PICTURE SPEAK

Kannati Bimbam, a sculpture by Balan Nambiar in 25 Contemporary Indian Artists exhibition in Moscow Nepal in Jaisalmer, Upadhyay’s work for the SAARC camp

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates an exhibition of works by 25 artists from saarc countries at the Rabindra Bhavan in Delhi on June 2. Conceived and organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the cultural organisation seher, the exhibition showcases works by artists at a specially organised camp in the desert city of Jaisalmer. Titled Jaisalmer Yellow, the show will be on view till June 4.

Also, to mark the 60th anniversary of Indo-Russian relations, the Indian embassy in Moscow unveiled on May 22 a major Indian contemporary art exhibition in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Arts. Believed to be for the first time ever, this exhibition, too, has 25 artists albeit all from India this time. Curated by Ravi Kumar, the gallerist-cum-publisher who has for long made Paris his home, the list of artists comprises both the old and the young, from S.H. Raza, Rajendra Dhawan and Sohan Qadri to Yusuf, Anwar and Debesh Goswami.

By getting French critic Nicolas Bourriaud to write an essay introducing the show in a handsome catalogue, the organisors have pulled a punch that is bound to impress the Russians. On till June 17.

-By S. Kalidas

PICTURE SPEAK

The festival showcases films and art related to water

-By Nirmala Ravindran

A display at the exhibition

On till June 4 at Point of View Gallery.

-By Swati Mathur

PICTURE SPEAK

Dhupia and Deol

There is one superbly funny scene in Ek Chalis...—some goons are beating up a guy tied to a chair. The battered victim looks at the chief henchman and thinks out loud, “These two are okay but who is this third person?” The chaiwalah, who until then has been happily punching away, sheepishly picks up his tea tray and walks out.

Unfortunately, these small, whacky moments are too few and far between to shore up the story of a call centre employee (Abhay Deol) who misses the last local train back home, unknowingly befriends a prostitute and becomes embroiled with underworld dons with guns, sadistic encounter specialist cops and sharpshooters.

Debutant director Sanjay Khanduri tries too hard to create a Quentin Tarantinoesque mix of black humour, blood, bodies and bullets. So anything is possible, including a scene in which a gay don tries to make Deol his boy toy. Deol has a wonderful unassuming charm but it isn’t enough to make this derivative train ride engaging enough.

-By Anupama Chopra

A Mukherjee sketch

A founder-member of the Painters 80 group in Kolkata, he has displayed his works in India and abroad. On till June 2 at the Gallery Kanishka.

-By Swagata Sen

A work by Jayashree Chakravarty at Bodhi Art

HMV Rs 225

Maestro Pandit Jasraj believes melody queen Lata Mangeshkar is a personification of Goddess Saraswati. Her voice encompasses not just melody but spiritualism. So listen to 23 traditional Sanskrit shlokas in the nightingale’s voice, seamlessly interwoven without any breaks. The music has been composed by her brother, Pandit Hridyanath Mangeshkar, who has created music for films like Mashaal, Subah and others. His versatile style permutates and combines musical notes to surprise the listener. Attractively packed with lyrics. Must for prayerful moments.

Mystica Music Rs 295

When religious preachers have a good singing voice, it comes as a double boon for the listener as well as their followers. And in the age of technological advancements, they put it to perfect use by recording songs for the spiritually inclined. In this album, Anandmurti Gurumaa presents odes to Shiva. What stands out is the musical composition and arrangement by Kanchman Babbar. He fuses western and Indian instruments in an eclectic mix to create a contemporary sound while keeping the vocals traditional. A talent to watch out for.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

Index