Tribute for legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma

Vadodara: Music and art-loving Barodians are up for a treat for the next three days. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has organized Raja Ravi Varma Utsav in the city under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Starting from Friday, the festival of colour, music and lines and stories will end on Sunday.“Raja Ravi Varma had a special connection with Vadodara. On the invitation of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad, Varma spent quite a lot of time here and created masterpieces that are in the possession of Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. So, we decided to organise the festival in Vadodara this time,” said Arupa Lahiry, regional director, IGNCA that has its office near Motibaug Ground in the city. IGNCA and the royal Gaekwad family have renovated the studio that was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad for Varma in Laxmi Vilas Palace compound. This is the first time that such a grand festival to honour Varma is organized in the city. The festival will include classical dance programme, exhibition of Varma’s oleographs, book release, poetry, lectures, workshops and movie screening.Lahiry added, “The festival will be inaugurated by Arjun Ram Meghwal, union minister of state for parliamentary affairs and culture, in presence of royal family member Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad. Prominent artists like Dr Sonal Mansingh, Shri Vikku Vinayakram and Group, Pandit Sanjeev and Ashwini Shankar, Dr Parul Shah, Dr Neena Prasad, Guru Aruna Mohanty and Orissa Dance Academy, Pandit Ronu Majmudar, Sanjay Subramaniyam, Ustad Shahid Parvez and Kalakshetra Foundation will be performing during the festival. The festival that is free for all will be held at Laxmi Vilas Palace and in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology auditorium. Lahiry said that it will be a treat for Barodians who will have a glimpse of Varma’s life apart from the classical music programmes.