chitra

Having lived in Bangalore all my life, one question I am repeatedly asked is “what does one do for fun in Bangalore?” So I have decided to write about the interesting things that one can do in Bangalore. And first in the series will be for music lovers. Bangalore is host to some of the brilliant performances of Indian classical music and in the recent past has also become the favored destination for artists such as Elton John, Bryan Adams, Roger Waters etc. This part will be specially dedicated to Indian classical music concerts that are a part of the rich tradition of this city. Here are some that I have truly enjoyed.

The New Year starts with Yamini – Concert organized jointly by Spic Macay and IIMB on the 25th January. The stalwarts of Indian Classical music perform dusk to dawn at the IIMB campus. This is our own vasanta habba. The concert happens at the IIMB’s open-air auditorium and is an experience every music lover will cherish. The place is done up for the evening with mattresses strewn on the lawn, bon fire lit up around the place to help you fight the biting January chill. And if you look close, you will even notice mosquito coils hidden in the well-manicured garden that line the seating area.
This year, Yamini hosted beautiful renditions of music and dance by Bombay Jayashree, Purbayan Chaterjee, Shri. Ganesh and Smt. Jayanti and Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan.

The entry is free but you need passes or should have a valid student id card to enter. The passes are easily available in prominent locations around the city. So mark your calendars today and make sure you are there for Yamini 2008.

Ramanavami is the time when music comes alive with concerts happening in different parts of the city. And the Fort high school in Chamrajpet is a well-known destination for music aficionados this time of the year. Started by S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao more than 60 years ago, the Ramanavami concert at Fort High School is an important strand of Bangalore’s rich cultural fabric. The 38 day long musical extravaganza is held at the Fort High School in Chamrajpet. The who’s who of the classical music world perform here. And this is also your chance to listen to upcoming artists who open the concert every evening.
Ramanavami will be celebrated on 27 March 2007. So if you enjoy classical music and happen to be in Bangalore around this time, you wouldn’t want to miss this!

Come fall, Ganjam musical extravaganza brings to the city some of India’s brilliant musicians. Ganjam, known for their exquisite showcase of jewellery are ardent patrons of music. Artists such as Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Bombay Jayashri, render mesmerizing performances to a packed hall at the Chowdaiah Memorial.

These are some of my favorites. But there are many organizations in Bangalore that promote Indian classical music and host interesting concerts and lectures. I will talk about them in detail in my later posts. In the meantime, enjoy the Ramanavami concerts and I promise to update you on anything interesting that comes along the way.

thinktank

Mom and I are prolific shoppers. We shop almost every week. During our shop-till-you-get-frazzled trips we often discover little unexpected facets of Bangalore.
The other day we were driving home through Jayanagar and saw an amateur commercial artist selling blue-tinted portraits of John Abraham and psychedelic abstracts on the footpath.

Maybe he was inspired by the “Art Bazaar” that is organized every December at Chitra Kala Parishat: the entire street is turned into a walk-in gallery displaying works of students, both current and former. It’s a great resource for someone looking for affordable artwork, for bargain hunters and first-time buyers.

My advice to someone who is interested in collecting Art but doesn’t know where to begin is this: look around and develop a visual vocabulary so that you could make an informed decision about what is available and what you like.
You need to visit exhibitions, art websites, and visit artist studios if you can, try and get a sense of the art scene here. Read up on basic art history; look up famous paintings on the net (Matisse’s Pink Nude, Picasso’s Guernica, Monet’s Waterlilies, Van Gogh’s Starry Nights, Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending Staircase etc.).

Slowly you will begin to realize which direction your interest lies in – modern, classical, minimal, radical , or maybe a colorful mix of everything. This is the proactive approach – don’t let other people develop your taste and don’t be overwhelmed by the academicians and critics. Art is anything that is original and inspirational at the same time.

A word of caution: There is a very thin line between Art and wannabe-art. Only instinct and exposure to varied art experiences will help you distinguish between good quality work and derivative work. Every once in a while though you will come across something truly original and inspiring that there is no room for ambiguity: even a novice can tell that it is the work of a master.

deapthought

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