The Other Festival - 2000  
    Dec 1- 7, 2000. Museum Theatre, Chennai (Madras) India.  
    Music. Dance. Drama. Art. You. 
     
     

    • Critics Speak
     
     
    A brilliant festival showcasing avant-garde, experimental, innovative work, reflecting the contemporary sensibilities - all strength to your elbows and may the festival grow from strength to strength  
    Dr Sunil Kothari 
    Dance & Drama Critic, Indian Express, New Delhi
     
     
    We in India need more of The Other Festival type of events to make people more aware of what is happening by way of new art creativity. We tend to be too complacent about our classical arts and need to be given a jolt every now and then. And to design festivals of this nature, we need more Anita Ratnams. With the years, I feel this festival is going to be a cultural landmark. All the best to Anita and the devoted Arangham crew.  
    Leela Venkatraman, 
    Arts Critic, The Hindu, New Delhi
     
     
     
    Blending powerful strains of indigenous theatre, contemporary art, snatches of Broadway with cross cultural expressions, The Other Festival … exhibits the very sinews of creative expresssion  
    Ramya Kannan 
    The Hindu, Monday, November 27, 2000
     
     
    It took one festival - The Other Festival - to break the hegemony of traditional arts in Chennai… the annual offering by Anita Ratnam and Ranvir Shah has changed the very profile, perception and public outreach of the arts.  
    Ashish Khokar 
    The Hindu, New Delhi, Saturday, December 2,2000
     
     
    A colourful designer Ford Ikon created by two young artists was unveiled at the opening ceremony of The Other Festival. Why the Other Festival?  
    Co-Sponsor Mr John Fink, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, FORD India said “We see similarities between the Other Festival and the entire Young Ikons programme - both innovatively showcase young, fresh and avant garde talent.”  
    RAMYA KANNAN 
    The Hindu, Monday, December 4, 2000
     
     
     
    The Other Festival retains its “otherness” in a meticulous way. The thought given to lighting, presentation, inclusion of plastic arts, photography… add to the sophistication of the festival, now a landmark event… a festival that has national and international perspective.  
    V R DEVIKA 
    The Hindu Friday, December 8, 2000
     
     
    Aesthetic glimpses of post modernism … As always, this festival brings out modern or contemporary pieces in music, dance and drama… It is a world of adventure, risk and one’s own sensibilities honed by the past and present experiences and futuristic visions  
    VASANTI SANAKARANARAYANAN 
    The Economic Times
     
     
    The Other Festival - initially an anti-establishment gesture…  now  an annual feature  
    N VAIDYANATHAN 
    The Hindu, Friday, December 15, 2000
     
     
     
    On the Artistes/Performances, The Other Festival 2000  
      

    (Installation Art by Soumya Sitaraman (Dec 1-7, 2000))  
    Explores women's issues through the medium of  her paintings  

    Dr Sunil Kothari 
    Dance & Drama Critic, Indian Express, New Delhi
     
     
    (Installation Art by Soumya Sitaraman (Dec 1-7, 2000))  
    A colourful start to the festival… captures imprints of the intangible and tangible forms of the self  
    RAMYA KANNAN 
    The Hindu, Monday, November 27, 2000
     
     
    Though the droll humour  tickled the funny bones of the audience, the underlying theme of “Curfew”(Theatre) - life in the 20th century - did have a “squirm-in-the-seat” situation.  
    JEMIMA RAMAN 
    Sunday Express, 3 December, 2000
     
     
     
    Perfect timing, good lines, great acting (“CURFEW” - Theatre)  
    V R DEVIKA 
    The Hindu, Friday, December 8, 2000
     
     
    Jaimini Pathak (“CURFEW”)has proved that language is no barrier for theatre  
    JEMIMA RAMAN 
    Expressweek, Saturday January 6, 2001
     
     
    “Love Cycle” (Solo Theatre) - great effect… body language and honesty came through  
    VR DEVIKA 
    The Hindu, December 8, 2000
     
     
    (Akram’s) technique and movements were flawless and unique… His mastery over his art form is embellished by his own humility and sense of the eternal quality of search (Contemporary Dance - Solo)  
    VASANTI SANKARANARAYANAN 
    The Economic Times, Sunday, December 10, 2000
     
     
    Akram Khan… a dynamo of energy unleashed… singes the mind of the viewer… explosive strength… power-packed movements  
    LEELA VENKATRAMAN 
    The Hindu, Friday, December 8, 2000
     
     
    Rhapsody of grace and energy… Akram Khan set the stage a-whirring gliding as he did in between invisible strings drawn across the stage.   
    RAMYA KANNAN 
    The Hindu, Thursday, December 7, 2000
     
     
     
    Veenapani used the story of Ganapati as a peg only and experimented with the Kudiyattam drum music as a narrative. One could see that new frontiers in music were being reached in enlarging our musical consciousness… Bravo Veena!  
    Dr SUNIL KOTHARI 
    Dance & Drama Critic, Indian Express, New Delhi
     
     
    The highlight of the festival was Veenapani Chawla’s “Ganapati”… creative genius showed the magic that can be created with just four artists on stage… a production of international quality  
    ASHISH KHOKAR 
    The Pioneer, New Delhi, January 12, 2001
     
     
    “Ganapati” extends theatre to its utmost boundaries… thought-provoking as well as beautiful  
    VASANTI  SANKARANARAYANAN 
    The Economic Times, Sunday, December 17, 2000
     
     
    Ramli Ibrahim,that Adonis from Kuala Lumpur, an expert in ballet,modern dance,classical Bharatanatyam,and of course, Odissi. His dance with Shakuhachi ( Japanese flute)… created the necessary magic.  
    Dr SUNIL KOTHARI 
    Dance & Drama Critic, Indian Express, New Delhi
     
     
    “Souls Revealed” by Ramli Ibrahim, Malaysia, … deconstructed traditional Odissi  
    V R DEVIKA 
    The Hindu, Friday, December 8, 2000
     
     
    “Post Mortem” by Sapphire from Calcutta… simplicity and honesty showed through  
    V R DEVIKA 
    The Hindu, Friday, December 15, 2000
     
     
     
    I am still full of the divine music an exploration by Aruna Sayeeram(Mumbai) singing Carnatic music parallel to the Gregorian Chants by Dominique Vellard (France) that transported one and all to the inner sanctum sanctorum of  a church and a temple… Both the artists had superb voice and they jelled so well like well tuned instruments- ah, it was a sheer delight!  
    Dr SUNIL KOTHARI 
    Dance & Drama Critic, Indian Express, New Delhi
     
     
    A rare occurrence in Chennai, an entire audience standing up and clapping for a long, long time …It was a perfect evening… Aruna Sairam and Dominique Vellard produced an inspiring and fascinating concert… the two created magic  
    V R DEVIKA 
    The Hindu, Friday, December 15, 2000
     
     
    Audience Response  

    The green trees across the streets appear  to me through the diesel exhausts and I wonder where all the dance goes away at night to sleep  

    BILL BISSELL 
    Artistic Director, Dance Advance, Philadelphia, USA
     
     
    Thank you for  this wonderful event. Having seen traditional Indian dance and seeing  the ‘other’ - I hope this event will enhance a tradition and bring new experiments for future dance traditions. The ‘other’ is always a challenge to shake  traditions and to see new dances in new ways  
    GLORAS JIOATSABO 
    Dance Enthusiast, San Francisco, CA, USA
     
     
    Participants’ Response  

    The ‘Other’ turns out to be ‘THE’ festival of Chennai!  

    RAMLI  IBRAHIM 
    Malaysia, “Souls Revealed”  
    (Music, Dance, Drama)
     
     
     
    It was very meaningful for me to participate in the festival, for many reasons. I've been waiting for a chance to go to India for the last 20 years. Of course, I could have gone as a tourist at any time, but that is not how I wanted to access the Indian culture and its artists. I wanted to go as a performer myself, giving something of my own in return for the stimulation I  know would come from  contact with this profound culture. The Other Festival provided exactly the right kind of opportunity to do this.  
    CHRISTOPHER YOHMEI BLASDEL 
    Tokyo, Shakuhachi player with Ramli Ibrahim’s “Souls Revealed” (Music, Dance, Drama)
     
     
    I feel that this is the beginning of a partnership that I hope lasts many years.  
    FAROOQ CHAUDHRY 
    Manager to Akram Khan, UK  
    (Contemporary Dance -Solo)
     
     
    Thanks very very much for your warm hospitality and support towards our performance at the Other Festival. As always, the organisation was flawless! All of us look forward  to being with you again.  
    VEENAPANI CHAWLA 
    Auroville, “Ganapati” 
    (Theatre)
     
     
     
    Thanks for having The Other Festival. It’s so important here in Madras! I’m so glad I came to perform here.  
    PETER CHIN,  
    Canada, “Dag”, 
    (Contemporary Dance - Solo)
     
     
     
    It felt wonderful to perform in front of such a warm and receptive audience… Here's to many more years of  The Other Festival.  The technical team you have is excellent-efficient, quick and quiet.  
    JAIMINI PATHAK,  
    Mumbai, “Curfew”, 
    (Theatre)
     
     
    Fire in my eyes   
    and in my heart  
     desire to ride ahead…  
    to state that dance  
    for a creative artiste is the  
     urge to transform  
    attitude into lucid form…  
    Fire which is glowing and serene  
    which burns and recreates  
    …do not always  
    have to create the same,  
    sometimes ‘other”   
    SUDARSHAN CHAKRABORTHY 
    Calcutta, “Post-Mortem”, 
    (Contemporary Dance - Group)
     
     
    Thanks again for making my stay there so enjoyable. It has been a fabulous experience and I look forward to returning  
    SUSAN McNAUGHTON 
    Canada, “One Woman - A Bridge”,  
    (Contemporary Dance - Solo)
     
     

    • What is The Other Festival?  
    • The Other Festival  • 2000  
    • Photo Gallery of The Other Festival   • 2000   
    • Sponsors Speak on The Other Festival   • 2000