Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan
On the 100th birth anniversary of Habib Tanvir, one of the most influential playwrights and poets of post-independent India, Antiquity Natural Mineral Water in partnership with Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) set to present ‘Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan’ – a three-day festival celebrating Habib Tanvir’s life, work, and immense contributions to Indian theatre, literature, and art. The festival is scheduled between 30th August and 1st September 2024.
The festival is part of Antiquity Natural Mineral Water’s platform, ‘Free to Discover More’, which aims to inspire young India to discover legendary tales and fresh voices in our rich heritage of art and culture. This celebration is a spectacular journey into India’s theatrical roots, and how it shapes cultural expression today.
Curated by M.K. Raina and Tausif Rahman, with research and consultation by Anjum Katyal, ‘Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan’ is the first major initiative to take serious note of Tanvir’s oeuvre, This initiative involves a diverse range of events including an exhibition, masterclasses, panel discussions, film screening, dramatic storytelling, musical performances, book launches, and other cultural events showcasing Habib Tanvir’s work and his profound impact on Indian theatre and art.
The festival will have renowned theatre professionals, conducting masterclasses and offering aspiring playwrights and actors unique learning opportunities. Panel discussions by eminent theatre scholars and experts will delve deeply into Tanvir’s philosophy, and his relevance in the contemporary scenario, and examine his enduring legacy. The never-seen-before line-up includes luminaries and experts in the fields of theatre, music, and literature such as Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sudhir Mishra, Raghubir Yadav, MK Raina, Atul Tiwari, Danish Husain, Brahma Prakash, Samik Bandyopadhyay, Anjum Katyal, Ashok Vajpeyi, Suman Mukhopadhyay, Bibhas Chakraborty, Chandradasan, Anuradha Kapur, among many others.
There will be folk music performances by Poonam Tiwari and her troupe, Raghubir Yadav with Subhadeep Guha; Habibnama directed by Danish Husain, Dastaan-E-Ashok-O-Akbar by Ratna Pathak Shah; songs from Habib Tanvir’s theatre by Nageen Tanvir (Daughter of Habib Tanvir); a screening of ‘Gaon Ke Naon Theatre Mor Naon Habib’ directed by Sudhanva Deshpande & Sanjay Maharishi; and book launches by Seagull Books and Orient Blackswan, exclusive masterclasses on acting and direction as well as five-panel discussions on the topics of Habib Tanvir and theatre.
Ms. Richa Agarwal, Chairperson of Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “Habib Tanvir is one of the most exemplary theatre personalities that the entire country looks up to, and additionally for us in Bengal, he has always been referred to as ‘Banglar jamai’, owing to his Bengali wife – the theatre director and actor Moneeka Misra, with whom he founded Naya Theatre in 1959. ‘Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan’ is a one-of-a-kind tribute to the legendary Habib Tanir for the first time in Bengal, while providing a platform for insightful discourse and a cross-pollination of knowledge.”
Varun Koorichh, VP and Portfolio Head, Diageo India said, “Art has the incredible power to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through ‘Free to Discover More’ we aim to inspire young India to discover India’s rich heritage of art and culture. Together we look forward to getting the next generation to ‘Discover More’ through Antiquity Natural Mineral Water’s lenses and immerse themselves further into India’s various cultural expressions.”
About Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC)
KCC is a pioneering, multi-disciplinary, interactive art centre, purpose-built and housed in an accessible, green building that reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability. Located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and established in 2018, KCC is a unit of the Anamika Kala Sangam Trust. Through curated initiatives, KCC offers arts and culture collaborative efforts, education, research, support, mentorships, and programs for children and DEAI.
About Diageo India
Diageo India is among India’s leading beverage alcohol companies with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands. A subsidiary of Diageo Plc., it is listed in India on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) as United Spirits Limited (USL). Diageo India has been working on collective action to improve livelihoods, championing Grain to Glass sustainability, responsible consumption and nurturing the alcobev ecosystem, to contribute to India’s growth agenda.
About Habib Tanvir (1923–2009)
Habib Tanvir was a pioneering Indian playwright, theatre director, poet and actor. One of the most celebrated figures in Urdu and Hindi theatre, he was most known for his work with indigenous people of Chhattisgarh, at the Naya Theatre, a company he founded in 1959 in Bhopal.
Image Courtesy – Antiquity Natural Mineral Water X Kolkata Centre for Creativity
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