IIT-K Antaragni to begin from Oct 24

The much awaited annual cultural festival of IIT-Kanpur 'Antaragni' will begin from October 24 and end on October 27. This year, Antaragni will have two new additions, including classical night and European Film Festival. Around 1,500 students (outstation candidates) from 130 colleges would participate in the event this year.

Apart from prizes worth Rs 50 lakh, the winners would receive internships as part of the "dream on campaign" at Shaimak Davar dance academy, Munish Khanna photography, Barry John acting studio, Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music and Delhi College of Arts.

Festival chairman of Antaragni Prof Satyaki Roy, in a conference held on Sunday, said that Indian Ocean, a pioneer of Fusion Rock in India and Bonney Men, a folk band from Ireland would perform at the opening night of Antaragni on October 24.

Festival co-ordinators Jainendra Batra and Saurabh Dixit, who are final year students of IIT-Kanpur, told reporters that musician from Turkey Derin Kivaner, Italian Saxophone player Gianni Denitto, Finland's contemporary dance group Cleva Crew and award winning performers of Hungarian folk and spiritual songs Kobzos Ensemble would perform at IIT-Kanpur.

Festival co-ordinators also said that Antaragni would host European Film Festival in India which would be presented by the delegation of European Union. A total of 12 movies from 12 countries would be screened over the four days of the festival.

They also said that a special question and answer session with the Bollywood artists, including Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Tigmanshu Dhulia, would be organised.

The IIT-Kanpur students further mentioned that continuing with Antaragni Leadership Initiative, this year the competition would go national as participants are coming from Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata. They said that it was an attempt to bring out the leaders of tomorrow who could provide answers to the problems of today.

Also a much sought after event named India Inspired, a panel discussion, would bring out opinions of the experts on current problems. The topic for discussion this year is "66 years of Independence. Time for a Reality Check" The panelists include vice-president of All India Democratic Women's Association Brinda Karat and a member of Rajya Sabha and former chief election commissioner SY Qureshi to name a few.

According to the organisers of Antaragni, a classical night would be held on October 25 where Krishna N and Shubhadra Desai would perform classical music.

Kavi Sammelan would feature Anjum Rahbar, Gajendra Solanki, Santosh Anand, Sunil Jogi and others.

Antaragni would also feature Synchronicity where Flying Eyes, an American Rock Band would perform.

Another much cherished event Fashion Show named Ritambhara would be judged by Elena Kazan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Abraham Kumar, Chhaya Mehrotra, Niket Jainee and Munish Khanna.

The festival co-ordinators said that Antaragni would also be a platform for social campaign, including women empowerment and AIDS awareness, for which UP State AIDS Control Society and National Commission for Women would render their support.

During the press conference, Prof AK Ghosh, dean of Student Affairs, IIT-Kanpur, Soren Goyal, head of Media and Publicity, Team Antaragni and Himanshu Pandey, president, Students Gymkhana of IIT-Kanpur were also present.