For an international conference titled Reviewing Disciplinary Agendas in Theatre Studies: Cultural Arenas, Policies, Institutions, which will address a crucial phase in the history of theatrical activity (1930-1970) in India. The proceedings of the conference will be published.
This Grant was Terminated by IFA and the Grantee is ineligible to apply to IFA in the future.
For research and study of the art and science of daguerreotype photography in order to build and experiment with a daguerreotype camera and work towards a book on the form.Through training and exposure to the international contemporary daguerreotype community, the artist will extend his knowledge of image-making and attempt to expand the domain of Indian art photography.
For identifying and compiling critical writing on the visual arts published in the twentieth century in various Hindi magazines and journals. This will be followed by a critical evaluation of major twentieth century visual artists. The project will result in a published collection of articles and essays on individual visual artists.
For the creation of a performance to be developed collaboratively by a dancer and light architect. The artists will explore and experiment with the movement principles of Bharatnatyam and aim to give a new dimension to its spatial and architectural forms through light and image installations.
For research into Dastangoi, a sixteenth century performed art of storytelling in Urdu. The artist will explore the form by composing new and experimental dastaans (stories), training more dastangos, and performing in some of the older parts of North India where the form originated.
For the development of a production that will interpret the story of Giselle from multiple perspectives. A contemporary puppeteer and a dancer will re-imagine Giselle as a peasant girl in small-town in India whose dreams are shattered by social norms and pressures. The production is expected to push the limits of both puppetry and dance.
For the production of a performance-based show involving fine art, theatre movement, dance, state-of-the-art materials and light design, titled The Pink Balloon. The story is based on a small book of original artwork of sketches, and uses a pink balloon as a metaphor to describe a journey from birth to the final attainment of bliss.
For research into and documentation of the Reshma-Chuharmal Nautanki, a popular Dalit folk theatre performance of Bihar. The project will explore how identities, caste and power are contested in and through this performance. Different versions of the Reshma-Chuharmal story, both in its performed and written form, will be collated, transcribed, translated and analysed to understand how they reflect a changing sense of identity among the Dalits.
For research towards a comparative study of Bengal scroll painting and Gond art from Madhya Pradesh. The researcher will travel to the Naya village in West Bengal, home of the Patuas who create the pata chitra paintings, and to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, home of the Gonds. She will explore their visual landscape in light of the changes that their art has undergone due to state patronage and market forces.
For the making of a documentary film on the local Ladakhi film industry. The film will explore how and why the Ladakhi film industry emerged, how it sustains itself and where it wants to go.
