KOCHI: Pressing ahead with its programmes to initiate an inclusive contemporary cultural discourse with focus on building resistance to emerging fascist tendencies, the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi is organising ‘Samanwaya’, a 10-day national arts and culture fest of artistes from transgender community, Dalits and tribals.
Auteur Adoor Gopalakrishnan is set to open the festival at Durbar Hall Arts Centre on July 14. As slew of events and film screenings will be under way as part of the fest which will be on till July 23. As many as 40 transgender artists, including Revathy and Kalki Subramaniam, and around 18 Dalit and tribal artistes, including Pandi Ram Mandavi, Venkat Shyam, and Basanth Uikey, besides contemporary artists from Kerala, including B.D. Dhethan and G. Rajendran, will take part in the fest featuring some 250 artistes, Akademi Chairman T.A. Sathyapal told the media here on Monday.
Arguably for the first time in Kerala, Phad style of scroll religious and folk paintings will be demonstrated in the fest, which will also showcase wood carvings, photography, films, performance art, and portraits, a highlight of which is the live demonstration of portraits of transgender artistes by Belgaum-based Baburao Nadoni.
Screening of anti-fascist documentaries, In the Shade of Fallen Chinar and The Unbearable Being of Lightness, and a Panchavadyam recital will be held ahead of the inaugural on July 14, Mr. Sathyapal said. Writer N.S. Madhavan and a host of others will speak at the opening event, which will be followed by a Dhrupad concert by Pelva Naik from Ahmedabad.
French film The War is Over will be screened at 3 p.m. on July 15, followed by Music Jam and Karaoke performance by transgender artistes and Chavittu Nadakam Karalsman Charitham by Kerala Chavittunadaka Akademi. The events on July 16 will begin with the screening of Italian film Love and Anarchy , followed by a talk by Dr. Ajay Sekhar on ‘Queer theory and LGBT rights’ and Ghazal performance by Umbayee. Screening of Ministries of Organism will be held at 3 p.m. on July 17, which will be followed by a painting demonstration by noted painter P.S. Puninchithaya, caricature show by Jayaraj Warrier, and Sufiyana Geeths by Nisa Azeezi.
July 18 will witness a photography class by Ranjith Kumar Grover at 11 a.m. The screening of Italian film The Conformist at 3 p.m. will be followed by Kalabhairavan , a play by Kalapadashala, Arangottukara. On July 19, there will be a screening of Iranian movie The President , followed by a lecture on ‘Nationalism and the Foundation of Fascism’ by Sunil P. Ilayidom and a Dhrupad concert by Gundecha Brothers of Bhopal.
Screening of The Look of Silence will be held at 3 p.m. on July 20, followed by ‘Pattupura’ by V.T. Murali and folk and fusion dance performance by transgender artiste Sreekutty and team. Gloomy Sunday will be screened on July 21, followed by a poetry recital session. ‘Muted Vagina’, monologue by Kalki Subrahmanyam. Live in Between , a play by transgender artiste Soundarya and team, and a Kuchipudi performance by Yashoda Thakore will also be held on the day.
Hungarian movie The Fifth Seal will be screened at 3 p.m. on July 22 which will be followed by a Yaskshagana performance by Bannanje Sanjeev Suvarna. On July 23, screening of the movie Hannah Arendt will be followed by a puppet show by Ravi Kishan Bhat from Ahmedabad and a leather puppet show, ‘Kambaramayanam’ by Kalasree Ramachandrapulavar. The fest will conclude with the performance of Bhopa Bhopi by Sant Lal, Raju, and Rakesh from Rajasthan.
Mr. Sathyapal said the event, held on a budget of ₹88 lakh, was the first step towards many such programmes aimed at creating inclusiveness and further building on the narrative of resistance. Half of the participating transgender artistes will be from Kerala. They will get a stipend of ₹20,000 each.
