“Chor..Chor..Chor..Chor…..Chor..Chor…Chor”!!

A random Facebook notification of an event with its highly inviting picture on the page catching my eye, was a beautiful coincidence that happened on a rainy Saturday (1st July), in Delhi.  The word ‘Haasya’ [laughter] caught my attention as i just wanted to literally die that day, die hard of laughing!! Who wouldn’t want to do that and that too over a weekend that’s meant to totally unwind yourself! Within moments, I got ready to make it to the event.

Sangeet Natak Academi opened its ‘Bharat Utsava‘ with the famous comic play ‘Hasyachoodamani‘, that’s directed by Sourabh Anant.

Making my way amidst the showers, I entered Meghdoot Theatre at Rabindra Bhavan, hoping to get seated in the first row as I relied on the Rain God to keep the footfall less…..AND I instantly decided to return.. the moment I stepped into the hall. The hall seemed to have a trail of people with everyone trying to spot a place to even stand! Call it sheer luck or a blessing that I was meant to watch this beautifully conceptualized, directed and well staged play. I just got the ‘perfect location to stand’ and I could watch it in full glory!

I instantly got hooked to it the moment the cast entered the stage and lovely music reached my ears. What else do you need a proof for, when you notice the audience humming along within a minute of the play having started!

So here we all went, “Chor, Chor, Chor, Chor…….Chor, Chor, Chor...”. Ah, sounds better than a song to me, already! 🙂 The gorgeous blend of lovely costumes, music, and the setup does want you to stay back and crave for more! Now what’s so special about it? That you’ve to ‘experience’! Just ‘be there’ when it happens next in your city!

The play ‘Hasyachoodamani‘ is based on a Sanskrit Satire written by Mahamatya Vatsraj in 11th century and dedicated to Natyashashtra. What a unique exposure of the commercialization of religion that happens in the society that’s full of ‘Chamatkaari babas‘. Translated in Hindi and adapted in Bundeli dialect, it’s a treat to the ears. It takes you to a highly interesting adventure of Comedy, Love, Music, Classical Narration and very interesting Visual Craft and effects. The whole stage looks so dreamy and poetic and truly an Inspiration even for the painters. Paintings can never be dissociated from other Art forms as one Art form inspires the other. The same reason also makes ‘Vihaan Drama Works‘ fully eligible to be chosen as the ‘Artist (Group) of the Month‘ for July, on my blog that covers Art, be it any form of Art, especially ‘Art that connects’!

Congratulations, team Vihaan!!

The play is a visual delight to watch, a treat for the ears to listen to and laughter riot for the LUNGS! Not a single moment in Meghdoot Theatre went without roaring applause and laughter. Such whistles and hooting were unheard for me in any play before. The whole cast was amazing, be it ‘Baba Gyanu‘ or ‘Kapatkeli‘ or ‘M-m-m-m-m-Madan-Sundari’ or any other character in the play. Sounds interesting already? Then go and watch it and meet this super versatile team of a highly talent group from Bhopal, Vihaan Drama Works.

A quick chat with Tejaswita, one of the team members and the woman behind the percussion in the play and also a dance instructor, helped me learn more about the group. This play was the group’s first ever performance in Delhi and voila! What a marvellous performance it was!! It must reach out to more people in Delhi. Vihaan Dramaworks, we do look forward to many more of your performances in Delhi!!

The group also conducts workshops on Theatre, Photography, Dance, Music and so much more. They have lots to offer to the Artist community and those who wish to become artists. The group had also been in news for organising VIFA [Vihaan International Festival of Arts], where artists from across the country were brought together focusing on several art forms. Their Theatre workshops also focus on sessions on Rang Sangeet under the guidance of Theatre Artist Hemant Deolekar and team.

I was so hooked onto the play that I totally forgot to click pictures, so sharing a few that I got from Ministry of Culture, Government of India page and few others on the web.

Here are some bits from this all-senses treat (all credits for the photos go to various photographers who clicked and shared these with public)

 

(all credits for the photos go to various photographers who clicked and shared these with public)

To stay updated on their future events and next rib tickling performance in Delhi, connect with them on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008203453125&fref=search

You follow their page and let me go and hum, “Chor..Chor, Chor..Chor…Chor..Chor..Chor”. Oh, my lungs are hurting already, too much fun even to recall the performance!!

Love & Hugs,

~ Preet

(Keep following this blog to know about more of interesting talent, get featured, read more on Art that connects!)

 

 

AMIT VARDHAN: The man who taught me the ‘Sign Language of Love’!

Congratulations Amit Vardhan, for being featured as the ‘Artist of the Month‘ for June, 2017!!

SPEECH doesn’t become a barrier when you’re blessed with a talent that is creative, colorful, beautiful and connects people. You can surpass any hurdle and inspire others! That is precisely, what Amit  personifies. He is the man who taught me the ‘Sign Language of Love’!

Since my first interaction with Amit in August 2016, I had been curious to know more about him and see more of his artwork.

Last year, I was busy sharing stories about my own Artwork in my stall, where I had exhibited my work and suddenly I saw Amit waving a hand at me. I smiled and said, ‘Hi’. He smiled back. He suddenly made a sweet gesture using his hands, complimenting me on my artwork, not just once but multiple times. Then he held my hand and gestured to walk with him to his stall, which was 2 blocks away from where my Exhibition was held.

I looked around and saw lot of goodies like notebooks, handbags etc. in his stall and to be honest, at that moment my first thought was, ‘oh…ok…nothing special about it, these are just notebooks’….but the moment Amit proudly pointed (with a huge smile on his face) towards the lovely illustrations done by him on each of those goodies, I could only fell in awe of his lovely talent. He tops it with a huge curve on his lips each time you see him. I still own one of his works, that he had gifted me during my first Exhibition. He calls that work as ‘Freedom’! Thank you, Amit!

I had always been curious about how Artists share their work and whether everyone gets it easy? Last month, I ended up meeting Amit again, at Oxford Bookstore, in Connaught Place, Delhi. I wanted to grab some nice tea at Cha Bar and saw Amit waving at me from his stall. I invited him to join me for a cup of tea, which he very willingly accepted.

Few moments went by in Silence….as I was at a loss thinking how to start the conversation because I didn’t know the Sign Language but I was suddenly touched by the way Amit instantly made me feel comfortable by ‘writing his answer on a paper napkin‘ after I gestured asking him, “How are you doing, Amit?”.

I suddenly felt at ease and then we both could only smile while looking at the Cha Bar guys who were staring at both of us for ‘wasting their paper napkins’, but who knows that we were only enjoying our conversation and creating memories! 🙂

After our regular chit-chat, Amit started telling me about his experience at his stall and I had this sudden instinct to share more about such wonderful talent with the rest of the world, and hence this post.. that was long due.

Me: “Amit, what do you enjoy drawing/painting/sketching more?“

Amit: “Abstract, Nature, Live sketches”… (as he writes his reply on the paper napkin)

Me: “I still remember the ‘Freedom’ artwork that you had done for me and gifted me last year. Do you?“

Amit: “Yes, Yes!!“.. (with a huge smile)

Me: “Do you keep meeting new people here? Have you made any good friends?”

Amit: “Yes, I have but these days I get very bored.”

Me: “Why so?”

Amit: “People hardly visit the bookstore as vacations are going on and summers are here. Sales have also dropped for the same reasons. Feels like a long day.”

Me: “Amit, you are so good at painting. Why don’t do you start painting here itself while you have ample free time at your stall as you mentioned! This way you won’t get bored and who knows someone might love your paintings and even buy those!”

Amit: “Yes, yes. That’s a good idea! Thank you so much!“

And then we continued with our chat over a few cups of tea before I took his permission to write about him on my blog, to which he very willingly agreed and also allowed me to click his pictures.

I returned home highly motivated with a decision of telling more people about Amit’s talent and a wish that his work gets noticed even more. So here’s my little attempt towards it.

Amit is associated with Atulyakala as a Visual Artist. He has also been a part of the The Goodwill Project of Atulyakala.

Send more love to Amit, at his Instagram ID:

https://www.instagram.com/amit_vardhan/

Some shots of our Mr. Artist and his creations:

 

Amit’s Creations_3

Amit’s Creations_5

Amit’s Creations_1

Amit’s Creations_4

Amit, our Artist of the Month!

Amit’s Creations_2

Go, grab his awesome creations at his stall at Oxford Bookstore, CP!! I tell you, his smile is going to win you over!!

Love & Hugs,

~ Preet

(Keep following this blog to know about more of interesting talent, get featured, read more on Art that connects!)