IIC Arts Festival: An unmissable mix of theatre, exhibitions, and cuisine

The India International Centre (IIC) is set to present the 20th edition of 'The IIC Experience : A Festival of the Arts ' from October 18 to 22.

IIC said in a statement, "This year’s theme, Kalpavriksha : The Nationalist Movement – Freedom and Identity, explores how India’s nationalist movement shaped the country’s identity, sparking a cultural renaissance across music, dance, crafts, and classical studies. Now celebrating two decades, the festival continues to uphold IIC's tradition as a vibrant space for creativity, dialogue, and cultural exchange. This year’s program promises a dynamic mix of music, theatre, exhibitions, dance performances, and culinary delights, spread across both indoor and outdoor venues."

The festival will kick off with the exhibition 'Manuscripts and the Movement of Ideas across Asia' and a keynote address by historian Prof. Sugata Bose. The formal inauguration on October 18 will feature Shyam Saran, President of IIC, followed by Sampoorna – I Travel from Temple to Stage, an evocative Odissi performance by Sharmila Biswas and the Odissi Vision and Movement Centre.

Among the highlights are a solo dance drama on Bhagat Singh ’s prison diaries, performed by Navtej Singh Johar, a jazz concert by the Buena Vista Jazz Band from Cuba, and a Korean contemporary dance exploring mythology and the collective unconscious.

There are exhibitions on themes like 'The Future of the Past' curated by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute; Khadi: The Fabric of Freedom; and The Language of Fashion: Tracing Khadi’s Evolution from Resistance to Modern Fashion.

In the film screening section, the festival features 'A Carnival of Comedy Films', curated by filmmaker Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, with screenings of silent-era classics and works by Ernst Lubitsch and Jacques Tati. Special highlights include Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero by Shyam Benegal and Ekla Chalo by Nachiket Patwardhan.

The Talks and Lectures section will include thought-provoking discussions on the impact of the nationalist movement:
- Nationalism and Popular Cinema by Prof. Ira Bhaskar
- Bose & Bose: Making of the INA by Prof. Rudrangshu Mukherjee
- Pioneers of the Modern Renaissance of India by Prof. Pradeep Apte
- The Shaping of Modern Indian Science by Dr. P. Balaram

At the food festival, 'Celebrating the Home Chef', curated by Sourish Bhattacharyya, the lineup will include:
- A Kashmiri Wazwan Feast by Chef Saleeth Nisar
- Street Treats of New Orleans by Chef Jayita Sen
- Banglar Ranna by Chef Chitra Ghose

During the festival, N.N. Vohra, Life Trustee of IIC, will unveil The IIC Quarterly: Autumn 2024