This weekend, if you don't already have your plans scheduled and red-lined, head to the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, for a weekend full of fun and diverse activities
This weekend, if you don't already have your plans scheduled and red-lined, head to the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, for a weekend full of fun and diverse activities
u00a0
Alliance Francaise keeps proving to us that they'll 'always and forever' be one of the best recreational destinations in the city, till someone takes up the challenge to outdo them that is not like we're looking forward to that day!
We're actually quite at peace with our obsession with them, hurrying to the campuses green environs every time we want to catch some really good performance and that they ensure, by giving us the best of what Bangalore has to offer.
This weekend is no different with a set of four events lined up for the weekend. From art, to discussions to performances like none other this weekend at the Alliance Francaise sure seems worth making a note of.
Friday, March 12
A discussion that deserves it due
Women in India are everywhere and we mean that like we've never meant it before. Organising themselves like never before, making it big, leading companies and movements and yet always playing roles that they've always loved playing.
It's no wonder India is always referred to as a woman because deep down, our country is run by our women and it's about time we realised that! Catch author Dominique Hoeltgen as she discusses her latest book Inde, la revolution par les femmes (India, the revolution by its women).
As a journalist, Dominique Hoeltgen travelled across India for four years, investigating the economy and the society of the sub-continent, and meeting Indians who are changing the country. Based in Mumbai, she has been a correspondent for 'L'Expansion' in India, since 2004.
Her book narrates the tale of the Indian woman who is increasingly making her presence felt more widely, be it through cinema, politics, business, or social movements. The book is a fabulous read and what better way to discover the book than through the eyes of its author.
At: The Auditorium
7.30 pm onwards, March 12
Sat, March 13
Re-discoveringu00a0Opera through the eyes of a woman
Have any of you ever watched Stage Beauty, the classic film that starred Derek Hutchinson, Mark Letheren and Claire Danes?
The movie that exposed the 17th Century theatre scene in London? Which for the first time explicitly portrayed gender politics involved in theatre and stage, less than two centuries ago? If you did, then this performance and what it stands for wouldn't surprise you one bit.
Like how Catherine Clement, the renowned philosopher, said in her book L'Opera ou la defaite des femmes (Opera, or the Undoing of Women) in 1979, "The opera is a masculine world where a woman is depicted as weak, cheated, spurned, sick and dying," today researchers around the world can't seem to but nod their head in vigorous agreement.
Times have however changed and Mumbai-born Aude-Priya Engel, who discovered her operatic talents at 20 under the guidance of Situ Singh Buehler in New Delhi, has now come up with a performance that narrates the story of a young woman who dreams of love, meets a man, transforms into a woman, is disappointed and then surrenders. The story however isn't all that sad when you consider that at the end she is portrayed through as a triumphant woman who is in every essence of the word, a diva!
Aude-Priya has performed extensively at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Oratorio San Rocco at Bologne and the Tata Theatre de Bombay, among many others. She has also travelled widely with a recital having musical scores in eight languages, with Europe as the main theme. Catch this talented young woman, in what might probably be her only performance for now, this Saturday.
At: The Auditorium
7.30 pm onwards, March 13
Sunday, March 14
Woody Allen's magic is in town
If you thought they forgot theatre in its true form, then think again as Sunday brings God, by Woody Allen being presented to Bangalore by the CULT troupe. Written by Woody Allen, the play deals with a conversation between two people sitting at an amphitheatre in ancient Athens.
The time frame and location keeps shifting betweenu00a0 the contemporary and ancient and the wit is quite tongue in cheek and universal in appeal. The narrative is coloured by its relevance to everyday life and the sheer bizarreness of it all in true Woody Allen style.
Differential characterization, influential lighting, relevant props and apt music make God a worthwhile watch. The play has been performed at Kyra earlier and received favourable responses, so don't worry, you won't be taking that much of a chance. It might just be the best thing to do as the weekend ends.
At: The Auditorium 7.30 pm onwards, March 14 
Ongoing now
The Garcon from Thanjai
Karthik Ramalingam might share his first and probably even his second name with almost half of Tamilnadu, but rest assured he doesn't share his talent with them.
This young photographer who specialises in portraitures is also a software professional working with Impiger Technologies.
u00a0
His love for the ordinary, nature as it is, the mundane, everyday life and the singular moments that catch his attention are defined as his forte. His love for the elderly is however most appreciated and evident and this exhibition features some of his best portraits of the elderly from his repertoire.
Indulge and experience his work on display till Sunday, March 14 and we're sure you'll be influenced enough to wield the image capturer on your own too. Pictures always speak of tales untold and this exhibition only re-emphasizes that belief.
At: The Atrium, 10 am to 7 pm,
On till March 14
At: The Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanth Nagar
Call: 4080 8181
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
