Roots
A.R.Rahman- Indian under Spotlight
Allah Rakha Rahman's music is a sublime gift just like his name that literally means 'the one who is watched over by God'.
Considered as a musician whose music is modern, innovative, liberally using technology while respecting Indian cultural traditions, Rahman keeps attracting newer audiences in Indian and all over the globe.
The Bachchans- Indians under spotlight
The Bachchans are a recognisable name in the world of cinema and one of the flag bearers of Indian cinema worldwide. This fame has stemmed from the undimmed popularity of Amitabh Bachchan whose name literally means 'the one whose aura does not vanish'. Indeed !
Bachchan was a pen name adopted by Amitabh's father, poet Harivansh Rai, born in a Srivastava family. This name was adopted by all the family and this is how the clan is now known.
Gopal Venu- Indian under spotlight
Gopal Venu is as humble a person as he is the master of various traditional arts of Kerala such as the Kuttiyatam, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Pavakathakali etc. He is one of the flag bearer artists who have helped revive the classical and folk arts of Kerala from the decline and a possible eventual extinction.
Gopal Venu is not new to Paris and to the French audiences having performed in France regularly since the 1980s. Here the maestro shares his thoughts on various performing arts of Kerala in their contemporary context and his role in them.
Kuttiyattam - Ritual theatre of Kerala
'Kuttiyattam' or 'Koodiyattam' (in Malayalam) is a sacred ritual theatre from Kerala that dates back to thousands of years. Till not so long ago, it was confined to performances in the temple theatres- 'Kuttampalams'- by Brahmins for select Brahmin and the noble elite.
Kuttiyattam Kalamandalam Sindhu © Mukundan
Starting in 1950s, Kuttiyattam started to come out of its confines to reach audiences in other parts of India. In 2001, it was elevated to the ranks of 'masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity' by UNESCO. Today, Kuttiyattam is regarded as one of the most ancient dance theatres in India and the world. It is also one of the oldest continually performed dance theatres in India.
Indian Holi in Paris
French photographer Véronique Durruty knows how to play Holi* and she has played it not once but thrice. She has been to different locations in India- from Mathura to Vrindavan*, Benares to Udaipur- during Holi that made her immerse herself in the festival of colours and see it from different angles.
For Véronique, "Holi is a celebration of legend of Krishna and Radha- the fesitval where everything is allowed. Women in chic sarees getting drunk on bhang, masses in temple that look like rock groupies, everyone gets transformed in a moving Arlequin, and on the ground, the earth resembles a giant canvas of abstract painting. Is this the fervour or the extreme debauchery ? Happy Holi, India has become crazy ! "
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