Latest news with #INTACH
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Call for govt action to restore iconic theatre in Cuttack
Bhubaneswar: Once the cultural heartbeat of Cuttack, the Janata Ranga Manch now stands silent and crumbling — a shadow of its vibrant past. More than two decades after the 1999 Super Cyclone left it in ruins, the iconic theatre in Banka Bazar continues to languish in neglect. Now, in a renewed push to save this landmark of Odisha's theatrical legacy, The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and the Manch's members have urged the state govt to step in before it's too late. Underlining the cultural and historical significance of the 72-year-old institution, INTACH's state convener, Biswajit Mohanty, said, "Janata Ranga Manch was not just a theatre but a symbol of Odisha's rich performing arts tradition. Its current condition is heartbreaking." He added that INTACH would send a formal request to the govt to declare Janata Ranga Manch a 'heritage site' and urge the preparation of a comprehensive restoration and development plan. Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh said, "Janata Ranga Manch is an iconic heritage site and must be preserved. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has already submitted a proposal for its revival to the state govst and is awaiting approval and financial allocation." Established in 1953, Janata Ranga Manch served as a vital platform for staging plays by renowned playwrights and nurturing the theatre movement in Odisha. For over five decades, it hosted regular performances and was once considered the cultural heartbeat of the city. After being severely damaged in the Super Cyclone, the theatre has operated from a makeshift venue. Despite the challenges, its members continue to keep the spirit of Odia theatre alive. "Janata Ranga Manch was once the pride of Cuttack. All steps must be taken to declare it a heritage institution," said Deepak Samantray, co-convener of INTACH's Cuttack chapter. Echoing his sentiments, theatre activist Indrajit Ghosh said, "This institution has been the bedrock of theatre in the state. It deserves heritage status to honour its lasting contribution to the arts." Dr Ananga Dwivedi, advisor to the Manch, recalled that Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his tenure as the collector of Cuttack, visited the site and suggested developing an 'Adarsh Natya Sanghralaya' (model theatre museum) for its revival. "It is high time the state govt considered setting up the proposed museum," he said. Heritage activist Anil Dhir of INTACH said the organisation would submit a collective appeal to the govt urging immediate intervention. "This theatre is a living archive of Odia drama since 1953. Without timely action, we risk losing a vital cultural institution forever," he said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exhibition of veteran photojournalist's works from today
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in association with Art Kanara Trust, will present a week-long retrospective photo exhibition titled 'Mangalore, Back Then - Through The Eyes Of Yajna' at Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture, Ballalbagh, from Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The exhibition will showcase rare black-and-white photographs captured by veteran photojournalist Yajna (Yajneshwara Acharya) between 1970 and 2000, offering an evocative glimpse into Mangaluru's urban and rural life during a time of transformation. The exhibition will open with an exclusive preview at 5.30 pm on Saturday. The exhibition will remain open to the public between 11 am and 7 pm till July 26. Known for his painterly eye and sensitive compositions, Yajna chronicled the changing faces of the Kanara region during his decades-long career as a photojournalist. A selection of images from his recent collaborative journey across the Kanara coast—undertaken with architect-photographer Murali Abbemane and writer-photographer Deekshith R Pai—will also be on display. Together, these photographs, curated as part of the Mangalore Art & Archival Project, present a compelling visual dialogue between past and present, held together by the enduring vision of one of the region's most iconic lensmen, stated a release.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mangalore through the eyes of Yajna, a photo exhibition from Sunday
The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in association with the Art Kanara Trust, will present a week-long retrospective photo exhibition titled 'Mangalore, Back the eyes of Yajna'. The exhibition will open with an exclusive preview on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture, Ballalbagh, in the presence of artist V. U. George. The exhibition will remain open to the public till July 26, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. It will showcase rare black-and-white photographs captured by veteran photojournalist Yajna (Yajneshwara Acharya) between 1970 and 2000, offering an evocative glimpse into Mangaluru's urban and rural life during a time of transformation. Known for his painterly eye and sensitive compositions, Yajna chronicled the changing faces of the Kanara region during his decades-long career with Udayavani. A selection of images from his recent collaborative journey across the Kanara coast—undertaken with architect-photographer Murali Abbemane and writer-photographer Deekshith R. Pai—will also be on display. Together, these photographs, curated as part of the Mangalore Art & Archival Project, present a compelling visual dialogue between past and present, held together by the enduring vision of one of the region's most iconic lensman, a release said.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Actor Guru Dutt honoured in his birth centenary year
Mangaluru: To mark the birth centenary of legendary filmmaker , the Mangaluru chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in association with Art Kanara Trust, hosted a special panel discussion at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture, Ballalbagh, on Wednesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Titled 'Guru Dutt – Remembering the Man and His Persona, Movies and Messages', the programme brought together noted speakers to reflect on the enduring legacy of one of Indian cinema's most influential auteurs. The panel featured writer and activist K Phaniraj, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy member Ivan D'Silva, and writer and former TOI associate editor Jayanth Kodkani. Subhas Chandra Basu, convener of INTACH Mangaluru chapter, moderated the session, while co-convener Nemiraj Shetty introduced the panellists. Subhas Basu opened the session by noting Guru Dutt's deep cultural connection with the region. "Guru Dutt's family roots trace back to Panambur, near Mangaluru, and though he lived briefly here, the influence of coastal Karnataka lingered in his creative imagination," he said. He also spoke about Dutt's formative years in Kolkata and how the city's post-Independence turmoil, including famine, political unrest, and mass migration, shaped his social consciousness and cinematic themes. Kodkani evoked the powerful imagery from 'Pyaasa', referencing the iconic song 'Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye'. "I watched Pyaasa at a special screening in the 1970s. As the song reached its peak, people stood up and clapped, decades after its release. That's the timeless power of Guru Dutt's cinema," he said, praising the director's masterful use of light and shadow to convey emotional depth. K Phaniraj offered a broader socio-political reading of Guru Dutt's films. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "In the 1950s, Indian cinema was preoccupied with nation-building through idealised families, but Guru Dutt went against the grain. His films often depicted dysfunctional families or none at all. He chose to spotlight the inner struggles of the individual, especially the youth," he noted. Ivan D'Silva highlighted the technical brilliance of Guru Dutt's craft. "His work was far ahead of its time — experimenting with camera angles, lighting, and narrative structure. Unlike most mainstream cinema, his female characters were strong, independent, and resilient," he said. The discussion was followed by an engaging interaction with the audience. Prof Krishnamoorthy, former principal of Govinda Dasa College, Surathkal, shared insights from 'Nanna Maga, Gurudutta', a biography by the filmmaker's mother, Vasanthi Padukone. "Many know him through his films; I connected with him through his formative years in Dakshina Kannada," he said.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Coastal Karnataka's influence lingered in Guru Dutt's creative imagination'
Cinematic legend Guru Dutt's family roots trace back to Panambur near Mangaluru, and the influence of coastal Karnataka lingered in his creative imagination, although he lived there only briefly, said Subhas Chandra Basu, convenor of Mangaluru chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Mr. Basu opened a special panel discussion, 'Guru Dutt – Remembering the man and his persona, movies and messages', organised by the INTACH and Art Kanara Trust at Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture here on July 9, to commemorate the birth centenary of the filmmaker. Mr. Basu spoke about Dutt's formative years in Kolkata and how the post-independence turmoil, including famine, political unrest, and mass migration, witnessed by the city, shaped his social consciousness and cinematic themes. The discussion saw the participation of writer and activist K. Phaniraj, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy member Ivan D'Silva, and, Jayanth Kodkani, writer and journalist, with INTACH co-convener Nemiraj Shetty introducing the panellists. During the post-discussion interaction with the audience, Krishnamoorthy, the former principal of Govinda Dasa College, shared insights from Nanna Maga, Gurudutta, a biography written by the filmmaker's mother, Vasanthi Padukone. 'Many know him through his films. I connected with him through his formative years in Dakshina Kannada,' he said. Mr. Kodkani evoked the powerful imagery from Pyaasa, referencing the iconic song 'Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye'. 'I watched Pyaasa at a special screening in the 1970s. As the song reached its peak, people stood up and clapped, decades after its release. That's the timeless power of Guru Dutt's cinema,' he said. Offering a broader socio-political reading of Guru Dutt's films, Mr. Phaniraj said, 'In the 1950s, Indian cinema was preoccupied with nation-building through idealised families. But Guru Dutt went against the grain. His films often depicted dysfunctional families or characters with no family at all. He chose to spotlight the inner struggles of the individual, especially the youth.' Mr. D'Silva highlighted the technical brilliance of Guru Dutt's craft. 'His work was far ahead of its time — experimenting with camera angles, lighting, and narrative structure. Unlike most mainstream cinema, his female characters were strong, independent and resilient,' he said.
