Thousands of students from different universities and colleges in India are expected to throng the VIT University campus here on Sunday for the 10th edition of Riviera, the 4-day annual international cultural, sports and intellectual rendezvous of the VIT to be held from January 30 to February 2.
For the first time in the history of any cultural event, ‘Riviera 11' is going in for the ISO (Indian Standards Organisation) 9001:2008 certification, said G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of VIT, who briefed the media about the event here on Thursday.
The cohesiveness with which the event is being organised and the strategies adopted by the organisers to make the event a success will be the criterion on which the event will be judged for being awarded the ISO certification, according to Vaibhav Krishna, president of the VIT Students Council, which plays a major role in organising the event.
Big names in the Indian music world such as the ‘Sheila ki jawani' fame north Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan and the famous south Indian singers Anuradha Sriram and Srinivas would be entertaining the audience during the evening cultural shows at 7 p.m. on January 30, while Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi and south Indian singer Ranjith would be giving shows on January 31. On the same day at 6 p.m., actor Amla Paul will sit in judgement over ‘Style Check,' a fashion show by the participants. There will also be a ‘Film Festival,' a short film competition, for which Tamil film director Prabhu Solomon and Telugu film director S.S. Rajamouli will be the judges.
The third day (February 1) will see an inter-collegiate dance competition, for which actor Andrea will be the judge. At 7 p.m. on the same day, the internationally acclaimed Israeli band, ‘Orphaned Land' will be rocking. Telugu actor and Prajarajyam founder Chiranjeevi will distribute prizes to the winners at the valedictory function on February 2. There will be a display of fireworks on the first day, while there would be laser shows on the second and third days.
G.V. Sampath, vice-president (Operations), VIT said that two Bulgarian sand sculptors Paul Hoggard and Ms. Remy Greeds have already arrived at VIT and were engaged in makings sand sculptures to add charm to ‘Riviera 11.' They would be displaying their sculptures and teaching sand sculpture to interested students.
Sankar Viswanathan, vice-president (Administration) said that a marathon by the participants and students from the New Palar Bridge to VIT on Sunday to create awareness on environmental protection, would be one of the salient features of ‘Riviera 11.'
Indian Test cricketer L. Balaji will inaugurate the marathon at 6.30 a.m. and the Riviera at 9 a.m.
Another special feature that would precede ‘Riviera 11' would be the Riviera Youth Summit to be held on January 28 and 29. About 450 students from all over the country will be deliberating on the theme, ‘Emerging India.' J.P. Narayanan, social worker from Andhra Pradesh, Gopalakrishnan, Right To Information (RTI) Act activist, Sharath Babu, caterer, Muruganandam, industrialist of Coimbatore, Sanjay Dewan, Consul-General of Cape Verde, Delhi, Malathi Holla, a differently-abled achiever and Prasanna, an innovative guitarist will be the motivators at the summit.
The Chancellor said that cash prizes worth Rs.15 lakh would be offered to the winners of the various events in ‘Riviera 11,' which is being organised at an approximate cost of Rs.2 crore.
