Indian tradition spans myriad artwork varieties and genres over its lengthy historical past. Over the previous twenty years, Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Pageant of Arts has been a champion of Indian cultural heritage.
Esplanade’s annual celebration of Indian tradition returns from November 18 to 27, and early chicken tickets for Esplanade&Me (E&Me) members go on sale tomorrow whereas normal ticket gross sales start on September 8.
Kalaa Utsavam 2022 welcomes the return of worldwide artists equivalent to sitarist Anoushka Shankar. Picture courtesy: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay/Laura Lewis
As the primary Indian arts competition with a multi-genre focus in Southeast Asia, Kalaa Utsavam has sought to develop and help each worldwide and Singapore artistes, all telling their distinctive tales. The competition builds on the relationships developed through the years with artists and humanities teams, whereas additionally introducing new and thrilling artists and artwork varieties.
Anoushka will likely be joined by her long-term collaborator Manu Delago in addition to Orchestra of the Music Makers, certainly one of Singapore’s main symphony orchestras. Picture courtesy: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay/Yong Junyi
Kalaa Utsavam 2022 welcomes British-Indian-American sitarist Anoushka Shankar for the primary time on the competition. Apparently the proficient musician’s first efficiency in Singapore.
Pageant additionally sees the return of main native teams with newly co-produced works by Apsaras Arts, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy and playwright A Yagnya. Thrilling and upcoming musicians equivalent to Punjabi outfit Band Walle, Tamil group D.N.S.V and an evening of soul and R&B with singer-songwriter Shak’thiya may also characteristic on the competition.
Grasp Sitarist Anoushka Shankar will likely be taking part in her inimitable model of music with homegrown symphony Orchestra of the Music Makers (OMM) beneath the baton of Joshua Tan.
The late Santha Bhaskar’s life and occasions will likely be celebrated in Marabu – Footprints Of An Artist. Picture courtesy: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
As well as, Nadasukham – Opening Music will characteristic pre-eminent Carnatic musician and scholar TM Krishna in a singular collaboration with Nadaswaram artists Sheik Mahaboob and Smt Kaleeshabi Mahaboob.
Homegrown collaborations additionally characteristic in theatre and dance productions in addition to workshops, talks and a slew of free programmes.
The late Santha Bhaskar’s life and occasions will likely be celebrated in Marabu – Footprints Of An Artist. This ultimate installment of the Marabu trilogy is directed and choreographed by Bhaskar’s daughter Meenakshy Bhaskar from a script by playwright Alfian Sa’at who can be the dramaturg.
Two generations of theatre practitioners additionally work collectively on ‘Between 5 Cows And The Deep Blue Sea’.
get able to occasion with musicians Harsha Channa, The Band Walle and Joshiley Bhangra as they play the rollicking style of Bhangra in ‘Raula – A Punjabi Night time’. Picture courtesy: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Playwright A Yagnya tells the story of Lady, the central character who’s caught between conventional matchmaking customs and fashionable courting mores on this manufacturing directed by The Needed Stage’s Alvin Tan.
Apsaras Arts provides a global collaboration in ‘Arisi: Rice’, a multidisciplinary manufacturing which takes as inspiration the dietary staple that unites Asia. Dance vignettes mix basic Bharatanatyam with Balinese dance components choreographed by Professor I Wayan Dibia. Acclaimed director Ok Rajagopal will add movie storytelling whereas the soundscape will embody Balinese gamelan and kecak choric singing in addition to music by the Singapore Chinese language Orchestra.
There will likely be popular culture choices too. Consistent with the Esplanade’s PopLore programme which celebrates Singapore music all through this yr, Vasantham Dwell will discover the Indian pop music scene. Artists Shabir Tabare Alam and Murali Krishnan will anchor the programme, which may also characteristic rising singer-songwriters from the scene.
Nadasukham – Opening Music will characteristic pre-eminent Carnatic musician and scholar TM Krishna (pictured) in a singular collaboration with Nadaswaram artists Sheik Mahaboob and Smt Kaleeshabi Mahaboob. Picture courtesy: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
And prepare to occasion with musicians Harsha Channa, The Band Walle and Joshiley Bhangra as they play the rollicking style of Bhangra in ‘Raula – A Punjabi Night time’.
Extra lighthearted fare comes from comic Rishi Budhrani who has constructed a present round his tailor father’s life experiences in ‘Can I Make You A Swimsuit, Mate?’, whereas households with youngsters can look out for ‘An Indigo Jackal’, a contemporary retelling of a basic fable by storyteller Kamini Ramachandran and playwright-director Grace Kalaiselvi.
Esplanade is Singapore’s nationwide performing arts centre. The centre works in shut partnership with native, regional and worldwide artists to develop creative capabilities and content material, push creative boundaries and interact audiences. Here is a listing of among the most fun occasions linedd up for Kalaa Utsavam 2022.
Vasantham Dwell!
Murali Krishnan and Shabir
Date & Time: November 18, 2022 – 8pm
Venue: Esplanade Theatre
Vasantham Dwell returns! Along side PopLore, this iteration will embody the appearance of the Indian pop scene. Anchoring this efficiency are artists Shabir Tabre Alam and Murali Krishnan, who will likely be belting out their common unique tunes and songs from their unbiased albums. They are going to be flanked by a slew of Vasantham artists, who’re rising singer-songwriters, in addition to superstar hosts.
RAULA – A Punjabi Night time
Harsha Channa, The Band Walle and Joshiley Bhangra
Date & Time: November 18, 2022 – 8pm
Venue: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Come relish and have fun the myriad types of Punjabi tradition on this night of music and dance! Harsha, KisH (Prem Kishan) and The Band Walle will current a repertoire of songs that put Punjabi music on the world map, starting with music by people artist Surinder Kaur to present headlining artists equivalent to Diljit Dosanjh and Jasmin Sandlas. Be wowed by Joshiley Bhangra from Singapore’s vibrant Bhangra scene as nicely.
Marabu – Footprints of an Artist
Bhaskar’s Arts Academy
Date & Time: November 18-20, 2022 (8pm Friday, 3pm and 8pm Saturday and Sunday)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Following the presentation of Marabu – The First Ripple and Marabu – The Forgotten Sentinels, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy premieres the ultimate instalment of the trilogy, Marabu – Footprints of an Artist. As a tribute to the late pioneer artist Santha Bhaskar, this work traces her journey from her humble origins in Kerala, India, to the blossoming of her profession as a dancer and choreographer in Singapore. Santha Bhaskar’s daughter, Meenakshy Bhaskar, directs and choreographs this dance biopic, that includes music composition by BV Balasai, script and dramaturgy by Alfian Sa’at.
Anoushka Shankar
with Orchestra of the Music Makers that includes Manu Delago (Singapore/UK)
Date & Time: November 19-20, 2022 (7:30pm)
Venue: Esplanade Live performance Corridor
With greater than a quarter-century’s price of performing expertise behind her, Anoushka Shankar is a singular, genre-defying artist who crosses a number of realms—from classical to up to date, acoustic to digital. For the primary time in Singapore at Kalaa Utsavam, the masterful sitarist collaborates with different excellent musicians for a very transcendent efficiency. Anoushka will likely be joined by her long-term collaborator Manu Delago—a grasp composer and performer in his personal proper—in addition to Orchestra of the Music Makers, certainly one of Singapore’s main symphony orchestras. The present will likely be carried out by Joshua Tan.
Can I Make You a Swimsuit, Mate?
Rishi Budhrani
Date & Time: November 25-26, 2022 (7:30pm)
Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
This can be a story of survival, Singapore and a swimsuit: Be regaled with the numerous tales of a enterprise proprietor of over 4 many years as a Singaporean tailor particulars his time within the nation. Created by celebrated comic Rishi Budhrani – this semi-improvised comedic monologue is an amalgamation of fabric impressed by his father’s personal journey.
ARISI : Rice
Apsaras Arts Dance Firm (Singapore, Indonesia & India)
Date & Time: November 25-26, 2022 (8pm)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre
Apsaras Arts is proud to current ARISI : Rice, a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary efficiency impressed by the grains of life that hyperlink humanity throughout Asia. It’s impressed by a number of wealthy aspects of social, cultural and aesthetic practices borne by cultivation and consumption of rice within the area. In a shift away from epic storytelling, award-winning creative director Aravinth Kumarasamy has imagined the dance manufacturing as episodic vignettes that intersect phases of rice cultivation with gestural rites and rituals.
Between 5 Cows and the Deep Blue Sea…
A Yagnya
Date & Time: November 25-27, 2022 (8pm Friday; 3pm & 8pm Saturday & Sunday)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
‘Between 5 Cows and the Deep Blue Sea…’ follows Lady as she struggles to return to phrases together with her id, and battles with societal expectations heaped upon her. The place will this inside tug of conflict take her? Playwright A Yagnya is a collaborative theatre maker and Japanese translator who enjoys creating socially acutely aware works that problem her viewers into breaking out of their echo chambers.
Learn extra about Kalaa Utsavam and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay right here.
