EDUCATION

Matric exam schedule
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, January 13
The Punjab School Education Board has announced the schedule of the annual examination of Class X to be held from March 6 to 21.

The schedule for the matriculation examination is as under: English (March 6), health sciences — open school (March 7), maths/music (vocal) for blind students/cutting and stitching (March 9), Punjabi-A (March 11), Punjabi-B (March 13), health and physical education (March 14), Hindi/Urdu (for re-appear candidates) (March 15), selective subjects (March 16), social education (March 18), agriculture — open school/music (tabla) for blind students/painting — deaf and dumb students (March 19), science/music (instrumental) for blind students/drawing — deaf and dumb (March 20) and home science — open school/home science — deaf and dumb (March 21).

CULTURE

A treat for lovers of French films
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 13
Alain Corneau occupies a unique place in French cinema. By himself, he embodies the main genres of cinema: films noirs, detective stories, musicals, historicals, adventure films and comedies. For this very reason, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Alliance Francaise, has decided to present a selection of six films by the director.

Under this series, the festival of Corneau’s films will begin in the city on January 18. The six films will be shown at Kiran Cinema in two shows (6 pm and 9 pm). Entry to the festival will be through passes which can be collected free of charge from Alliance Francaise, Sector 36.

The collection of films reflects the film-making genius of the director. The inaugural film of the festival, “Fort Saganne”, will be screened on January 18 at 6 pm. The film is about Charles Saganne, a son of peasants, who is an officer and has risen from the ranks. In 1911, as a young officer tired of a garrison life, he leaves France for adventure in the Sahara. There he falls with Madeline whom he later marries. The film ends with a fort in the middle of the desert being dedicated to his name.

The second day will show “Nocturne Indien” at 6 pm and “Le Cousin” at 9 pm. “Nocturne Indien” is about a young man who arrives in Mumbai looking for a friend. With very little clues, he goes about to rediscover his itinerary. The film shows him searching for his own identity. In this film, Corneau offers us an invitation to dream in the company of male lead Jean Hugues Anglade, who leads us through the paths of poetry, charm and impudence.

“Le Cousin” rests on investigation. Under investigation by judge Lambert for drug dealing with a cousin, a police inspector commits suicide. A colleague ruthless at his job to the extent of neglecting his family, takes over the case. The plot thickens as the cousin promises to help the cop nail some big drug dealers.

On January 20, “Tous Les Matins Du Monde” will be screened at 6 pm and “Serie Noire” at 9 pm. In “Serie Noire”, the director picks an outcast for whom life has made it impossible to express himself. Then the director allows him to speak. What the outcast speaks is strictly between the spectator and himself. “Tous.....Monde” is set in a historical perspective where the spectator can feel the emotional grip all the time.

January 21 will see the screening of “Le Cousin” at 6 pm and “Police Python 357” at 9 pm. In “Police Python 357”, a non-conformist policeman creates a parallel squad to fight gangsters.

On January 22, “Fort Saganne” will be shown again at 6 pm, while January 23 will see the screening of “Serie Noire” at 6 pm and “Nocturne Indien” at 9 pm. The festival will conclude on January 24 with the screening of “Police Python 357” and “Tous...Monde”.

Strokes in tribute to woman
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 13
Vijay Giri is a man of many trades. But the best part is that he works to sustain the charm of each trade he enters. So even while he could not complete his bachelors of fine arts degree from MS University at Baroda, he continued his association with the painting brush and drawing pencils.

From arts of one kind to another, Vijay halted at the Department of Indian Theatre in Panjab University and took a degree under the tutelage of Mohan Maharishi. To his credit are plays like Aashadh ka ek din, Andha Yug and 55 other productions. From theatre to assistance in the direction of DD serials , he has come a long way. Also, he acted in DD soaps like Shanti, Saahil, apart from later going on to act with stars like Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Kapoor, Divya Bharti and Akshaye Kumar.

Today he is back to his first love — painting. Mounted on walls of Kalagram’s art gallery are some 40 paintings and drawings by the artist, whose sensitivity touches the soul. Each work of art rises above the physical frame and occupies a place in the spiritual scheme of things. In this sense, it works to harmonise the soul and the senses.

Vijay has categorised his works into three parts. And he grows from one part to another. The first section glorifies mother, mother earth in particular. The artist allows his imagination to fly freely in the mountains, oceans, deserts and land...and while he flies, he discovers the strength of the bond with mother nature. So he draws and paints her in every particle of the canvas. The idea is to state a universal truth — that the woman is the lifeblood of all creation. It is her divine form which breathes life into everything mortal.

The second part traces the creation of man.Titled Srijan, it is done in bold colours and strokes. Female form dominates the canvases, with child emerging here and there.

Memorable sitar recital
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 13
Alok Dasgupta, (a well-known name in the Oriental music circle of the USA) gave a memorable sitar recital at the Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35, here at the weekend.

Alok was born in Jamshedpur, then in Bihar and now in Jharkhand, took rigorous training, particularly emulating Pandit Nikhil Banerji, the maestro. Opportunity beckoned him to Los Angeles where he runs a music school.

His rendition began with Marwa and ended with the soulful presentation of a Baul dhun in Bhairavi.

The function, presided over by Mr S.K. Moga, will be remembered for long because of the virtuosity of Alok and the excellence of Debashish Adhikari on the tabla and Subrata De on the tanpura.