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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trilay traces Lucknow's Kathak legacy amid rounds of applause
Lucknow: The All-India Kaifi Azmi Academy came alive on Sunday evening with rhythm, grace and applause as dance ensemble Trilay presented 'Daastan-e-Kathak' a spellbinding production tracing the journey of Kathak's Lucknow Gharana. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Formed by Preeti Tiwari, Simran Kashyap and Gauri Sharma, Trilay showcased the gharana's evolution, from its devotional origins in temple courtyards and village gatherings to its transformation into the pride of the Nawabs' royal courts. Written and directed by Salman Khayal, the production was enriched with dastangoi performed by theatre artists Abhishek Singh and Mini Dixit, who brought narrative depth to the performance. The evening unfolded with a seamless blend of dance, music and expression, highlighting the subtle grace, etiquette and delicacy that distinguish the Lucknow style. The recital featured 'rubaai' and 'vilambit laya' compositions, alongside emotive renditions of the Kajri 'Kankar Mohe Laag Jahiye Na Re' and the Thumri 'Kaun Des Gayo Saawariya'. The musical canvas was adorned by tabla maestro Vikas Mishra, lyricist Prakhar Pandey and sarangi virtuoso Zeeshan Abbas. Enhancing the stage further was a magnificent 150-meter backdrop depicting Nawabi architecture, painted by Vivekanand, a Fine Arts student at Lucknow University, along with Sanjeev, Aryan, Aastha and Suraj from a private college in the city. Writer Jyoti Sinha said, "This programme beautifully promotes our shared heritage and the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb, keeping Lucknow's cultural spirit alive." Social worker Shivalika Acharya said, "The harmony of dancers, storytellers and musicians created magic on stage." Dignitaries such as artist, Anil Rastogi and Kathak guru, Akanksha Srivastava were present .
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lights, camera and cop
CHHATTISGARH: Shashi Mohan Singh, an IPS officer from Chhattisgarh cadre, strikes a delicate balance between his full-time occupation and his passion for acting. He dons the police uniform in real life, while his silver screen presence has established him as an accomplished actor in Chhollywood (Chhattisgarh cinema industry), as well as on stage, short films, and Hindi language cinema. For the 2012-batch IPS officer, his role as an actor comes with a message for society. 'In most of my roles, preference remains for impressive storylines that can deliver issue-based or strong messages besides the entertainment of the audiences. It's all about the theme — with an appealing storyline, it holds the power to influence the heart and mind', says Singh. He joined the police service after clearing the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission in 1997. Today, he is a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Jashpur district. Interestingly, he acted as a Maoist leader in one of his movies, propagating the message of how the banned outfit exists on hollow ideology and violence. In his role as a villain, he attempts to connect the audience with his character's motivations and emotions. Singh has penned scripts for various movies and theatre dramas, written dialogues and poetry, and directed a few films as well. 'Since my school days, a deep inclination towards acting remained my leisure pursuit and in our village in Buxar (Bihar), where I was born, I got enough opportunities to act in dramas, plays and theatre through various Natya Shalas. I have also acted in Chhattisgarhi and Bhojpuri films.' Singh's compelling character roles and strong themes in some of his movies resonate well with audiences. They also get him recognition. A movie, Bhulan The Maze, in which he acted as a jailer, won a national award in the Best Film category of regional cinema at the 67th National Film Awards. It also won appreciation globally. His three short films — Gomti, Yatna, and Kotpa received national acclaim as best films and won awards. Recently, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the grand screening of a short film, 'Kajri', written and directed by the Jashpur SSP. 'Kajri' addresses the critical issue of human trafficking and aims to raise public awareness and vigilance in a place like Jashpur. This predominantly tribal-populated district has earned an undeserved notoriety as a hub for human trafficking for several decades.
