Q. There remains a lot of curiosity about the aspect of curating a festival. Please help us demystify the intricacies of curating a culture development festival like SAF?
Smriti: Curating a cultural development festival like the Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) is a dynamic blend of creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful planning. Since its inception in 2016, SAF has focused on bringing together curators, artists, and changemakers to shape a festival that reflects the richness and diversity of India’s arts and culture. The disciplines are led by curators with distinct practices and expertise, creating a dialogue that bridges tradition and contemporary innovation.
Our approach emphasizes neutrality, granting curators the freedom to experiment without interference. This fosters a space where the full spectrum of art—from visual and performing arts to music and culinary traditions—can be showcased in a way that feels organic and interconnected. The goal is to make art accessible to all, spark meaningful conversations, and celebrate the vibrancy of cultural exchange, all while building an inclusive community.
The name Naveen Kumar Palukurthy & the flute have gone on to become synonymous. This Visakhapatnam born multi-genre flautist popular as Naveen is the most sought-after flute virtuoso in National, International, Philharmonic orchestras, Indian and international films, with specialization in no less than a whopping 300 wind instruments. As an audience you have heard Naveen weaving his magic with immortal soundtracks like the Bombay Theme to Roja Jaaneman, Bahubali, Dil Se, and Dhoom Machale.
His major performance credits include Hollywood film 100-foot journey the Chinese film Warriors of heaven and earth. With 7 solo albums to his credit Naveen has had the privilege of performing with the revered fusion icon John Mclaughlin on the album “Meeting Of The Minds”.
Dignitaries including President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Maharashtra Governor S.C. Jamir, have enjoyed Naveen’s scintillating performances. The Common Wealth Games have also reverberated with Naveen’s flute solos.
If you ever thought that Goa music and melody was all about chartbusters like Galyat Sakhali Sonyachi and Ghe Re Sahiba, think again. Goa and its music have much more to offer than the obvious peppy mixes. Myriad influences over its original traditional music have gone on to give Goa its widespread music flavor that has found common ground all over. The blending of Portuguese music, it’s exotic melodies and foot tapping rhythms with the often complex and soulful Indian melodies has merged into a unique brand of aural delight that has global audiences mesmerized.
While emerging as a cultural identity Goa music is also a strong unifying factor that upholds the diversity of the smallest Indian state. Embellished with a wealth of musical instruments like the Tabla, Ghumat, Dhol Shehnai, that surfaced from the soil, Goa music attained its rainbow-colored instrumental splendor when the Portuguese stepped into the showground adding the Mandolin, Violin, Piano and other brass instruments to the mix. The succulent blend has an appeal that continues to linger long after the music is silenced on your systems.
Daira’s Jadoo Bastar is a musical experience to savor and cherish equally for music lovers and the musicians themselves. The exotic mix of harmony and melody that emanates from the rich blending of the local tribal music artists of the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh and the popular Mumbai based Art Rock Band Daira, well regarded for their presentation of a mix of alternative rock and Indian classical music, truly is musically and soulfully uplifting.
In a free-wheeling chat with IPRS, Daira’s Jadoo Bastar, spoke about their coming together, their musical camaraderie and their melodious future. Here are edited excerpts.
Setting the stage: How IPRS sets the ball rolling for young music talents
As always, the IPRS in its endeavor to proactively seek look-ins for their members conceived a golden opportunity tying up with the prestigious Serendipity Art festival (16th-20th December) in Goa.
Carving out a platform for budding music talents aptly titled IPRS Stage the overwhelming response for the show was palpable. IPRS this time brought to centerstage the dawning musical talent in the country. In their elements, given the occasion, the artists went on to win plaudits for their charismatic gigs all through.
Ushering in the most influential festival audiences, organizers and talent scouts, while readily shaping possible collaboration windows with other musical mavens, the event was a big draw with positive tidings for a slew of budding musicians who might have encountered their first tryst with fame.
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