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NO CHILD’S PLAY: Ash painted a whole series on children

A student of the Government College of Art in Kolkata, Ash never completed his studies. A recluse by nature right from his early days, Ash was discovered in 1945 by the Progressive Writers’ Association, which displayed a series of his works, done chiefly in watercolour and ink during the 1943 famine. Post famine, Ash took to gouache as a medium and continued with it through the 1950s. In the 1960s, he switched to oil, painting a series on children in different moods. The paintings clearly mark his individuality. Immune to the art trends of his time, he went back to his landscapes in the 1970s, depicting tired and toiling people to reflect the socio-economic reality of rural India.

At the same time, he painted a parallel set of works that dealt with intimate figures up close and personal. “The two sets painted simultaneously reflected the artist’s view of life,” says art critic Sovon Som, explaining that they show “the two facets of human existence: man in his collective struggle for survival against the grim realities of the prevailing socio-economic conditions, and man, the individual in his solitary moments, when he is uniquely himself.”

When he was alive, numerous exhibitions were held of Ash’s works, mostly thanks to initiatives by others. Two posthumous exhibitions were held in the last decade: a solo at the Gaja Art Gallery in Singapore in 1997 and another at Delhi’s Habitat Centre in 2000. Aakriti’s show not only comes at the right time, it also serves the purpose of reviewing the artist’s life through his works. At Aakriti, from July 22 to August 5.

-By Swagata Sen

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CLASSIC MYSTERY: The works of art arouse curiosity

-By Swati Mathur

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Pandit Chhannulal Mishra

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

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Khanna (left) and Deol with Sharma in the film

Abbas Mustan’s latest thriller isn’t as much fun as their earlier hits Aaitraaz or Humraaz, but it isn’t as dreary as 36 China Town, which was a mystery so lame that the butler had actually done it.

Naqaab is about a poor but always groomed-and-gorgeous girl in Dubai who is torn between two handsome men. But an ominous presence records her every move on a handy-cam, suggesting that this princess may not live happily ever after. The first half of the film twists and turns nicely with enough suspense, but by the second half, the game has become monotonous. Still, the actors are engaging: Deol and Khanna both have their moments and newcomer Urvashi Sharma makes an attractive foil for the men. She has talent and confidence. The film’s crisp two-hour length makes it strictly “time-pass”.

-By Anupama Chopra

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CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Yamini Reddy

-By Akhila Krishnamurthy

DELHI After her marriage, Yamini Reddy, daughter and disciple of Kuchipudi dancers Raja and Radha Reddy, returns to the Capital for a unique recital. Apart from traditional repertoire, she will perform a special item, Alrulu Kuriyaga, based on the poetry of Annamacharya, the great Sanskrit and Telugu poet known for his devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara. Her dance is pure joy, say critics. On July 26, at India International Centre.

Silk Road CD Rs 275

Silk Road CD Rs 275

THE ENCHANTED LAND
No wonder she is called the nightingale of Tibet. In her other album, a blend of Tibetan sounds and western instruments, Lhamo’s experimentation with her hypnotic voice is pathbreaking. Co-produced with music producer Arnav Srivastava, the haunting songs effortlessly straddle Tibetan heights as well as lounge bars. A blend of pure, ambient spirit and electronic sounds, the album opens the frontiers of Tibetan music on to another level.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

Index