Chandigarh, April 2
Govind Namdeo may not have earned his due in the film industry, but he remains by far one of the most sought-after faces when it comes to projecting evil. A casual yet powerful performer, no wonder Namdeo has reserved his place in the wishlist of producers-directors who have crafted masterly films like “Bandit Queen”, “Virasat”, “Satya”, “Godmother”, “Satta” and “Sarfarosh”.

Passing by Chandigarh today, Namdeo did not mince words while lauding the role of the bad men, who are indispensable to the script of any film. “Negativity is a basic emotion. It is hidden in every heart, every mind. It’s easy to play the rosy parts. But it is mighty tough to fill people’s hearts with disdain towards yourself. Every role I play is measured before it is accepted. That is why I am proud of all my roles,” said the actor, who despises distinction on the basis of roles.

Like many sensible actors who believe that roles should be judged not for the shades their characters portray but for the skills with which they portray such roles, Namdeo advocates a similar need. He also takes pride in listing the strong performances that have made him worthy of major roles.

As Veeran in “Sarfarosh”, Namdeo was at his violent best, bent upon selling hatred by fanning the baser emotions. His role in the film that fetched Aamir Khan the best actor award was also much lauded. However, he could not manage the award and he does not feel remorse about that. With a solid back-up that comes from nothing less than the National School of Drama, Namdeo has nothing to feel dejected about.

A contemporary of Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik, Kavita Choudhury, Anang Desai and Anita Kanwar, with whom he studied finer nuances of theatre, Namdeo could not but imbine the best. He, however, did not know his best would be reflected in negative roles. The “villain” is at it yet again in Anil Sharma’s film, “Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon”, which is being shot in Manali. Namdeo was on his way to the location.

Chandigarh, April 2
Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi today organised a vocal recital by Master Lal Raza, a trained classical singer from Amritsar. With today’s programme, the Akademi has also revived the tradition of celebrating the musical legacy of Punjab by organising special programmes every week.

For his part, Master Raza mesmerised the audience with his rich classical and light classical fare. Trained in the nuances of Patiala Gharana, the vocalist began the presentation with a pure classical piece in alaap. Taking a turn to suit the listeners’ interest, Raza presented a sufiana qalaam by Bulle Shah. The high point of the vocalist’s recital was his command over technique. Not even once did he allow the recital to sound tutored. Knowledge of music thus became a tool to embellish the presentation, rather than the subject of presentation itself. Raza also combined various styles in a single presentation.

Yet another engaging sufiana piece came towards the end of the recital which was also complemented well with ghazals written by Karnail Singh Umeed and Rajinder Rehbar. Raza, a fairly young artiste, who also sings for Doordarshan and AIR, then dwelt upon the poignant verses of Shiv Kumar Batalvi, beginning with “Mainu tera shabab lai baitha.”

Chandigarh, April 2
After a long time, southern sectors are coming alive with activities in art. For most part of Chandigarh’s history, exhibitions have been held in northern sectors, which boast of art centres like Leisure Valley, Government Art College, Government Museum and Panjab University Fine Art Museum.

But the trend now seems to be reversing. Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi’s annual art exhibition, which opened in its Sector 34 office today, is another reflection of this welcome shift.

On display in the corridors of Lalit Kala Akademi (there is no formal gallery space as yet) are 93 works of art, five of which have been awarded for excellence. Awards of Rs 10,000 each have been funded by the Lalit Kala Akademi, Delhi. A look at the prize winning collections brings myriad thoughts to mind, but finally every work manages to connect at some level or the other.

Rajiv Jassal’s sculptural work, “Love maker”, celebrates the magic of a fine emotion. Sanjeev Kumar’s indulgence in bronze reflects the power of family bonding. In both the works, it is the much-spent emotion of love that the artists draw on. Rakesh Bani’s reflective graphic piece, “Life”, attempts a discovery of life itself, taking the viewer through layers of pain and bliss.

In the computer graphic section, D.S. Kapoor’s “Module in mind” has bagged the award, while the prize for photography has gone to B.S.N. Reddy for his artistic handling of technique in “Walk in Winter Moods”.

The connecting element of all works that have been awarded is ingenuity. None of the prize winning artists beat about the bush. They have added a fresh perspective to mundane affairs and portrayed them afresh in a contemporary, more experimental mould. The spirit of innovation sparkles in the works even otherwise. Almost all works qualify as mature works of art, with lines, thoughts and techniques juxtaposed brilliantly to create fine art.