Kalamandal to provide forum for artists in state soon: Naveen
Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 16:
Odisha government is in the process of launching a Kalamandal Project to provide a prestigious platform to artistes of all forms, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced here today.
In his inaugural address at the 9th Film Festival on Art and Artists, an annual event organised by the JD Centre of Art, at the IDCOL Auditorium here today, the Chief Minister informed that there is also an initiative to set up a permanent art gallery in the state capital.
Appreciating the initiative of JDCA in organizing an annual film festivals for showing documentaries on various forms of art and eminent artists of the country, the Chief Minister said, “I believe it will be a great learning experience. It will certainly be inspiring to our youngsters who want to pursue art in life. The documentation of art and artists makes a great contribution to the history of our art”.
“The JD centre has been persistently endeavoring to keep people engaged in the aesthetics of life,” he added.
Patnaik said that the collection of art objects and documentary films by the JD Centre is a visual delight and a reminder of our cultural wealth.
Describing the cultural splendor of Odisha, Patnaik said, “Odisha is a state that is deeply rooted in art. From the majestic temples of Puri, Bhubaneswar and Konark to intricate patta painings to pure tribal art – Odisha is a journey through art. Our art and culture make us special as a people that understand life and its true aesthetic sense”.
Complimenting Chairman of JDCA, Jatin Das for his efforts to make JDCA a prestigious centre of art, the Chief Minister said; “Collection of art, its cataloguing, preservation and displaying them to public at times is not easy. It needs the lifetime devotion and commitment of a person like Jatin Das to bring such dream into reality.”
Thirty documentaries on the theme ‘Making of art: the process’ will be screened during the three-day festival, which aims to create awareness about the various forms of art and the artists.
This year, eminent personalities like filmmaker Goutam Ghose, Aruna Vasudev, Gitanjali Rao, Sunit Tandon, Nandan Saxena and Kavita Behl will attend the festival.
Some of the films to be screened at the festival include ‘Devlok-stories retold by Devdutt Pattanaik’, ‘Painter’s Sketchbook’ by M F Hussain, ‘The making of ‘Firaq’ by Nandita Das, ‘Printed Rainbow’ and ‘Blue’ by Gitanjali Rao, ‘Fakir Mohan’ by Subas Das.
Apart from screening of films, the festival will also have workshops, seminars and exhibitions that showcase handlooms, handicrafts and cuisines of Odisha.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Ashok Chandra Panda, chairman, JDCA Jatin Das, secretary, Tourism and Culture Arabinda Padhi, executive director of JDCA Abasar Beuria, director of the film festival Biren Das were among others who spoke on the occasion.
Padmashri Chaturbhuj Meher, noted actress and daughter of Jatin Das, Nandita Das and several other prominent persons from the field of art and film were present at the inaugural function.
Comments are closed.