The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Satej Shinde
Attention, hairy styles
ADVERTISEMENT
A man checks out his options of different styles outside a barber shop as he waits his turn at Borivali.
Bharatanatyam for a greater cause
Chennai-based Bharatanatyam dancer Nrithya Pillai (in pics) is breathing new life into her art form. Earlier this month, Pillai announced through her social media that she will be taking lessons that teach the dance, from a different perspective. “The most important part for me, that hasn’t been addressed enough in the mainstream, is that the present reinvented version of the art form is based on the erasure of the hereditary performers. I see my own practice of an art form that was denied to my people through social reform and Brahmanic reinvention as an important intervention and resistance to power structures like patriarchy and caste,” she shared.
Erasure of contributions is what today’s Bharatanatyam is based upon, Pillai informed us. Without questioning that cultural violence, there can be no moving forward with the art form, she stated. The lectures that have commenced since yesterday are taken online, open to interested participants keen to understand the problematic socio-political history existent in the art form. “I think when a class like this is taught by somebody who looks like me and comes from a similar background that I do, it will encourage more people to take up the art form,” she added. Those who would like to join the classes, can email her at nrithyapillai@gmail.com
Making the internet safer for kids
A still from the 21-minute-long short film on YouTube, Peehu aur Internet ke Danav
In addition to increased screen time, the sudden (and often premature) switch to digital devices during the pandemic has also had another, more dangerous downside for kids – exposure to online sexual predators. This was the driving thought behind Peehu aur Internet ke Danav, a film that focuses on digital safety for kids. It has been created by Kathanika and Folklore Craft, in association with Laadli, an initiative by Population First.
Dr Sherline Pimenta
“Many parents, especially in rural areas, are not very conversant with cell phones. Further, many of them are not comfortable discussing sensitive topics such as sexual molestation. Our goal was to help initiate a dialogue on internet safety, between parents and children,” says Dr Sherline Pimenta, founder of Kathanika.
Collecting the puraana
City-based resource enterprise ReCircle is organising a mammoth waste collection drive spanning two weekends — October 16 and 17, and 23 and 24, by initiating free waste pick-ups across the city. All proceeds made from the recycling efforts will be donated to St Catherine’s Orphanage in Bandra West. “Individual households or residential complexes across the city can sign up and get waste picked up.” founder Rahul Nainani told us. To register for the cause, visit www.recircle.in
Creating a storm
Omkar Bhatkar is a playwright from Mumbai who has made it to a global stage, literally. His effort, Blue Storm, has been selected as one of the entries for Asia Playwrights Festival, the only Indian representation at the event that is based out of South Korea. The play will be translated into Korean for an offline audience in that country. “There is also an online talk with the playwrights after the staging, because the festival focuses on not just theatre, but the process of writing too,” Bhatkar said.
The winning eight
Independent anti-caste publishing house Navayana has announced the list of recipients for their Dalit History Fellowship 2021. The list, announced on October 14, boasts of eight writers — Ankit Kawade (above, in pic), Arul Muthu Kumaran, Babasaheb Kambale (below, in pic), Chandrabhan P Yadav, Ishita Roy, Mahitosh Mandal, Meera Jatav and Murugan V. “This was encouraging for me because I’m just a student now, and monetarily will be helpful too. This is important because most publishers in India, if you take a look at the catalogs, hardly publish Dalit writers,” said Kawade. “This will give other publishers the incentive to feature Dalit writers as well,” added Kambale.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
