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Surabhi Foundation for Research and Cultural Exchange (Surabhi
Force) organisers claims that it has been established as a platform
for the preservation and presentation of India's culture and heritage
through various media related pathways.
The cultural event Alamkara, is slated to be a potpourri
of India's diverse traditions and encompasses cinema and documentary
film screenings, seminars, folk art exhibits and regional cuisines.
 Surabhi
Force executive trustee Siddharth Kak says: "Alamkara
highlights the interplay of popular Hindi cinema and folk traditions
and mirrors the changing cultural identity and aspirations of the
people of contemporary India."
"Alamkara means the `art of ornamentation'. Culture
is an ornamentation that adds value to our lives, roots us and gives
us a sense of identity and purpose," Kak adds.
Surabhi Force will aim to bring together the decorative and performing
arts of the country in the heritage precincts of the Films Division,
a pioneering institution of documentary film-making in India,
Tree-lined avenues and open spaces will be re-created to recapture
the nostalgia and joy of India's cultural traditions. The quaint
campus lends itself beautifully to the festival with its screening
rooms, ancient trees, and vast spaces for the display of handicrafts
and regional street cuisines, states a press release.
The highlights of Alamkara
include Darpan - A Festival of Feature and Non-Feature Films
reflecting changing aspects of Indian society; Jadooi Chitra
Chhaya - the unique pre-cinema magic lantern show; Cinema
Sadaa.. - A nostalgic exhibition of film memorabilia, that includes
antique posters, gramophones, show cards and old cameras; Haath
Ki Safai - a colourful exhibition & sale of exquisite master
crafts; Dia-Log - seminars on contemporary issues featuring
a plethora of industry stalwarts and veterans from various disciplines;
Khane Bhi Do Yaaron - a quintessential regional street food
fiesta.
Surabhi Force has obtained the support of the Ford Foundation,
the Times Foundation and Club Mahindra. Event organisers also claim
to have the support from union ministry of information and broadcasting
and culture; department of culture, government of Maharashtra; National
Film Development Corporation (NDFC) and National Film Archives of
India (NFAI).
"The focus of Alamkara is to provide multiple opportunities
and platforms for bridging many gaps and opening new vistas towards
the promotion of arts, crafts, films, folk, culture and cuisine
and this is proposed as an annual event for the city of Mumbai,"
says Kak.
Surabhi Force's cultural events cell aims to provide a platform
to artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, audiences and media persons
from various parts of India as well as from abroad, and a forum
to deepen and broaden cultural exchange between India and the rest
of the world.
The board of trustees of Surabhi Force includes distinguished names
like Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, Dr. Jyotindra Jain, Dr S V Gorakshakar,
PK Nair, Dolly H Sahiar, Gita Siddharth and Pamela Chopra.
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