This week at BIC January 28 - February 2

Here's what is happening this week at the Bangalore International Centre, the city's go-to venue for informed conversations, art and culture. All BIC events are free and open to all. Take a look at our events calendar to plan your visit in advance. See you at BIC soon!

I. January 29 | The Thief Who Stole My Heart

Vidya Dehejia

This talk commences by introducing the audience to the sacred bronzes created by a master sculptor around the year 1000, and suggests that his inspiration may well have been child-saint Sambandar’s opening hymn that hails god Shiva as “the thief who stole my heart.”

Vidya Dehejia explores this sensuous imagery before moving to ask questions of this material that have not been asked before.

II. January 29 | ???????–?????? | Emptiness–Equality

Anand with Kotiganahalli Ramaiah Penguin NAVAYANA PUBLISHING PRIVATE LIMITED

In this musical introduction to The Notbook of Kabir, Anand will demonstrate how Kabir often translates and improvises on––and returns to––the Buddha. What is the relationship between Sunnyata (???????, the void) and Samaanta (??????, equality)? How does the raga that is nirgun (???????), beyond form and quality (???), enfold, embody and inform form, and help us experience both being and nothingness?

Following a brief performance, Anand will be in conversation with Kotiganahalli Ramaiah, poet, playwright, translator and song-writer renowned in the Kannada world.

III. January 30 | CycleMahesh

Suhel Banerjee with Ekta Mittal

61 minutes | Hybrid Documentary | Odia, Hindi, Marathi | 2024 | India

Four years ago, young worker Mahesh had cycled two thousand kilometres alone to return home during the first lockdown. Now he finds himself the subject of a film being made about his epic journey. But as the shoot comes to an end and Mahesh returns to the maze-like site of his construction job, the portrait of an endearing young man trapped in his condition emerges. Blending fact and fiction, this hybrid, film-within-a-film retells migrant workers’ tales while examining cinema’s cold gaze.

IV. February 1 | The Grandeur of Gwalior

Gwalior – A Land Where Even a Child’s Cry Finds Tune

Experience the grandeur of Gwalior, the cradle of Hindustani vocal music, where the echoes of enchanting ragas have resonated through time. Celebrating the legacy of the Gwalior Gharana, the evening promises a mesmerizing journey through a repertoire of compositions in its distinctive style.

V. February 1 - 2 | Sci560 Film Festival

Nitya Mishra, Veena Srinivasan, Gautam Sonti, Carol Upadhya , Basav Biradar, Nirmal Raj and Palahalli Vishwanath

Explore Bengaluru’s scientific, cultural, and urban heritage through the lens of cinema at the Sci560 Film Festival, organised in collaboration with Science Gallery Bengaluru!

This two-day event features a lineup of thought-provoking films, including Down the Drain by Nitya Misra and In Search of Gold by Basav Biradar, each followed by insightful discussions with the filmmakers and experts. The festival highlights stories of the city, its environmental challenges, and its historical legacy, offering a unique perspective on Bengaluru’s multifaceted identity.

VI. February 2 | ????????? ??? | Kanneshwara Rama

Kannada with (English Subtitles) | 1977 |118 minutes

Through the untamed wilderness of Karnataka, an ordinary villager transforms into a defiant outlaw, having dared to confront British colonial oppression. He leads his band of rebels in their fight for justice and their people’s freedom.

This month’s film featured in our informal film club is ????????? ??? | Kanneshwara Rama?(1977)

Based on S. K. Nadig’s novel “Kannayya Rama,” the 1977 Kannada political film “Kanneshwara Rama” was directed by M. S. Sathyu as his second feature after “Garm Hava.” The film premiered at the International Film Festival of India and achieved both critical and commercial success during its 1989 theatrical release, completing a 100-day run. The film features an ensemble cast including Anant Nag, Shabana Azmi (in her Kannada debut), and Amol Palekar.

Our weekly events explore an ambit of showcases ranging from talks to performances, film screenings to gallery exhibitions. We host events nearly every day of the week making it the ideal space for you to engage, connect and participate in intellectual dialogue, artistic inquiries and more.

Head over to our website to know more.

Follow us on instagram for daily updates

Join our Whatsapp community for daily updates.