens next in the letter is the core of the play. The play is integrated using ‘patches’ technique of theatre and is presented overall by a wonderful original theme music. The music is definitely set to surprise the audience of kannada theatre.

Under the Guidance of Abhishek Iyengar and Sriharsha Grama, Directed by Hanu Ramsanjeev and Presented by Rangaraj Bhatracharya, Music by Abhishek Narain

Cast:- Anup Shenoy, Divyashree, Keerthi, Ranjan Siddapa, SriHarsha Grama, Srikanth Bhatracharya and Radhika Narayan

Nannavala Kagada is being staged on Jan 29, 2012 as part of RangaAayama fest.

Click here to know more details about We Move theater.

Tarantismo Creative Dance Co


About Tarantismo Creative Dance Company pushes the boundaries and bends the structure of Indigenous and International dance styles to create a strong, honest ever moving voice. Founded on 24th July 200. 

Company Overview:
Tarantismo is… A dynamic group of dancers trained in styles like Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Belly Dancing, Bollywood and Indian Contemporary dance. The members of Tarantismo have been finalists on the hit reality television shows Dance Dance and Dance India Dance. They are proficient performers and have worked both in the country and abroad. The members of Tarantismo have a keen choreographic eye and are also well seasoned instructors.
Description:
Tarantismo innovates… new fitness trends and exciting dance styles. Tarantismo is proud to be the first dance company to introduce Belly Dancing to Bangalore. Tarantismo also is responsible for designing a unique dance-fitness program JUMP which combines trampoline techniques and freestyle movement.

Tarantismo provides… dance as a service in innumerable ways.
- Thought provoking, exciting and ent...ertaining productions
- Tailor made corporate performances
- Foundation movement courses for children
- Innovative dance classes for adults
- Conceptualization and choreography for events and weddings
- Specialized one on one training for all ages

See More
Mission Tarantismo believes… movement is the earliest and most natural form of communication. Dance is used by the Company as a medium to express ideas, raise questions, build confidence and spread joy!

Products Productions:
‘Seven’ 2004 Guru Nanak Bhavan
‘Traffic’ 2005 ADA Rangamandira & Opus
‘Bouncing to the Bells’ 2006 1912 & Athena
‘Take That’ 2006 KLTA
‘Senses’ 2007 Alliance Francaise de Bangalore
‘Geometry’ 2008 Alliance Francaise de Bangalore
‘Punctuate’ 2009 Kyra
‘UnBlocked – emotions in motion’ 2010 Chowdaiah Memorial Hall

As part of RangaAayama fest, Tarantismo is performing at K H KalaSoudha on Jan 29, 2012.

Click here to know more about the group.

Profile of Yamuna Bhagwat

Yamuna Bhagwat has been training in Bharatanatyam at Aradhana School of Dance founded by her Guru Vidwan Shri Nagabhushan for the last 10 years.  She started learning Bharatanatyam only at the age of 25, though she evinced a keen interest for this art form ever since her child hood.

 

Holding a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam with first class, Yamuna has participated in a number of dance drama-s presented by her Dance School, Aradhana School of Dance, in different parts of the country besides presenting many solo dance performances on the various prestigious plat forms.

Yamuna has performed her Rangapravesha in Bharatanatyam in 2007 at Ravindra Kala Kshetra, Bengaluru and has also been selected for presenting a Solo Bharatanatyam performance at the Bengaluru Dooradarshana Kendra under the ‘B’ Grade Artist cadre.
List of various cultural events and competitions taken part:

·        Performed numerous times on the occasion of Dasara and Ugadi in Shri Kshetra Gayathri Temple, Yeshwanthpur,  Bengaluru.

·        Performed at the Ganesha temple in Pillaiyarpatti near Madurai on the occasion of Gowri-Ganesha festival, in Aug 2006, Sept 2007, Sept 2008 and August 2011.

·        Raichur Zilla Utsava organized by the Kannada culture Department, Raichur, Karnataka.

·        Kannada Sahitya Praishat Sammelana, Chamrajnagar, Mysore.

·        Agriculture, Industry, Tourism and Science Exhibition, Kolkata.  

·        Nrityotsava at Bellary, Karnataka.

·        Hampi Utsava organized by the Kannada culture Department, Hampi, Karnataka.

·        Kannada Rajyotsava organized by the Kannada culture Department, Goa.

·        Navarathri Celebrations at Sri Guruvayur Temple, Kerala.


List of Some Solo performances:

·        ‘Yuva Sourabha’ – Every Wednesday cultural programme organized by Kannada Culture Dept on 30th May’07.

·        Keladi Utsava organized by the Kannada culture Department, Sagar, Karnataka on 5th Jan’08.

·        Every Friday Cultural Programme organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Bengaluru on 28th March’08.

As part of RanagaAayama festival Yamuna Bhagwat is performing at  K H KalaSoudha on Jan 29, 2012.

Profile of Roopashree Rohit

Dance has been a passion for Roopashree since childhood. She started learning Bharathanatyam under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Manjula Paramesh at the tender age of eight and gained immense knowledge from her. Roopashree says - "This art form helped me understand our Indian culture, our rich heritage and has helped me interpret our History. This has given me an deep insight into our Mythology which has helped me become a better dancer"



She has completed Vidwat grade examinations conducted by the Govt. of Karnataka, with Distinction. Has done “ARANGETRAM” in the year 2001 at “Ravindra Kalakshetra”  Bangalore.

Apart from this she is also a graded artiste of Doordarshan Kendra Bangalore.

She was awarded the Central Government scholarship for Dance by the Govt. of India in 2003.

She was an empanelled artiste of ICCR (Indian Council for Culture Relations) Ministry of Culture.

Apart from Classical dancing she has also performed numerous folk styles of dancing representing different states of our country

Ever since she started learning she has given a number of shows in India and abroad. Enlisting a few of her performances:

ANKURA FESTIVAL : 2002
HAMPI UTSAV: 2003, 2004
ANEGUNDI UTSAV:2005
CHALKYOTSAVA: 2000
MYSORE DASARA UTSAVA: 2005 AND 2006
KADAMOTSAVA: 2000
Performed in Mumbai on the occasion of  “Karnataka Tourism Cultural Festival” on 09/03/2002
Performed with “Srishti Centre for Performing arts in Kolkata for the Kannada Association on the occasion of Rajyotsava.
Performed in Tirupathi on the occasion of the “Brahmotsava” with Nupur Centre for Performing Arts.
Performed on the prestigious Navarasapura festival held in Bijapur in the year 2006.Performed on the occasion of the 100th year centenary celebration in hour of the Great poet “ Mahakavi Pampa” 
Performed in the recently held celebrations in remembrance of Sri Kanakadasa on the occasion of Kanaka Jayanthi sponsored by the Kannada and Culture Department.
Apart form this she has also performed in Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok in the year 2006 which was sponsored by the ICCR.
Performed in Indonesia ( Bali) on the occasion of BALIYATRA a cultural festival which was again sponsored by the ICCR (Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Govt of India).

Other than this she is a Graduate in the field of Commerce form the Bangalore University and an MBA for the Alliance Business School.

As part of RangaAayama festival Roopashree is performing at K H KalaSoudha on Jan 29, 2012

Aa Dinagalu - Movie

Aa Dinagalu is a 2007 Indian Kannada film based on the book Daadaagiriya Dinagalu by Agni Shridhar. The film is about the rowdyism that prevailed in Bengaluru during 1986.



The plot:
Aa Dinagalu is a story about the underworld which was supposed to have existed in the city of Bengaluru in 1986. In the film Agni Shridhar narrates the preview as story of Kotwal Ramachandra era (1975) coincidentally with declaration of emergency by Indira Gandhi, which led to grooming of M.P.Jayaraj as the uncrowned don of Bengaluru mostly working with Knives, Sickles, Longs for terrorising people. Eventually he seems to have got jailed for contempt of court for 10 years. When he returns in 1985, after the death of Indira Gandhi he finds Kotwal Ramachandra to have taken his spot. In this backdrop how a love story ( for which Bengaluru was famous once- having a lot of suicide spots even now) finds its place has been screened.

The story although is based on backdrop of violence is screened with artistic and cinematic touch for which Kannada Industry was once famous for. There is no place for violence, fight scenes but still the film succeeds in bringing the atmosphere of 1986 Bengaluru in 2007 (release date). K.M. Chaitanya ( grandson of Rashtra Kavi G. S. Shivarudrappa[1]) has directed a gripping, realistic film which broke the boundaries between art and commercial cinema.

The screenplay was written by Girish Karnad and Agni Shridhar. While the story and dialogues were written by Agni Shridhar.The film was widely critically acclaimed and went on to be one of the biggest box office hits in Kannada. The Week magazine listed it among the Top 10 Indian films of 2007.

The Story is based upon book Dadagiriya Dinagalu (The days of DadaGiri or Rowdyism) by Agni Sridhar, who was once a criminal identified himself with Bangalore underworld in 1980s.

The crew has received excellent reviews

Sharath Lohitashwa - Ramachandra Kothwal - Super performance.
Ashish Vidhyarthi - Jayaraj
Atul Kulkarni - Agni Shridhar
Achyuthan - Oil Kumara
Girish Karnad and Vinaya Prasad as parents.
Chethan as Chethan.
Veda Sastry as Mallika.

As part of RangaAayama festival, "Aa Dinagalu" movie screening is happening at K H KalaSoudha on Jan 28th 2012 at 6PM.

SHOONYA, Music of the World

SHOONYA, Music of the World

The Sanskrit word Shoonya translates to “Nothingness” - the Indian concept of how everything comes into being from nothingness. This ancient Indian concept could not be truer for music. Shoonya the band takes inspiration from their “nothingness” to create some of the most eclectic and genre defying music.

Shoonya  is a platform for people from various artistic backgrounds to introduce their musical ideas into the mix, and have at some point worked with art forms ranging from theatre and dance to electronic music. Beyond  their genre defying experiments in contemporary music, Shoonya attempt to address a most basic and necessary function – conveying to the listener the pure joy of music.



Ashok Kumar:  Band leader

The time keeper of the band could not have a more interesting profile. Ashok began his musical journey with the tabla, before stumbling upon the West African drum, the djembe. He fell in love with the sounds and
the possibilities of the instrument and decided to bring it in as the backbone of the band. Ashok has married the djembe to a host of electronic instruments besides the regular wind and stringed instruments  ranging from the saxophone to the guitar. He regularly travels to various countries in his capacity as a specialist in using music for education and therapy.

Besides his musical interests, Ashok is also an accomplished theater actor and director. He uses his theatre and music experiences to address  a vast range of social concerns and has worked with everyone from theater actors to foreign students and street children.

Shoonya is performing at K H KalaSoudha on Jan 28, 2012 as part of RangaAayama festival

Click here for more details about the band.

About Me

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Bangalore, Karnataka, India
The newest performance space in Bangalore is now open for performing arts. Kindly log in to www.khkalasoudha.org for all further information.

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