F
a r t
A rendezvous
with
French
culture
Get a taste of the joie de vivre of the French with ‘Bonjour India’!
“T he opera is a show, a big show… It is
literature, theatre, music, ballet…it’s
all of that. It’s the most beautiful show.
It was also the most expensive show
meant for the kings. It’s a way of ex-
pressing human feelings. Sometimes
it’s very complicated, sometimes it’s
very simple,” explained pianist
François Juskowiak a day before his
performance with soprano singer
Marion Baglan, which took place on
January 6 and allowed many Delhiites
their first taste of the French opera.
Another opera of a much bigger scale
– “If I Were King” – is being present-
ed by The Neemrana Music Founda-
tion on January 12, 14 and 15 at the
Siri Fort Auditorium in Delhi. Set in
Goa in 1510, “If I Were King” is a
3-act opera which boasts of elaborate
costumes and a cast of 200 Indian and
French singers, dancers and musi-
cians. Opera isn’t the only French im-
port mesmerising Indians these days;
French literature, cinema, photogra-
phy, science are all being showcased
in 18 cities across India as part of the
Festival of France, Bonjour India. Pos-
sibly the cultural capital of the world,
France will also be invited to revel in
cultural treasures from India next
year during the Indian Cultural Festi-
val in France titled Namaste France.
This cultural exchange has been or-
ganised together by the French Minis-
“...B onjou r India
promises to enthr al
India, thu s, giving
India an ex perience
of different facet s
that define Fr ance”
the sunday indian 55 24 january 2010
try of Foreign Affairs and Indian
Council for Cultural Relations along
with other organisations such as Cul-
tures France and Alliance Francaise.
“The eclectic mix of events lined up
for Bonjour India promises to enthrall
India, thus, giving India an experience
of different facets that define France.
The aim of the festival is to bring to-
gether the two countries and facilitate
dialogue and cooporation in varied
fields like art & culture, education,
science & technology and economy.
The 18-city festival intends to capture
the widest audience across the coun-
try,” said HE Mr Jérôme Bonnafont,
Ambassador of France to India.
The participating artists share the
same spirit of sharing and experienc-
ing each other’s cultures. Marion Bag-
lan believes that her tour in India
would give her little advantage in her
career back home. “Participating in
the Bonjour India is very different. It’s
not as though it will have a direct im-
pact on my career, it’s more of a per-
sonal human experience, about dis-
covering another country. It’s a big,
big opportunity for me, but it’s not as
if I will have more contracts coming
back to France,” shared Marion, who
is also performing in seven other cit-
ies in January.
All the way from the Ivory Coast,
Dobet Gnahoré was another artist
who performed a funky blend of mu-
sic in Delhi on January 7, and contin-
ued her tour in Hyderabad and Banga-
lore. A melange of circus, theatre and
video art, “Plan B” by Compagnie 111
was performed in Mumbai and Chen-
nai in December, while Compagnie
Off ’s herd of tall and graceful red gi-
raffes are coming out on city streets
(Hyderabad’s Necklace Road on Janu-
ary 10, Chennai’s Venkanarayan Road
f e s t i va l o f f r a n c e
in T Nagar on Jan 15, Pondicherry’s
Beach Road on Jan 19 and at Delhi’s
Select Citywalk on Jan 31) for the
show titled “The Giraffes”, which
promises to be an extravagant display
of circus and music. Cutting-edge
Kathak was also presented in five cities
in November and December by a
troupe of French artists, led by Isabelle
Anna and was titled Opus à Kath.
Brigitte Chataignier, a danseur who
has dedicated her life to Mohini At-
tam, also performed in Pondicherry
and Trivandrum in December.
Contemporary French cinema was
exhibited across eight cities while nine
French writers are presenting readings,
debating and interacting in the event
titled, “Littératures – A French Festival
of Letters”, at various cities and will
also be a part of the famous DSC
Jaipur Literature Festival this month.
Interactions on a more serious note
will mark the three-day long “First In-
do-French Seminars on Co-operation
between States and Regions, and Local
Authorities”, which is taking place on
January 15-17 and aims to bring to-
gether officials and experts, and lead-
ers of NGOs and corporates on a com-
mon platform. Thirty leading French
scientists will also come together for
Bonjour French Science, and will
speak on a plethora of subjects like
Aerospace and Aeronautics, Environ-
ment and Biotechnology in 20 cities
across India.
From French opera singers to
French writers to French photogra-
phers – even Indians who have trav-
elled to France would not have experi-
enced as many facets of French cul-
ture! We bet that this French affair is
not going to be easily forgotten!
Anu Gulmohar