APRIL 2010

Programme Calendar
Habitat World @ India Habitat Centre

7:00pm|MUSIC|Jagat Mein Prem Hi Prem Bhara Hai A recital of some of the

1 st
Thurs memorable songs of legendary singer K. L. Saigal by Ninan Koshi

7:00pm|DANCE|A Tribute To Guru Surendranath Jena Odissi recital by Radhika

2nd Fri Jha

7:00pm|MUSIC|Hindustani Classical Vocal recital by Padmaja Chakraborty &

Suchishmita Chakraborty, senior disciples of Sumitra Guha followed by a
Flute recital by Rajesh Prasanna

6:30pm|TALK|H.H. Swami Bodhananda Saraswati speaks on Life – To

3rd Sat Mourn Or To Celebrate! Collab: Sambodh Foundation

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|The Great Indian Butterfly

(English/2008/110mins) Dir. Sarthak Dasgupta. Krish and Meera, form a
young Indian couple climbing the ladder of the corporate rat race. Stressed,
frustrated and unable to come to terms with the sacrifice required for success,
they go in search of a legendary magical insect - The Great Indian Butterfly.
Last seen by the unknown Portuguese explorer Carodiguez, in a remote valley
located in erstwhile colonial Goa, the butterfly possesses a magical aura,
granting immense happiness to the person who catches it. In the journey, the
couple lose more than what they want to rediscover. It becomes a passage,
which seems to travel with a metaphor of its own and an insect as elusive as
happiness itself. Collab: Enlighten Film Society

8:00am|IHC WALK|Historian Kanika Singh leads a heritage walk at Mehrauli

4th Sun Village. Please contact the Programme desk for registration and details.

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|Well Done Abba (Hindi/2009/144mins) Dir.

Shyam Benegal. Cast: Ila Arun, Sammir Dattani, Boman Irani, Rajit
Kapoor. The film tells the story of Armaan Ali, a driver working in Mumbai. He
takes leave for a month to find a husband for his teenage daughter. However,
when Armaan returns to work after 3 months, his young employer threatens to
sack him. But, Armaan Ali has a story to tell and the story he tells is a
humorous and often hilarious account of the events and happenings that
delayed him from returning after a month. He avails a government scheme to
dig a well in his agricultural patch. Things spiral out of control so much so that
the Government is about to collapse! The question remains, how true is this
compelling story! Collab: Enlighten Film Society

7:00pm|MUSIC|Sitar recital by Biswajit Panda, disciple of Biswajeet Roy

Chaudhary

6.30pm|DOC FILM|Public Service Broadcasting Trust continues with its monthly

5th Mon series Chilika Banks: Stories From India's Largest Coastal Lake (1970-2007)
Dir. Akanksha Joshi

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|The Last Lear (English/2008/130mins) Dir.

 Rituparno Ghosh. Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal.
Veteran thespian Harish Mishra is gravely ill. The punishments of a film shoot
have left the old man in a coma. His co-star, Shabnam, is wracked with worry,
but their director, Siddharth, keeps strangely distant and refuses to visit his
ailing star. In flashbacks, their story emerges. Collab: Enlighten Film Society

7:00pm|BOOK LAUNCH|Vulnerable India: A Geographical Study of Disasters by

Anu Kapur. Collab: SAGE Publications

7:00pm|DANCE|IMAGES Akanandun to… In memory of victims of war &

6th Tue injustice. Contemporary dance-drama theatre choreographed by Sangeeta
Sharma, Anveshana Dance Theatre

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|Frozen (Hindi/Ladakhi/2007/109mins) Dir.

7th Wed Shivajee Chandrabhushan. Cast: Danny Denzongpa The touching and
somber journey of Lasya, who lives with her father Karma and younger brother
Chomo in a remote village in the Himalayas. When the army moves in to settle
a hundred yards across their doorstep, the last bit of comfort the family draws
from their familiar surroundings changes into a harsh ceaseless irreversible
conflict. The director will be present for an interaction post-screening. Collab:
Enlighten Film Society

7:00pm|TALK|Prof. Nadia Fusini, Professor, English Literature, Italian Institute

of Human Sciences, Florence & columnist, La Repubblica, speaks on
Shakespeare, The Tempest And The Invention Of America Collab: Embassy of
Italy and British Council

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|Ocean Of An Old Man (Hindi/2008) Dir. Rajesh

8th Thur Shera. Cast: Tom Alter The film succeeds in bringing on screen the physical
and emotional devastation wrought by the 2004 tsunami. Having been shot on
location in the Andaman Islands, it narrates the story of the oceanic concern of
an archetypal school teacher, for his young students who come every day to
attend the school from the nearby islands. Until one day the ocean unfurls its
fury on these islands in the form of a tsunami. After few months when the
school reopens, five students become conspicuous by their absence. The
teacher goes out in search of the missing children but strange experiences and
emotions await him in those devastated islands. Collab: Enlighten Film Society

7:00pm|MUSIC|Hindustani Classical Vocal recital by Suman Ghosh, disciple of

Pt. Jasraj HCL Concert Series

7:00pm|TALK|Anuradha Rajivan, Economist, Asia Pacific Human Development

Report, speaks on, Power, Voice And Rights: Are We At A Turning Point For
Gender Equality In Asia Pacific? Collab: United Nations Development
Programme

6:30pm|TALK|Dr. Nikolas Kazanas, eminent scholar of Vedas from Athens

9 Fri
th
speaks on Is The Aryan Invasion Theory Really Dead?

7:00pm|THEATRE|On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, Asmita Theatre

Group presents Ambedkar Aur Gandhi (Hindi/90mins) Dir. Arvind Gaur. Wri.
Rajesh Kumar. Music. Dr. Sangeeta Gaur. The play portrays the great
 debate between Gandhi and Ambedkar which led to the Poona pact and also
the benefits highlighted by Ambedkar and the fears of Gandhi regarding the
eradication of division between the savarna and the avarna Hindus. Tickets at
Rs.200, Rs.150 & Rs.100 available at the Programme desk available at the
Programme desk from April 2 for IHC members only. Open to all from April 5.
An Old World Culture Presentation

9:30am – 11:30am|HABITAT CHILDREN'S BOOK FORUM features Rani

10th Sat Lakshmibai, The Valiant Queen Of Jhansi, a biography by Deepa Agarwal.
Pub. Puffin Books. Readings, 1857 quiz and other activities. Age group 10+

7:00pm|PANEL DISCUSSION|Should India Be Divided Into More States Panelists:

N. K. Singh, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Boobli George Varghese,
Visiting Professor, Centre for Policy Research; Mohan Guruswamy, Chairman
& founder of Centre for Policy Alternatives; Laveesh Bhandari, Director,
Indicus Analytics; Shankkar Aiyar, Managing Editor, India Today. Chair: Bibek
Debroy, Research Professor, Centre for Policy Research

8:00am|IHC WALK|Freelance writer and editor Aradhana Sinha leads a walk

11 Sun
th
around the ruins of Hauz Khas. Please contact the Programme desk for
registration and details.

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|What’s Cooking Stella

(Eng/Hindi/2009/103mins) Dir. Dilip Mehta. A warmhearted social satire
about a Canadian diplomat and her chef husband Michael who are posted to
New Delhi. Upon arrival they inherit a household of Indian servants headed by
the charming, totally inspiring – and wily – cook, Stella. When Stella agrees to
become Michael’s cooking guru and to teach him traditional Indian dishes, little
does he know that she’s cooking up a scheme of her own.

7:00pm|PANEL DISCUSSION|The Narrative Of Art An exploration of the diverse

riches and forms of storytelling as depicted in the different art mediums.
Panelists: Pooja Sood, Director, Khoj and curator of Apeejay Art Gallery & the
regional winners of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2010 - Albert Wendt,
Samoan novelist, poet and educator & Shandi Mitchell, Canadian writer and
film maker. Collab: Siyahi

7:00pm|DANCE|Unbound Beats Of India, 2010 - International Festival of Indian

12th Mon Classical Dances. Kathakali recital by Shima Madhavi (Iran), Odissi duet by
Ashok & Bandita (Bhubaneswar), Bharatanatyam recital by Sushma
Ranganathan (Chennai), Bharatanatyam recital by Saroja Vaidyanathan’s
foreign disciples (Delhi), Kathak duet by Vidha & Abhimanyu Lal (Delhi)
Collab: Ranjana Gauhar’s Academy of Dance, UTSAV

7:00pm|ILLUSTRATED TALK|To The South Pole And Back Tom Davenport,

polar adventurer, talks about his 2400 km, three-month expedition from the
Antarctic coast to the South Pole...and then back. First, by cross-country ski
and then return, by kite ski. Collab: The Himalayan Club
 7:00pm|DANCE|Unbound Beats Of India, 2010 - International Festival of Indian
13th Tue Classical Dances. Manipuri Dance by Guru Singhajit's disciples (Delhi),
Kuchipudi recital by Pratiksha Kashi, Odissi recital by Sanchita Banerjee
(Kolkata), Mohiniattam recital by Bharti Shivaji’s disciples (Delhi), Kathak duet
by Anna Pattens (Mauritius) Collab: Ranjana Gauhar’s Academy of Dance,
UTSAV

14th Wed 7:00pm|MUSIC|Tabla solo by Rimpa Siva (Kolkata) followed by Sarod recital by
Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta (Kolkata) Collab: Sangeetam

7:00pm|TALK|Poetry readings in Hindi, Urdu & English. Chair: Sameer Kakkar.

Collab: Universal Poetry

7:00pm|MUSIC|Hindustani Vocal recital by Pt. Sarathi Chatterjee followed by

15th Thur Kathak recital by Pt. Rajendra Gangani. Collab: Sangeetam

7:00pm|MUSIC|Saaz Sang Aawaz In awareness of female foeticide. Rajasthani

16th Fri Folk recital by Rukma Manganiyar and Violin recital by Anupriya Deotale.
Collab: Suman Art Cultural And Social Organization

6:00pm|IHC MEMBER’S MEET

17th Sat
7:00pm|MUSIC|Group Tabla Lahara followed by Hindustani Vocal recital by Pt.
Bholanath Mishra, Santoor recital by Raj Kumar Majumdar, disciple of Pt.
Bhajan Sopori Collab: Classic

7:00pm|IIM CALCUTTA LECTURE SERIES|Debu Bhatnagar, former Marketing

Manager, Hindustan Lever Ltd., and currently Promoter – Director, Y Factor,
speaks on Domestic FMCG Players – Emerging Giants

7:00pm|MUSIC|Performance by Austrian Gypsy and Jazz musician Harri Stojka.

18th Sun Collab: Austrian Embassy & Earth Matters Foundation

7:00pm|MUSIC|Sitar recital by Pt. Amalendu Chowdhury, disciple of Lt. Pt.

Shyam Ganguly, followed by Tabla Solo recital by Pt. Sanjay Mukherjee,
disciple of Pt. Jnanprakash Ghosh & Hindustani Vocal recital by Pt. Dinanath
Mishra. Collab: Classic

7:00pm|DOC FILM|Child Birth Film Festival - The Business Of Being Born

(English/2007/83mins) Dir. Abby Epstein. Key in every birth is a commitment
to doing what's best for mother and baby. However, hospitals and doctors often
too quickly advocate medical intervention in the interest of saving time and
avoiding potential litigation. While unquestionably advocating midwifery over
hospital birthing, this documentary explores expert opinions, and anecdotal
experiences of both mothers and midwives that are crucial in making an
informed decision about the use of midwifery in birthing. Collab: Kriti team &
Delhi Birth Network

10:00am|TALK|Swedish Crime Fiction - The Renewal And Redefining Of A

19th Mon Literary Genre. Lecture on Swedish Crime Fiction by Swedish author Håkan
Nesser, followed by an interactive Q&A session. Collab: Embassy of Sweden
 1:00pm|WORKSHOP|Swedish Crime Fiction - The Renewal And Redefining Of A
Literary Genre. Modern Crime Fiction Writing by Swedish author Håkan
Nesser. The workshop will feature an interactive lecture on writing techniques,
and focus on honing the skills of the participants in the art of crime fiction
writing. (Pre-registration required. Limited seats based on first come, first
serve) Collab: Embassy of Sweden

7:00pm|DOC FILM|Child Birth Film Festival - Birth As We Know It

(English/2006/75mins) Dir. Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova. The way we
procreate defines our ability to thrive. It's a matter of utmost urgency as
everyday babies are born into unnecessary suffering, with easily avoidable,
harmful complications, which limbically imprint their nervous system with
suffering as the 'norm' and diminishes their capacity for intimacy and kindness.
The documentary shows an alternative: it shows women who approached the
art of people-making consciously and with dignity. Collab: Kriti team & Delhi
Birth Network

7:00pm|MUSIC|Ustad Ahmad Jan Thirakwa Memorial Festival. Tabla Solo recital

20th Tue by Rashid Mustafa Thirakwa & Shariq Mustafa, accompanied by Ahsan
Ali Khan (Sarangi). Followed by Flute Recital by Rajendra Prasanna &
Rajesh Prasanna (Flute), accompanied by Arshad Khan (Tabla)

7:00pm|THEATRICAL READING|Swedish Crime Fiction - The Renewal And

Redefining Of A Literary Genre. Theatrical reading of parts of Stieg Larsson's
The Millinnium Triology by Avijit Dutt, theatre director & Håkan Nesser's
Woman With Birthmark by the author himself.

7:30pm|PANEL DISCUSSION|Swedish Crime Fiction - The Renewal And

Redefining Of A Literary Genre. Discussion on modern crime fiction. Panelists:
Håkan Nesser, Swedish author; Avijit Dutt, theatre director; Alok Sarin,
Consultant Psychiatrist, Sitaram Bhartia Institute; Aditya Sudarshan, author
of horror and sci-fi genres; Dr. Anjana Neira Dev, Associate Prof., English
Dept., Gargi College. Moderator: Zac O'Yeah, Swedish crime fiction writer.
Collab: Embassy of Sweden

7:00pm|TALK|Interactive Workshop: Personality Re-Engineering Series -

VIMHANS continues with its monthly series highlighting issues affecting our
everyday lives. The session focuses on Psychology Of Winning & Achieving –
Let’s Take A Fresh Perspective

7:00pm|MUSIC|Ustad Ahmad Jan Thirakwa Memorial Festival concludes. Taal

21st Wed Vadya Kachehri presented by Layashakti Group - Rashid Mustafa Thirakwa
on Tabla, Arunachalam Prem Kumar on Mridangam, Fatehsingh Gangani
on Pakhawaj & Ahsan Ali Khan on Sarangi. Followed by Sarod Recital by
Ayaan Ali Khan

7:00pm|MUSIC|Raag Rang Flute recital by Ajay Prasanna. Collab: SPANDAN

Communications

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|Swedish Crime Fiction - The Renewal And

22nd Thur Redefining Of A Literary Genre. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (A)
(Swedish/2009/152mins) Dir. Niels Arden Oplev. A dark and violent Swedish
 thriller based on Stieg Larsson's crime fiction novel from 2004. Forty years ago,
Harriet Vanger, member of the powerful Vanger clan, disappeared from a
family gathering. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was
murder and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional
family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the
tattooed, ruthless computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. The pair
links Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from almost
forty years ago and begins to unravel a dark and appalling family history of
gender suppression and disrespect for human lives. Collab: Embassy of
Sweden

6:30pm|TALK|Importance Of Music In Old Age Under the series of Symposiums

23rd Fri on Needs & Rights of Older Persons Collab: Agewell Foundation

7:00pm|FILM CLUB SCREENING|Leaving Home: The Life And Music Of Indian

Ocean (English/Hindi/2008/114mins) Dir. Jaideep Varma. The documentary
traces the story of four men who came together to make music as Indian
Ocean. It takes us through the life and times of the four individuals who made
personal sacrifices, took risks and eschewed commercial considerations to form
one of the greatest Indian music bands of all times.

6:30pm|WORDS OF WOMEN with Aruna Chakravarti, well-known writer,

translator and author of Secret Spaces: A Collection of Stories Collab: Zubaan

7:00pm|MUSIC|Spring Recital 2010 Solo recitals by students of Bridge Music

Academy featuring European classical music to blues, rock and jazz

7:00pm|THEATRE|1947 (Hindi/95mins) Dir. M. Sayeed Alam. Cast: Saleem

24th Sat Shah. Prod. Pierrot’s Troupe. The story unfolds in the form of an 85 year old
man as well as an Alzheimer’s patient, Ghazanfar Hussein, recalling the
partition. The old man’s non-academic, non-descript, and also factually
incorrect, personal memoirs of the Partition question a range of stereotypes
about the incident – its genesis, causes, worth and effects. Wit, humor and
satire describe this journey of pain and pathos. Tickets at Rs.300, Rs.200,
Rs.100 & Rs.50 available at the Programme desk from April 17 for IHC
members only. Open to all from April 20. An Old World Culture Presentation

7:00pm|THEATRE|Same Time Next Year (Hindi/90mins) Dir. & Acted by

25th Sun Saleem Shah. A romantic comic tale of an adventurous housewife, Doris, and
a henpecked husband, George, both of whom are not married to each other.
George, an accountant by profession, happens to be in Goa and meets Doris.
They happen to meet by chance, and then decide to meet every year, Same
Time, Same Place! The play progresses further and traces their lives for the
next 25 years. It unveils their individual personalities and their never ending
attachment with each other. Tickets at Rs.300, Rs.200, Rs.100 & Rs.50
available at the Programme desk from April 17 for IHC members only. Open to
all from April 20. An Old World Culture Presentation

7:00pm|MUSIC|Rabindra Sangeet by Sunanda Ghosh (Kolkata), Palli Geeti &

Adhunik Bangla Gaan by Probal & Srabani Goswami (Delhi) Collab:
Impressario India
 7:00pm|MUSIC|Santoor recital by Abhay Rustom Sopori, accompanied on the
26th Mon Tabla by Mithlesh Jha. Tabla solo by Kedar Nath. Hindustani Vocal recital by
Ritesh-Rajnish Mishra, accompanied on the Tabla by Vinod Lele &
Harmonium by Paromita Mukherjee. Collab: Baba Vishwanath Society For
Music And Performing Arts

7:00pm|MUSIC|Vrindvadan An evening of Indian Classical Instrumental music.

Orchestra composed by Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury. Participants: Bandhan
Adak, Abhishikta Bandyopadhyay, Sreetama Dey, Saloni Roy,
Deborshee Mukherjee, Anirban Banerjee on Sarod; Pragati Adak & Iman
Chatterjee on Sitar; Soumitra Dasgupta & Prabir Rakshit on Tabla,
Deborshee Mukherjee on Synthesizer. Followed by Sitar recital by Pragati
Adak, Tabla solo by Soumitra Dasgupta, Sarod Duet by Deborshee
Mukherjee & Anirban Banerjee. Collab: Vistar, Kolkata

7:00pm|TALK|NMF Eminent Persons Lecture Series. Consequences Of The

Global Economic Crisis: A Reassessment After One Year Speaker: Amb. Shyam
Saran, former Foreign Secretary & PM’s Special Envoy. Chair: Adm. Arun
Prakash, former Chief of the Naval Staff & Chairman, National Maritime
Foundation
27th Tue 7:00pm|DANCE|Bharatanatyam recital by Padmaja Suresh. HCL Concert
Series

7:00pm|MUSIC|Carnatic Vocal recital by Poornima Krishnan, disciple of

Meena Krishnan. Accompanists: Sridhar on Violin & Sudhir on Mridangam

6:30pm|TALK|Music seminar on Odissi Music And The Allied Forms: Pala,

DasKathia & Raas Panelists: Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Dr. Shanno Khurana &
Prof. Ramhari Das. Collab: UTSAV

7:00pm|MUSIC|Summer Sonata Piano recital by Ankita Kumar, disciple of

28th Wed piano maestro Brian Silas. An evening of soulful renditions and pulsating
numbers from Hindi films and timeless western pieces on the piano. A Brian
Silas School of Instrumental Music Presentation

7:00pm|DOC FILM|The Groundwater Up Project (English & Hindi with

29th Thur subtitles/2010/36mins) Dirs. Tarini Manchanda, Katie Gillett & Moriah
Mason. In this upbeat documentary, meet Dolly, who has to be resourceful for
water, Deya, who says that even posh Delhi colonies don’t get reliable water
supply, and Maya, who is embarrassed to go fetch the water she needs for
daily life. The film doesn’t solve Delhi’s “water crises”, but it explores current
solutions like dams and sewage treatment plants. It discovers ideas in
unexpected places and highlights people who are pursuing creative solutions.
The screening will be followed by an interaction with the directors. Collab: Kriti
team

7:00pm|TALK|Launch of Souvenir - Celebrating ten years of Community Service

30 Fri
th
by Amba Foundation. Followed by Dance-drama by the Children of the
Foundation.

7:00pm|MUSIC|Hindustani Vocal recital by Partha Pratim Das, disciple of

Shyamal Dasgupta, Pt. Prasun Banerjee, Pt. A. Kanan & Pt. Kumar Prasad
 Mukherjee HCL Concert Series

7:00pm|FILM CLUB DISCUSSION Group meets to discuss Caro Diario (Dear

Diary) (Italian/1993/101mins) Dir. Nanni Moretti. Travelling on his scooter
through Rome, Nanni Moretti explores the connections between history of
cinema and the millennial city. Cruising with his friend around a set of remote
islands in search of peace to finish his new film and consulting doctor after
doctor to cure his annoying rash, he casts a humorous look at his life and those
around him. In some of the most touching scenes, the Italian director enacts
traumatic events of his own life to debate on the contradictory spaces of the
modern citizen and the relevance of the imaginary in everyday's life. Carlos
Izquierdo Tobias, Research Scholar at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU,
will introduce the film and facilitate the discussion.

7:00pm|CANVAS ASKEW|Panel discussion on Awakening From Bedlam:

Towards Progressive Mental Health Legislation. Chair: Dr. Alok Sarin,
Consultant Psychiatrist, Sitaram Bhartia Institute. Check with the Programme
Desk for details on the panelists.

EXHIBITIONS

DELHI O’ DELHI

1 – 30 On the occasion of World Dance Day Celebrations, Kri Foundation presents One
Year Later, an exhibition of photographs by Sunny Lamba

CONVENTION CENTRE FOYER

1–4 Trinity - An Art Experience by Swati, Sarang & Parul

7 – 11 The Rhythm Of Colours Solo show of paintings by Saurabh Mohan

12 – 14 Abstract Sojourns Exhibition of paintings by Nupur Chaube &

photographs by Manish Nirwal

16 – 20 Colours Of Spring Group show of paintings

21 – 23 Group Show of Madhubani, Warli & Coffee paintings by Sangeetha G.,

Pratima, Sapna, Pinky & Pooja, presented by Vishwassewak

24 – 27 Eternal duet - 2 Group show of paintings by Sangeeta Sharma, Rohit

Sharma & Deepika Dhiman

28 – 30 An exhibition of photographs by Amba Foundation

VISUAL ARTS GALLERY

1–3 Streets Have No Name Fund raising event organized by Salaam Baalak
Trust
8 – 10 Dance Of The Rainbow Solo exhibition of paintings by Ranjeeta Kant presented
by Gallery Alternatives

11 – 15 Eggxotica An Egg Art exhibition by Farha Sayeed featuring beautifully

decorated Eggshells, intricately cut, carved and ornamented by hand in
the Faberge style

16 Hello, India! Exhibition organized by Flickr, an online community for

photographers for officially launching themselves in India & hence
showcasing pictures clicked by the members of the community

18 – 20Annual Group Show 2010 Group exhibition of canvases & sculptures by Chawla
Art Gallery

21 – 30 Never Mind The Bullfish, Here's A Spot Of T Solo exhibition by Tarun Jung
Rawat using mixed media combines

OPEN PALM COURT GALLERY

1–4 The Dawn Group show of paintings & drawings by Anita Kumar, Pallav
Chander, Guneet Kumar & Nehmat Mongia

11 – 18 Doors Of Perceptions Group exhibition of painting & sculptures

19 – 23 In Conversation With Myself Exhibition by Suchit Sahni attempting to share how

he wants to live and what he wants to achieve in this life

24 – 28 The Artist. The Man. Exhibition of paintings by Vikash Kalra depicting various
expressions & relationships that human beings share with each other in
their lifetime

29 – 30 As We Rise Exhibition of paintings by Ameeta Varma depicting some of the

aspects of the journey called life using colors and forms

LOBBIES – 5A & 4B

April 1 - June 30 Tranquil Moments... Photo exhibition of tranquil moments by

Sandeep Silas

WORKSHOPS

Art Workshop by Rohit Kumar Sharma

The workshop’s new session has started from 20th Feb. 2010 - 20th May 2010
Classes every Saturday & Sunday
Venue: Palm Court Conference room
Timings: Saturdays - 2.30 pm - 5.00 pm
Sundays - 11.30 am – 2.00 pm
Fees: Rs 3500 for three months
The workshop is only for adult participants.
Paint your Canvas by Kavita Jaiswal

Every Friday the workshop aims to give a unique creative experience in oil painting to
the participants.
Timings: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Fees: IHC Members – Rs 1500 Non Members: Rs 2000

Zen of Photography by Achal Kumar

“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn't photograph them,”
American photographer Diane Arbus once remarked, very much in agreement with
Henri Cartier-Bresson who once commented, “Photographers deal in things which are
continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth
which can make them come back again. We cannot develop and print a memory.”
Learn to capture the unnoticed, the unsaid, the untouched, and the unfelt through the
lens of your camera, and make a difference!

India Habitat Centre introduces photography workshop conducted by art-photographer

Achal Kumar. Winner of National Academy Award, 1997, instituted by the Lalit Kala
Academy, Delhi, Kumar trained under photographers like S. Paul, the Late T. Kashinath,
and his father Santosh. He has been practicing photography for the past 25 years.
Kumar is conducting the workshop at the
Palm Court Conference Room
Every second and fourth Saturday of the month
Is only for IHC Members.

FILM CLUB PANEL

3 7:00pm The Great Indian Butterfly (English/2008/110mins) Dir.

Sarthak Dasgupta. Krish and Meera, form a young Indian couple climbing the ladder
of the corporate rat race. Stressed, frustrated and unable to come to terms with the
sacrifice required for success, they go in search of a legendary magical insect - The
Great Indian Butterfly. Last seen by the unknown Portuguese explorer Carodiguez, in a
remote valley located in erstwhile colonial Goa, the butterfly possesses a magical aura,
granting immense happiness to the person who catches it. In the journey, the couple
lose more than what they want to rediscover. It becomes a passage, which seems to
travel with a metaphor of its own and an insect as elusive as a fossil trapped in
prehistoric resin. Collab: Enlighten Film Society

4 7:00pm Well Done Abba (Hindi/2009/144mins) Dir. Shyam

Benegal. Cast: Ila Arun, Sammir Dattani, Boman Irani, Rajit Kapoor. The film
tells the story of Armaan Ali, a driver working in Mumbai. He takes leave for a month to
find a husband for his teenage daughter. However, when Armaan returns to work after 3
months, his young employer threatens to sack him. But, Armaan Ali has a story to tell
and the story he tells is a humorous and often hilarious account of the events and
happenings that delayed him from returning after a month. He avails a government
scheme to dig a well in his agricultural patch. Things spiral out of control so much so
that the Government is about to collapse! The question remains, how true is this
compelling story! Collab: Enlighten Film Society

5 7:00pm The Last Lear (English/2008/130mins) Dir. Rituparno

Ghosh. Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal. Veteran thespian
Harish Mishra is gravely ill. The punishments of a film shoot have left the old man in a
coma. His co-star, Shabnam, is wracked with worry, but their director, Siddharth, keeps
strangely distant and refuses to visit his ailing star. In flashbacks, their story emerges.
Collab: Enlighten Film Society

7 7:00pm Frozen (Hindi/Ladakhi/2007/109mins) Dir. Shivajee

Chandrabhushan. Cast: Danny Denzongpa The touching and somber journey of
Lasya, who lives with her father Karma and younger brother Chomo in a remote village
in the Himalayas. When the army moves in to settle a hundred yards across their
doorstep, the last bit of comfort the family draws from their familiar surroundings
changes into a harsh ceaseless irreversible conflict. The director will be present for an
interaction post-screening. Collab: Enlighten Film Society

8 7:00pm Ocean Of An Old Man (Hindi/2008) Dir. Rajesh Shera. Cast:

Tom Alter The film succeeds in bringing on screen the physical and emotional
devastation wrought by the 2004 tsunami. Having been shot on location in the
Andaman Islands, it narrates the story of the oceanic concern of an archetypal school
teacher, for his young students who come every day to attend the school from the
nearby islands. Until one day the ocean unfurls its fury on these islands in the form of a
tsunami. After few months when the school reopens, five students become conspicuous
by their absence. The teacher goes out in search of the missing children but strange
experiences and emotions await him in those devastated islands. Collab: Enlighten Film
Society

OTHER FILMS

11 7:00pm What’s Cooking Stella (Eng/Hindi/2009/103mins) Dir. Dilip

Mehta. A warmhearted social satire about a Canadian diplomat and her chef husband
Michael who are posted to New Delhi. Upon arrival they inherit a household of Indian
servants headed by the charming, totally inspiring – and wily – cook, Stella. When Stella
agrees to become Michael’s cooking guru and to teach him traditional Indian dishes,
little does he know that she’s cooking up a scheme of her own.

22 7:00pm Swedish Crime Fiction - The Renewal And Redefining Of A

Literary Genre. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (A) (Swedish/2009/152mins) Dir. Niels
Arden Oplev. A dark and violent Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson's crime fiction
novel from 2004. Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger, member of the powerful Vanger clan,
disappeared from a family gathering. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is
convinced it was murder and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but
dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the
tattooed, ruthless computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. The pair links
Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from almost forty years ago
and begins to unravel a dark and appalling family history of gender suppression and
disrespect for human lives. Collab: Embassy of Sweden

23 7:00pm Leaving Home: The Life And Music Of Indian Ocean

(English/Hindi/2008/114mins) Dir. Jaideep Varma. The documentary traces the story
of four men who came together to make music as Indian Ocean. It takes us through the
life and times of the four individuals who made personal sacrifices, took risks and
eschewed commercial considerations to form one of the greatest Indian music bands of
all times.
30 7:00pm FILM CLUB DISCUSSION Group meets to discuss Caro Diario
(Dear Diary) (Italian/1993/101mins) Dir. Nanni Moretti. Travelling on his scooter
through Rome, Nanni Moretti explores the connections between history of cinema and
the millennial city. Cruising with his friend around a set of remote islands in search of
peace to finish his new film and consulting doctor after doctor to cure his annoying rash,
he casts a humorous look at his life and those around him. In some of the most touching
scenes, the Italian director enacts traumatic events of his own life to debate on the
contradictory spaces of the modern citizen and the relevance of the imaginary in
everyday's life.

THEATRE PANEL

On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti

Asmita Theatre Group
Presents
Ambedkar Aur Gandhi
(Hindi/90mins)
Dir. Arvind Gaur. Wri. Rajesh Kumar.
Music. Dr. Sangeeta Gaur
The play portrays the great debate between Gandhi and Ambedkar which led to the
Poona pact and also the benefits highlighted by Ambedkar and the fears of Gandhi
regarding the eradication of division between the savarna and the avarna Hindus.
April 9 @7:00pm
Stein Auditorium
Tickets at Rs.200, Rs.150 & Rs.100 available at the Programme desk from April 2 for IHC
members only. Open to all from April 5
An Old World Culture Presentation

1947
(Hindi/95mins)
Dir. M. Sayeed Alam
Cast: Saleem Shah
Prod. Pierrot’s Troupe
The story unfolds in the form of an 85 year old man as well as an Alzheimer’s patient,
Ghazanfar Hussein, recalling the partition. The old man’s non-academic, non-descript,
and also factually incorrect, personal memoirs of the Partition question a range of
stereotypes about the incident – its genesis, causes, worth and effects. Wit, humor and
satire describe this journey of pain and pathos. April 24 @7:00pm
Stein Auditorium
Tickets at Rs.300, Rs.200, Rs.100 & Rs.50 available at the Programme desk from April
17 for IHC members only. Open to all from April 20
An Old World Culture Presentation

Same Time Next Year

(Hindi/90mins)
Dir. & Acted by Saleem Shah
A romantic comic tale of an adventurous housewife, Doris, and a henpecked husband,
George, both of whom are not married to each other. George, an accountant by
profession, happens to be in Goa and meets Doris. They happen to meet by chance, and
then decide to meet every year, Same Time, Same Place! The play progresses further
and traces their lives for the next 25 years. It unveils their individual personalities and
their never ending attachment with each other.
April 25 @7:00pm
Stein Auditorium
Tickets at Rs.300, Rs.200, Rs.100 & Rs.50 available at the Programme desk from April
17 for IHC members only. Open to all from April 20
An Old World Culture Presentation

MAY ALERTS

Watch out for the 2 annual summer events of Habitat World!

The Habitat Film Festival, from May 2-10, screens the year’s finest, critically
acclaimed and award winning Pan Indian films.

Kids’ Summer Workshops, from mid-May onwards, offer a whole range of exciting
hands-on-activities for little minds ‘n’ souls to forget their holiday homework worries
and to lose themselves in a world of play ‘n’ knowledge.

For more details, contact the Programme Desk at 43663080/ 90

COVERING NOTE

Dear Member,

With soaring temperatures in March, speculations are rife about mercurial jump in April.
At Habitat, we beat the heat and hold discussions on topics galore. Prof. Nadia Fusini,
Professor, English Literature, Italian Institute of Human Sciences, Florence & columnist,
La Repubblica, speaks on Shakespeare, The Tempest And The Invention Of America on
7th. Anuradha Rajivan, Economist, Asia Pacific Human Development Report, elucidates
upon Power, Voice And Rights: Are We At A Turning Point For Gender Equality In Asia
Pacific? on 8th while Dr. Nikolas Kazanas, eminent scholar of Vedas from Athens,
debates on the 9th whether The Aryan Invasion Theory Really Dead? In face of the
recent clashes regarding the division of states, our panelists N. K. Singh, Boobli
George Varghese, Mohan Guruswamy, Laveesh Bhandari, Shankkar Aiyar &
Bibek Debroy battle it out on the dias over Should India Be Divided Into More States?
on 10th.
The Narrative Of Art on 11th takes one through a keen exploration of the diverse riches
and forms of storytelling as depicted in the different art mediums with Pooja Sood,
Director, Khoj and curator of Apeejay Art Gallery & the regional winners of the
Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2010 - Albert Wendt & Shandi Mitchell in
conversation. Polar adventurer Tom Davenport travels To The South Pole And Back
and takes us with him through his 2400 km, three-month expedition from the Antarctic
coast to the South Pole by cross-country ski, and by kite ski on 12th.

Swedish Embassy organizes the Swedish Crime Fiction: The Renewal And Redefining Of
A Literary Genre from April 19-22, with a lecture on Swedish crime fiction by best-
selling crime fiction writer Håkan Nesser, workshop on modern crime fiction writing,
lead by Håkan Nesser, theatrical reading of Swedish crime fiction works, incl. Stieg
Larsson's Millennium Triology and Håkan Nesser's Woman With Birthmark, along with an
interactive panel discussion on modern crime fiction with panelists Zac O'Yeah, Avijit
Dutt, Håkan Nesser, Alok Sarin, Aditya Sudarshan & Dr. Anjana Neira Dev in
conversation. They also screen The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (A), a dark and violent
thriller based on the first novel of Stieg Larsson’s crime fiction trilogy from 2004.

April, also marks the joys of reaping a harvest with the Baisakhi season. We celebrate
the same with ample music to keep one’s fingers drumming to! Hindustani Classical
Vocalists Suman Ghosh on 8th, Sarathi Chatterji on 15th, Ritesh-Rajnish Misra on
26th & Carnatic vocalist Poornima Krishnan on 27th, enthrall audiences while veteran
Sarodist Budhadev Dasgupta and Tabla exponent Rimpa Siva on 14th look to
mesmerize the musically inclined with their instruments. Music takes the scholarly note
in a seminar on 27th on Odissi Music And The Allied Forms: Pala, DasKathia & Raas with
Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Dr. Shanno Khurana & Prof. Ramhari Das in dialogue.
Rajasthani Folk singer, Rukma Manganiyar takes the audience through the folk notes
on 16th while Spring Recital 2010 featuring European classical music to blues, rock and
jazz remains in tune with the Season on 23rd.
The international dance festival, Unbound Beats Of India on 12th & 13th has dancers
converging from all corners of the globe including Kathakali exponent Shima Madhavi
(Iran), Odissi duo Ashok & Bandita (Bhubaneswar), Bharatanatyam dancer Sushma
Ranganathan (Chennai), Manipuri proponents Guru Singhajit's disciples (Delhi),
Kuchipudi exponent Pratiksha Kashi, Mohiniattam artistes Bharti Shivaji’s disciples
(Delhi), Kathak danseuse Anna Pattens (Mauritius), and more being presented by
Ranjana Gauhar’s Academy of Dance, UTSAV

Theatrical attractions this month include Ambedkar Aur Gandhi by Asmita Theatre
Group on 9th, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, 1947 by Pierrot’s Troupe on 24th &
Same Time, Next Year by Saleem Shah on 25th.

The Programme Team