CULTURE

ARTSCAPE
Making an attempt to hear the inner 
cries of womanhood 
Garima Pant

The English play ‘Womanly Voices’ would be premiered at the India Habitat Centre. Premiered by the Johnnie Walker Club on June 28, ‘Womanly Voices’ is directed by the well-known theatre personality and actress Lillette Dubey, and is a dramatization of three short stories-‘Utaran’ by Wajeda Tabassum, ‘Shishu’ by Mhasweta Devi and ‘The Teacher’s Story’ by Gita Mehta.

These stories deal with the issues ranging from sexuality to spirituality. ‘Utaran’, a tale of dynamics between two girls, makes a strong statement on class conflict. ‘Shishu’ centres around tribal people and dwells on the urban-rural divide while ‘The Teacher’s Story’ is about the Sufi tradition. Commenting on her latest directorial venture, Lillette Dubey says, “There is nothing feminine about the title ‘Womanly Voices’, but for the fact that each story is underlined with insight and compassion.” The cast includes some of theater’s best known names like Shernaz Patel, Joy Sengupta, Suchitra Pillai, Zafar Karachiwala, Neha Dubey and Lillette’s debutante daughter Ira.

Indigenous culture

An Australian art exhibition titled ‘Kiripuranji’ is on at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre. This unique exhibition, put together by the Australian High Commission in partnership with the India Habitat Centre, brings forward for the first time the rich cultural heritage of the people of the remote Tiwi Islands. The Tiwi culture is one of the indigenous cultures of Australia. ‘Kiripuranji’ means “clever with our hands” in the Tiwi language. The exhibition, which includes works on paper, paintings, ceremonial objects and textiles, will be on display till July 10.

Generations from ghats

Internationally acclaimed flautist Pandit Ronu Majumdar recently released his new album ‘Generations’. Accompanied by Pandit Kishan Maharaj on the tabla, both the traditional music icons covering two generations have come together in a musical enchantment recorded live at the ghats of Benaras during the Mahashivratri festival. The album is released by Times Music. Pandit Majumdar, known as India’s ace flautist, has performed at prestigious venues all over the world and has also scored the soundtrack of the Hollywood film “Primary Colours”.

MUSIC ZONE
Full entertainment guaranteed

Mojaan Laen Do” is the latest nine-track offering from the king of Indi-pop Daler Mehndi. In this album, Mehndi has gone off the beaten track one more time and yet again discovered musical gold. The album, which literary means ‘Let There Be Enjoyment,’ has tried to revive the traditional ‘Rabbi’ style of singing with a mix of Sufi and Arabic rhythms.