BENGALURU: Raintree Media is holding a three day festival with the theme ‘culture as a change agent’, called ‘Under the Raintree Women’s Cultural Festival’. The key objective of the festival is to provide a platform for women to interact and express themselves, and inspire other women to achieve their potential and influence societal change.
This festival is the first-of-its-kind in India, and this three-day immersive cultural experience is being held from November 17-19 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru. Artists from across India will be participating in the festival. Being held during the month of Kannada Rajyothsava, the festival will feature folk artistes in dance, music and theatre from across Karnataka, apart from films and craft demonstrations. It has free admission for students below 21, and is open to all.
Schedule for Under The Raintree Women’s Cultural Festival
Friday, November 17
10:00 am: Inauguration
10:30 am : “Literature for change - can writing make a difference?” panel discussion with MS Asha Devi Nisha Susan, Dr. Vijayamma, Pratibha Umashankar-Nadiger, Aparna Raman @ Nayana
11:00 am : Experiential Art Installation Workshop with Anuradha Nalapat @ Lounge 2 (Art Gallery)
11:45 am : “Sex no bar: No more literary lakshman rekhas” - panel discussion with Sharda Ugra, Sreejita Biswas, Jane De Suza, Maya Lalchandani, Sandhya Mendonca @ Nayana
2.00 pm : Film screening & interactions @ Nayana
5:30 pm : Dance Showcase: Madhu Nataraj (kathak), Vyjayanthi Kashi (kuchipudi), Sharmila Mukherjee (odissi), Anuradha Vikranth (bharatanatyam), Attakalari (contemporary) @Main Auditorium
Saturday, November 18
10:00 am : Culture for children
1) Sa Pa Academy music presentation
2) Adi Dravida Sangha karaga kolata, kangil & nagari @ Samsa Amphitheatre
10.30 am: Wood cut workshop with Urmila VG / Chittara art workshop with Lakshmakka @Padashale
12:00 pm : “Epics for our times: The empowering rediscovery and recovery of the classics” - Literary panel discussion with Samhita Arni, Sowmya Aji, Volga, Poile Sengupta @ Lounge 1
12:30 pm: Short films & interactions @ Nayana
2:00 pm: “You Can Act” - Theatre workshop with Arundhati Raja @Lounge 1
3:00 pm: Performance Art by Smitha Cariappa @Courtyard
4:00 pm : Poetry Session by Padmavathy Rao @ Samsa Amphitheatre
6.00 pm : Music showcase Jugalbandi by Jayanthi Kumaresh (veena) & Anupama Bhagwat (sitar), MD Pallavi & Bindu Malini (original), SubraMania (world music) featuring Bindu Subramaniam (vocals), Mohini Dey (bass), supported by Ambi Subramaniam (violin), Frijo Francis (keyboard), Karthik Mani (drums/percussion), Suraj Gulvady (guitar) @Main Auditorium
Sunday, November 19
10:00 am : “Performing arts as a potent medium of expression and inclusivity” - Dance & Music Lec-Dem with Tara Kini & Madhu Nataraj @ Lounge 1
10:00 am : Film screening - ‘Chronicles of Hari’ (Harikatha Prasanga) & interactions with director Ananya Kasaravalli @ Nayana
10.30 am: Wood cut workshop with Urmila VG / Chittara art workshop with Lakshmakka @Padashale
12:00 pm : Story telling sessions for families @ Lounge 1 | Samsa Amphitheatre
2:00 pm : “Artistic aspirations & cultural empowerment” - Visual Art panel discussion with Shantamani M, Anuradha Nalapat, Smitha Cariappa, Dimpy Menon, Dr. Pramila Lochan @ Lounge 2
3:00 pm : Film screening - ‘Margarita, with a Straw’ & interaction with director Shonali Bose @ Nayana
3:00 pm: Performance Art by Dimple B. Shah @Courtyard
4:00 pm : Stand Up comedy by Pragya Shroff, Ramya R, Shrirupa Sengupta @ Samsa Amphitheatre
5.30 pm : Valedictory@ Main Auditorium, Ravindra Kalakshetra
6:00 pm : Theatre Showcase Double Bill @ Main Auditorium, Ravindra Kalakshetra
1) ON MY OWN -a theatrical presentation of prose and poetry by Rebecca Spurgeon, Bhavana Rajendran, Urvashi Goverdhan & Paramita Guha. Devised & Directed by Arundhati Raja
2) HENNALLAVE! / JUST A WOMAN - solo by Laxmi Chandrashekar, Directed by Soumya Varma