Koi Sunta Hai, the Kabir festival, draws on a phrase from a poem by the legendary poet, and offers a scintillating mix of art, films and music
Koi Sunta Hai, the Kabir festival, draws on a phrase from a poem by the legendary poet, and offers a scintillating mix of art, films and music
We have grown up reading the great mystic poet Kabir, whose dohas are popular even to this day. Bengaluru is celebrating the legendary poet-philosopher with a festival of art, music and films.
New beginnings
The Kabir festival has been organised by the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology.
"This initiative brings together a range of artists and musicians to initiate new dialogues, future opportunities for performative practices and synergies that grow much beyond the event adding another layer of cross-cultural, trans-border exchanges that would widen perspectives," says Geetha Narayanan, founder-director of Srishti.
The weeklong festival will have film screenings, live music concerts by folk artistes and Sufi singers, discussions and exhibitions at multiple venues across the city.
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Talk less, listen more
Shabnam Virmani, filmmaker and artist, says,u00a0 "The title of the festival, Koi Sunta Hai, draws on a phrase from a Kabir song that urges us to stop and listen. I hope in some small moment in this festival we will quieten down and allow ourselves to get nudged by Kabir away from dogma and self-righteous assertion towards listening, with compassion and empathy."
Nilanjana Biswas, independent consultant and researcher, who has worked closely with the Srishti team in curating this festival over the last 6 months, says, "In these times of growing intolerance, Kabir's voice of reason is a soothing balm. It reminds us that external differences based on religion, caste and gender may exist but must never come in the way of our essential humanity."
February 27:
4:30 - 5 pm Inaguration
5 - 6:45 pm Film screening of Had-Anhad (Hindi)
7:30 - 9:00 pm Inaugural talk Kabir Today by Dr Rahamath Tarikere along with Sufi songs from Karnataka
9 - 10:30 pm Music concert by Mukhtiyar Ali (Sufi folk from Bikaner, Rajasthan)
February 28:
10 - 11:45 am Film screening
of Koi Sunta Hai (Hindi)
12 noon - 1:30 pm Prayer As Resistance where Ashok Vajpeyi is in conversation with Vijay Sardeshmukh's nirgun songs
2:30 - 3:30 pm My Personal and Political Kabiru00e2u0080u0094 Talk and discussionu00a0 by Purushottam Aggarwal
3:30 - 4:30 pm Oral Heritage of South Asiau00e2u0080u0094 (SAF Film screening) & Exhibition viewing time
5 - 6 pm Music concert by Mahesha Ram (Meghwal folk artiste from Rajasthan)
6 - 7 pm Music concert by Vidya Rao (Thumri and Bhajans)
7:30 - 9 pm Music Concert by Prahlad Tipanya (Malwi folk simger from Madhya Pradesh)
9 - 10:30 pm Music concert by Shafi Faqir (Sufi folk musician from Sindh, Pakistan)
March 01:
10 - 11:30 am Film screening of Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein (Hindi)
11:45 - 1:15 pm Bhakti and Caste (Ballads by Manteswamy singers and poetry readings by Dalit poets of Karnataka)
2:30 - 3:45 pm Film screeningu00a0 of Chalo Hamara Des (Hindi)
3:45 - 5:00 pm Interaction with film director Shabnam Virmani and singers of Kabir's poetry
5 - 6 pm Exhibition viewing time
6 - 7 pm Music concert by Basavalingaiah Hiremath (Songs of Kannada bhakti poet Shishunaal Sharief)
7:30 - 9 pm Music concert by Vijay Sardeshmukh (nirguni bhajan)
9 - 10:30 Music concert by Fariduddin Ayaz & Brothers (Qawwali from Karachi, Pakistan)
Passes are available at: K C Das, Church Street, Call: 6533 2074;
Max Muller Bhavan, CMH Road, Indiranagar, Call: 2520 5305; Prism: The Bookshop, 11th Main, 4th Block, Jayanagar, Call: 2663 7527
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