Bibliotika: Test of wits
The band members of ‘Bimbliotika’ are grinning wide at having puzzled you with the name. “Doesn’t it sound different? That’s just what we wanted, to have a name that would strike a chord with people,’ says Niliya Venugopal, one of the three lead singers of Bibliotika, the music band formed by the students of Government Women’s College, Vazhuthacaud. The band would have its official launch on January 4, as part of WITS 2012, the on-going inter-college festival hosted by the college.
The six-member band is unfazed that Bimbliotika does not have a literal meaning. “We wanted a fresh word and thought of coining one ourselves. It doesn’t have a meaning now, but would sure come to signify something in future,” smiles Niliya, breaking into a pop number composed by Anita Netto, the keyboardist of the band. Anita, a second year Psychology BA student, had qualified the grade examinations of London School of Music. Charuta Sagar plays the guitar and Krishnakala plays the drums for the band while Gopika Jayanath and Anu Jose would join Niliya with the vocals.
Even as the rehearsals for the inaugural show was in progress, the team was also running errands for their friends who were busy putting together the two-day festival.
The theme song of the festival, composed by the band, was being played in the background. The title of the festival, unlike the band, has a full form to it, said the organisers. ‘Wits’ stands for ‘Women’s Innovative Talent Seekers’, says the brochure and adds that sparkling wit is what talented young women would seek in their peers. The array of events justified the motto, with contestants vying to rewrite the tragedies of Shakespeare into full blown comedies in ‘Twist the Tale’ among other events.
The first day saw colleges from in and around the city take part in events like one-act plays, extempore speech and face painting competitions. While the hosts enacted a scene from ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ for the one-act play competition, the team from All Saints’ College presented a play scripted by Karthika, a PG student of the college. The play dissected the pros and cons of scientific development while a character called ‘conscience’ witnesses the unfolding events. ‘Le Masque’, the face painting competition, was based on a theme ‘elements’. The depictions portrayed a wide range of elemental manifestations, from the fiery to the peaceful.
The festival was inaugurated by actor Madhupal. Tejaswini Nair and Shwetha Elsa Louis, who were among the organisers of the fest, said that a host of entertaining programmes were to be staged on the second day, including writing and performing events. The Western solo competition would be judged by members of the iconic Malayalam rock band ‘Avial’.