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Call of the woods
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Between January 21 and 26, the woods at IIT turn home to half a lakh students. SUDHISH KAMATH reports
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THE MOTHER is here. The mother of all cultural festivals. Every student's annual pilgrimage to pop culture. Where the walk through the woods becomes a religious ritual. Where rock shows give you Nirvana. (Moksha, this time around). Where even food stalls turn into daylong discos and the woods turn home to party animals. Where street fashion redefines itself annually. And nationally. Where about half a lakh students from 500 Indian colleges converge to rub shoulders and have their influences rub off on each other. Where you suddenly become somebody you know. Another you.
"It's about letting go. Of conventions and inhibitions, the ones that have been unquestioned. A dance with a complete stranger. Unwarranted conversations. Cat calls. Knowing smiles ... It's about hullabaloo. Differences. Opinions. Contexts. Perspectives. Sensitivities. Every note of a cultural medley" — as the Saarang flyer describes the mood.
Stage all set
There is no escape. Magnetic forces are at work and you will be lured into the woods. And getting lost suddenly sounds good. This year's edition of Saarang promises to be the biggest ever. Yes, they said that last year too. But didn't they live up to it?
At the time of going to press on Friday, the stage was all set for the opening act. Actor Anupam Kher to get it all started with the lighting of the traditional lamp. As a departure from getting senior classical musicians, this year the organisers banked on young blood — the sons of sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash will have Saarang opened with their concert.
The director of IIT, M. S. Ananth, is a proud man. His boys have not only raised the highest sponsorship ever (over Rs. 50 lakhs) for a fest on campus, they are also confident of making a substantial contribution to IIT's Tsunami Relief Fund. "They are going to make a minimum contribution of Rs. 5 lakhs," he says.
"We are confident of more," smiles P. S. V. Arun Sharvan, cultural secretary. Even the participation, the organisers believe, will be more this year. "Last year, because of the CAT exams in February, we had only about a thousand outstation students. This year, we should have more," says Sharvan.
Homework
The boys began their homework really early. "The process of selecting student co-ordinators started in April," says P. Arun Kumar, cultural secretary. "That process in itself is something that builds character," director Ananth adds.
Arun Sharvan explains: "Our work peaks in December and we don't go back for the vacation. But we don't miss home because we are working for Saarang."
"It's about passion and vision. Hundreds of students give up sleep, food and courtesy to ensure that this year is the biggest yet," as the promotional flyer for Saarang puts it.
The reward for all that work will unravel itself during the next five days. When about 10,000 frenzied students stuff themselves inside IIT's Open Air Theatre (OAT) that looks full even with 4,000 people. When hundreds of heads bang and when the sound of metal rocks the woods. Orange Street and Moksha will have that effect on you that evening.
The French band Matmatah will do the same on Monday evening. And when singer Kay Kay takes the crowd along with him back to the Summer of '69 with his brilliant Bryan Adams renditions and soulful originals, not to leave out Bollywood's best — from "Dil Chahta Hai" to "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam."
But hey, OAT is just where you let your hair down at the end of a hard day's play. The chunk of Saarang happens when food, fashion and fun find outlets in scores of stalls. When you watch JAMmers take jabs at each other, quizzers rack their brains and teams clash in Dramatics and Choreo Night or when individuals vie for personal glory in Cluedo or Mr./Miss Saarang. So children, the mother is here. And she's calling you HOME.
Time table
January 22:
Rock Show. Tangy Orange Street and good old Moksha. OAT. 19.30 hours. Tickets at venue.
January 23:
Choreo Nite in aid of the tsunami victims. OAT. 17.30 hours. Donor passes of Rs.50 and Rs.100 at venue.
January 24:
Light Music .nals, Western music .nals and French rock band Matmatah. OAT. 17.00 hours. No tickets.
January 25:
Kay Kay! Yay! Everything from Bryan Adams to Indi-pop to Rock to "Dil Chahta Hai". Booking in advance recommended.
January 26:
`Be the Change' Jazz show. Prasanna with Jeff Cof.n, Kai Eckhardt and Derico Watson. Tickets at venue.
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