PICTURE SPEAK

Pratibha Prahlad; Iqbal Bahoo

Classical dancers and musicians are highly individualistic and rarely come together for a cause. But this time they are doing so for the cause of national integration. The theme of the inaugural recital is Vande Mataram and it will feature dance presentations in eight forms. The artistes participating include Guru Singhajit Singh and Charu Mathur (Manipuri), Guru Jayarama Rao and Vanashree Rao (Kuchipudi), Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kathakali), Ranjana Gauhar (Odissi), Rajendra Gangani (Kathak), Shashadhar Acharya (Chhau), Sharodi Saikia (Sattriya) and Pratibha Prahlad (Bharatnatyam).

The second day will feature an ensemble, Layalahiri, by Anoor Shivu followed by a series of folk performances-Rangon Ki Bahaar, choreographed by Maitreyee Pahari. The finalé will be a Bharatnatyam recital by Prahlad and a Sufi soul night featuring Iqbal Bahoo, Sain Zahoor, Dholia Ghoonga Sain, Dholia Mithu Sain, Liawat Ali, Sajid Ali, Riyasat Ali, Shaukat Ali, Qaisar Ali and others, all coming together at the Ashok Amphitheatre, Hotel Ashok.

On February 4, Prahlad will present a solo dance-drama at Akshara Theatre, Seeta: Parallel Realities. The three-act play revolves around Sita in reciting the story of Ram. Born out of prakriti, she embodies the three qualities of sattva (radiance), rajas (kinetic energy) and tamas (state of inertia). The narration includes radical variations in characterisation and conceptualisation of events.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

PICTURE SPEAK

Painter from Jain Era by Konar

-By Swagata Sen

PICTURE SPEAK

The Golden Flute

-By Nirmala Ravindran

PICTURE SPEAK

Vidya Balan and John Abraham in the film

There you are, completely prepared to enjoy a movie, knowing fully well that its conceit is borrowed from the crushingly cute Love Actually. You've bought into the idea of soaking in the seductive songs and drifting away with the emotional dialogues, all accompanied by an elevating chorus. And then what happens? A rude shock. Nikhil Advani decides to dispense with good writing and even a modest attempt at characterisation, hoping that the rousing half-hour at the end where six disparate stories tie in together will lift the audience out of the stupor they have fallen into-the result of being beaten over the head with constant references to Karan Johar (Advani's first producer). As an advertisement for Johar's entertainment equity, this three-hour-plus movie may seem worthwhile to Advani. But as a movie about people in and out of love with each other, it is a self-indulgent and way-too-precious collection of scenes. Advani, whose love story Kal Ho Naa Ho kept enough of the comforting familiarity of the Yash Chopra formula, while twisting it to suit modern dysfunctional families, fails to do either here. Salman Khan looks strangely disembodied despite Priyanka Chopra's provocative pouts, while John Abraham and Vidya Balan try their best to squeeze tears out of their leaden parts. If it weren't for old warhorses Govinda, Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla, this made-for-my-buddies movie would be absolutely unwatchable.

-By Kaveree Bamzai

PICTURE SPEAK

A still from the film

The Ram Gopal Varma formula has become as instantly recognisable as that of Yash Chopra. Only, instead of actresses clad in chiffon saris in Switzerland, we have the grimy bylanes of Mumbai; coarse, sweaty men talking of suparis and khokas; and a body count to rival a riot. But this gritty world of alluring mafia dons, sinewy encounter specialists and fascinating ugly henchmen is losing its subversive glamour. Risk, directed by Varma protégé Vishram Sawant, feels fatigued from frame one. Sawant tries to infuse freshness into the story by bringing Vinod Khanna out of the dungeon of retirement. Khanna, playing an underworld don, is in constant battle with Hooda, who is an encounter specialist. The battle rallies from Bangkok to Mumbai-bullets fly indiscriminately, bodies are slashed beyond recognition and still Sawant manages to construct some nice shots while keeping a brisk pace. Rest, there is nothing new about the script. Perhaps it's time for the Varma gang to try the Chopra masala.

-By Anupama Chopra

Index