Archive | Theatre

Ramayana Dance Drama – Kochi | Cochin

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Come February and the city would be treated to an exotic dance performance for six consecutive nights as Kalakshetra, a cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional Indian art forms. Kalakshetra will be staging its epochal dance drama conceived and choreographed by its founder the late Rukmini Devi Arundale over a period of 15 years staring from 1955.

Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar will inaugurate the programme organised by the society Dharani at Fine Arts Hall on February 7 at 6 p.m.

The drama, based on the Valmiki Ramayana, will be split into six episodes with each episode running into almost two-and-a-half hours.

Details

Date : February 7

Time : 6 pm onwards

Duration : 2 1/2 hours

Venue : Fine Arts Hall , Kochi

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Conditions Apply – Review Of The Play That Recently Was In The City

As one grows in life we all understand that all things that come to you in life have conditions attached to it!! Whether you take it or leave it is totally your prerogative. So when our friend came selling tickets for an upcoming play in the city of Kochi (Cochin), I decided to take it, as the play itself was deceptively titled “*conditions apply”!!

Being high on plays after Rajat Kapoor’s – Hamlet – The Clown Prince & Naseerudin Shah’s Antigone, which were brilliantly put together, I had great expectations from “*conditions apply”.

For the record the play “*conditions apply” was brought to the city of Kochi by the Round Table and was staged at the IMA house. The play is written and directed by Vikranth Pawar with Mandira Bedi and Darshan Jariwala as the main protagonists.

When I heard about “* conditions apply”, the first impression I had was that it is going to one of those smart witted stories from the urban lives which most of us would relate to. And how they proved me wrong!!

It came as the most confused script with two individuals caught up in their own lives. The story is around Darshan, introvert, unsure of anything, positive affirmation speaking single male who keeps sprouting personality development jargon’s and Mandira, loud, again unsure of anything, single female. While Darshan came across as a natural, Mandira (in her funny Mickey Mouse tee) looked like she needed some loosening up. To give Darshan due credit, he was able to make the audience laugh over some humor and I thank him for the mercy.

The play started late..:(  and the first 10 min was ok. But, as the play progressed the audience sat in anticipation about what is to happen when their (Darshan and Mandira) paths cross, which did, but disappointingly nothing great happened. The story took a turn for the worse.

I can confidently speak for my friends and also yours truly who were silent throughout the play not in awe but waiting for some miracle to happen to make the play worth our Saturday evening. Just like Mandira who wanted to join “I have no f***ing clue” club in the play, the bunch of us sitting in audience wanted to follow her!!

The script of the play was totally contrived and looks like the writer had no clue what so ever in how to grow the characters. The biggest laughs came for some jokes which am sure was culled from old issues of Midday / Mumbai Times!! Their accidental meeting (or was it pre ordained!!) & supposed swapping of mobile phones looked straight from a C grade Bollywood thriller. And to top it all – in the end – they both retained each others mobile!!  At the end of it all a word for you – Mandira Bedi – You have used up your equity in Kochi – for sure…

condiapplyAt the end of the session, all that I had was a stiff back – sitting on those uncomfortable chairs and the feeling of having been taken for a bad ride. Well, am no authority to speak on theater but speaking for few of us, we would rather spend time over intelligent and good humored plays than something as morose & contrived as “* conditions apply”.  And maybe for the cost of the highly priced tickets – we could have bought a bottle of Scotch plus a Tequila and happily tippled away…J

Me thinks that this substandard play should instead have been called “Entertainment Guaranteed but with*conditions apply” or may be even better would have been “I have no f***ing clue”??

And a word of advise for future organizers, read that as – social clubs, please bring in shows which you have sat through & enjoyed, instead of banking on supposed celebrity value & thus spare the art lovers from such crass and costs.

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Conditions Apply – Play Starring Mandira Bedi & Darshan.V.Jariwalla

Here is a treat for theater lovers in Kochi. A play starring Mandira Bedi & Darshan.V.Jariwalla, ‘Conditions Apply’ is happening in Kochi today at IMA House at 07:30 P.M.  ‘Conditions Apply’ is a frenzied and comical play representing the high stress and frustrations of daily life in the big city.

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Film festival at RLV College , Thripunithura

The Kerala Lalithakala Akademy is organising a unique festival of world film classics that deal with music and fine arts at the RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Thripunithura.

The five-day festival was inaugurated  on Monday, the 30th of November and will close on December 4.

Four films that deal with music, painting, sculpture, photography and other fine arts will be screened each day.

Details

Venue : RLV college of Music and Fine Arts , Thripunithura

Dates : November 30th Monday to December 4th Friday

Some of the films are:

  • Sound of Music
  • Guernica
  • Lust for Life
  • Man With A Movie Camera
  • Picasso: Magic
  • Sex and Death
  • War Photographer.

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THIS IS IT – Michael Jackson Page 3 Movie Premiere @ Cochin

Yes..!! Club Converge(c2) has entered the fashion and lifestyle circuit . And as part of this , they are doing a movie premiere of Michael Jackson’s “This is it“. DJ Ryan will be doing the pre-party.. ! Dont miss it..!

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Place : Sridhar Cinemas , Menaka , Cochin

Date : 28th October 2009 , Wednesday

Time : 9 pm onwards

This is It” is basically a compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. It is directed by Kenny Ortega.

Michael Jackson THIS IS IT movie will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show.And the rare feature of this movie is that it will be shown only for 14 days in theatres worldwide and after that the films will be destroyed.

So , you know what to do , pick up your phones and call 9846439326 (Limited Seats,First Come First Serve Basis) .

Mark you attendance on the official FB page

Posted in Entertainment, Events, Theatre3 Comments

October Revolution comes To Kochi

In association with Corporation of Cochin & I&PRD, Govt Of India, Kochi will be looking forward to kickstart the October Revolution Film Festival. Which starts off on the 18th of October and concludes on the 22th at the E.M.S memmorial town hall, Ernakulam.

To those ignorant on what October revolution is, it has nothing to do with the Oktoberfest held in Germany, which is in short, to state in very very few words, a beerfest, so its not even half as close to having that much fun.But in other words it is one of the defining events in history that lead to shape what we call our present world. It is also known as the Soviet revolution or the Bolshevik revolution, a political revolution that began with an armed rebellion in Petrograd,Russia on the 25th of October 1917. This eventually lead to a series of political conflicts and the birth of the Soviet Union in 1922. Although The October Revolution isn’t constrained in screening just film’s on the russin revolution,it just takes the name for the sake of sticking to what it represents. Everything red and socialist, communist in short. Well largely to movies in that genre or anything remotely close to its ideals atleast. So the film festival will cater to both our ‘comrades’ and film buff’s alike.
The Film Festval will be inaugrated on the 18th by Renowned scriptwriter John Paul.

The first film to hit the screen at town hall and start off with the festival on the 18th is ‘The Battleship Potemkin’ directed by Sergei Eisenstei circa 1925. The film potrays the very short spanned 1905 reovlution against brtual regime of the Tsars in Russia. The rebellion occured when Sailors abroad the battleship Ptemkin was given maggot infested food to eat and start to protest. The captain of the ship gives orders to have those who protest be shot. As the shooting squad approaches one of the main character’s Sailor Vakulinchuk he asks, “Brothers! Do you realize who you are shooting?”. They lower their rifles and thus mutiny evokes. Although Battleship Potemkin is a film that produces an impressive punch and despite crtcics claiming that the the film is a perfect example of film structure, Potemkin is said to be an uneven viewing experience.

The second film on the platter, to be held on the 19th is ‘Viva Zapata’ released in 1952, it is the story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Diaz in the early 20th century. The story goes like this, in 1909 Emiliano Zapata a poor Mexican Indian from a remote province born of good family, goes to Mexico City to complain about their land being encroached. But things doesnt go well and he finally ends being branded an outlaw after he rescues a prisoner from the local militia. Watch the film to see how the rest of the story goes.

The third film, which will be screend on the 20th is ‘Bolivia’ which came out in 2001, directed by Israel Adrián Caetano.
Its a story based on contemporary Argentina, the story itself is more chrunching than the cinematography. The story set in Buenos Aires, is a very simplistic story which is centered around a neighbourhood coffee shop,one the countless sterotype settings where certain over-the-hedge events and inner expressionism manifests. The main focus is on the cafe’s new cook, a Bolivian immigrant Freddy. The story goes on with how Freddy struggles in life and that is the sweet greatness in the film, as it beautifully portrays the essence of humanity.

The 21st will cater to the fourth film,the 1985 production ‘Come and See’ or ‘Idi i smotri’ directed by Elem Klimov.A boy is unwillingly thrust into the atrocities of war in WWII Byelorussia, fighting for a hopelessly unequipped resistance movement against the ruthless German forces. He witnesses scenes of terrors and atrocities and then accidentally surviving horrifying situations he loses his innocence and then his mind. The movie is horrifyingly realistic, the specialFX are on par with movies such as ‘Saving Private Ryan’,'Thin Red line’,etc.

The fifth day i.e the 22nd will have ‘Kaliyorukkam’ by S Sunil screened, which had won the award for the Best Children’s film in 2007. Its a movie that that more depth to its ‘actors’ than the usual children’s films that has come out in the malayalam film industry lately. The story revolves around a group of children in Kannapuram Panchayath in Kannur District, Kerala.

The 22nd will also be host to the 1925 film ‘Strike’ or ‘Stachka’, which will be screened shortly after ‘Kaliyorukkam’.In Russia’s factory region during Czarist rule, there’s restlessness and plans of a strike among the workers. The management brings in spies and external agents to try control it. When a worker hangs himself after being falsely accused of thievery, the workers strike.As things get worse the military arrives to liquidate strikers. A series of Documentary films will also be screened along side with the Film Fest. These include ‘Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham’ on the 19th , ‘E K Nayanar on the 20th, ‘Aravindan’ on the 21st and ‘M D Ramanathan’ on the 22nd.

Film Festival will screen its movies at 6 pm and entries are free.

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Chayamukhi – A Mohanlal, Mukesh Play – JTPAC

The famous duo from Boing Boing is at it again.! But not on the silver screen this time, but through the play ‘Chayamukhi’ that will be staged at JTPAC on 17-October-2009.

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Play Chayamukhi based on the interaction between Bhima and Keechaka, is making journeys of their own. The play opens with Bhima’s monologue, which starts with the line: “How much more distance to be covered?” Thus begins his journey, in search of his true love in life – only to realise that his love was never returned.The play is a fusion of the Mahabharata and the present world and the entire story is told and viewed through the eyes of three petty thieves who venture into the forest and witness certain events depicted in Mahabharata.Mohanlal played the role of Bheema in this Mahabaratham based drama.

Produced by actor Mukesh’s Kalidasa Visual Magic, the story revolves around the Great epic Mahabharath. Chayamukhi is written and directed by Prasanth Narayanan ,a versatile artist with an ever probing intellect ,a talented writer and a crazy director,Chayamukhi takes the viewer to the realms and thoughts never traversed before.For him, Keechaka is a poet and lover, who loves flowers and celebrates the winter festival to the fullest. Even Bhima regrets killing him, though he does so only because Keechaka deviated from accepted norms of the society. Mukesh plays the role of the kind man in this play. Before came to the stage, Mohanlal and his crew have rehearsed for sixty days to present the drama perfectly.

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Malayalam play “Kannadi” – entertaining and thought-provoking

The Malayalam play ‘Kannadi’ took the audience to the theatre of yore where the plot unfolded through narration and chorus, with music augmenting the lines.

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The feeling that life’s an illusion is reflected throughout the play  which  reveals the different sides and emotions of life.

Certainly a superb performance by Magic Theatre under Preetha  Gibu and Susheela Umesh.

The Director

Director Vinod Kumar, a professor in theatre at Kalady Sanskrit  University, was successful in depicting this fantastic play with simple  sets. Credit goes to him for training the 37 children from different  schools in the city who performed from the heart.

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Soorya Festiival

Kerala Fine arts society proudly presents the Soorya Festival. Soorya is a leading film and stage society , that screens dance, music, theatre of artistic excellence…!
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The Soorya cultural society is heading towards their 35th year of usefull existance , catering to the needs of art enthusiasts all over the globe .  And yes , as always , they have decided to give us Kochiites a feast..! A cultural feast..!!

Schedule :

  • Oct 1 : Bharatnatyam , Shobhana
  • Oct 2 – Carnatic Vocal – Sanjay Subramaniam
  • Oct 3 – Hindustan Vocal – Manjari
  • Oct 4 – Kathak – Sheila Mehta and group
  • Oct 5 – Contemporary Dance – Samudra

Venue : Kerala Fine Arts Hall

Time : 6:30 pm

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Shaadi@barbaadi.com

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Jose Thomas Performing Art Centre (JTPac) brought to the city of Kochi, an adaptation of the Marathi blockbuster comedy Ek Lagnachi Ghosht, shaadi@barbaadi.com on 23rd May, 2009 in association with the Muthoot Pappachan Foundation. Radio Mango being the radio partner.

After his outstanding appearance in the famous Bollywood flick Hera Pheri; nothing less could have been expected out of this talented comedian actor Paresh Rawal.2.5 hours of non stop entertainment is how we can best describe this play. Paresh Rawal and his team (small screen artists) had the entire audience rolling with laughter with their exceptional performance.

Written by Umesh Shukla and directed by Paresh Rawal, the plot is based on a Gujarati guy falling in for a babe at a bus stop and how the story proceed leading to their blissful wedding to an equally chaotic post marital life. How the wife doesn’t see eye to eye with the mother-in-law and how the Gujarati guy (Paresh Rawal) goes through the brunt. I was looking forward to seeing Ye Jo hai Zindagi fame actor and wife of Paresh Rawal, Swaroop Sampat on the stage; however she didn’t come and her part was played by some other artist. Anyways, the show was simply hilarious and we all enjoyed it to the hilt.

I think JTPac is one of the good things that has happened to Kochi offlate. Thanks to Jose Thomas (Choice Group) and our very own Mohanlal, who needs no introduction, for brining to us a world class performing art centre at Choice School, Tripunithara. The acoustics are amazing however I feel the stage could have been a little bigger so that in future they have their option open for bigger performing bands and artists. Anyways, the management would know better, afterall it’s their vision.

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So far there have been four performances, and I have been lucky to be able to attend three of them  – Dr. Subramaniam on his violin, Kavitha Krishnamurthy on vocals along with their kids; Cotemporary Jazz concert by Usha Uthup and the ofcourse the most recent Hindi play by Paresh Rawal. The one that I missed was Shobhana’s dance recital.

The management has done some intelligent thinking by inviting as special guests international diplomats for each of its show. It will not only help promoting Indian art and culture but also throw open the stage for international artists and exposing people back home to the world art.

The upcoming show that you can look forward to at JTpac, is the Malayalam Rock band – AVIAL playing on 6th June at 7:00 pm; also brought in association with the Muthoot Pappachan Foundation. Online booking for tickets can be done at www.jtpac.org

Posted in Entertainment, Theatre4 Comments


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