Time to express?
RANA SIDDIQUI
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Bharti Tele Ventures unveils its plan to provide a platform to young artistes across the country.
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The best part of the concept is that artistes are not put within any boundaries but are asked to bring forth what they want to. VASUNDHARA
PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY.
A NEW PLATFORM Vasundhara Das in New Delhi.
If you thought they didn't care about performing arts but only fashion and films, think again. Though it might be economics at the end of the day that matters to them, but a beginning without caring for it is an effort worth appreciating.
The effort is to bring all forms of performing arts such as dance, theatre, music, art and cinema under a common roof. And the platform provider is Bharti Tele Ventures Limited.
It has launched "Airtel Expressions" to showcase performers from across the country.Initially they plan to host a festival in Delhi this year, which will represent various aspects of contemporary performing arts, bringing together artistes from across the country with their novel productions.
The organisers promise to hold no boundaries for expression to keep in sync with the company's brand philosophy "Express Yourself".
Film actress and singer Vasundhara Das, whom you have seen in "Hey Ram" and "Monsoon Wedding", unveiled the concept and is one of the patrons.
"Earlier only religious institutions, a few business houses or the Government used to patronise performing arts but not the public. The best part of the concept is that artistes are not put within any boundaries but are asked to bring forth what they want to.
For instance, I have a band called Arya with various instruments like jazz bass player, funk, percussion and so on. For a band like this which wants to experiment with different kind of music and present it before the audience, this can be the best platform," says Das.
All said and heard, there is little clarity as to how Bharti will go about such a big venture.
Questions remain on the calendar of activities, who are the people to give it shape and so on.
Starting with cinema
Also, if everyone is allowed, how will the programmes be saved from mediocrity or from being taken over by the few who perennially dominate the performing arts scene? For the moment the approach seems to be one of little planning and big hype.
However Bharti has organised a four-day cinema event to begin with. The event that culminates on Saturday consists of theme-based films at PVR Plaza.
The themes chosen are patriotism, love, humour and inner strength.
The films in these categories are "Lakshya", "LOC - Kargil", "Shakespeare in Love", "Saving Private Ryan", "Black", "Ray" and so on. Entry to the screenings is free, on `first-cum-first-served basis.
Admits K. Srinivas, CEO, Airtel, Delhi, "We are talking to some individual experts and institutions in the arena of performing arts to sustain the venture, but nothing has been finalised yet.
But we will make sure to keep it free from `obvious' influences.
We will provide ample space to the young talents who are unable to showcase their worth elsewhere.
For now, artistes approach the Vice President, Marketing Department, with their details if they want to perform."
"We are making it small and beautiful in the beginning by organising small events in various parts of Delhi which will culminate in the annual event. Once the movement gathers momentum, we will take it outside Delhi too," says Sanjay Nandrajog, Executive Director, Northern Region, BTVL.
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