OFFERED on the interesting pay-as-you-wish concept, the Temple of Fine Arts in Brickfields is back with its festival of performance shows come next month.
A showcase of the arts awaits at the festival. Pic courtesy of TFA
The Shantanand Festival of the Arts (SFA), which started in 2014, is now in its eighth instalment, with time off during the Covid-19 pandemic. Music, dance, theatre, workshops, and even food are on the bill , and there’s a gala high tea at TFA vegetarian restaurant, Annalakshmi.
Kumar Karthigesu
Says sitarist Kumar Karthigesu: “Young talents and some well-known artistes will showcase their artistry in the festival. And it’s not just Indian arts but a Malaysian offering that will take place.
“For instance, the latest local band called Naungan will perform. They are a world music instrumental group, using traditional ethnic instruments from various Malaysian communities like the guzheng, ruan, table, rebana, sitar and sape.”
Kumar himself has been part of the world music group AkashA, so it’s no surprise that he will offer a 30-minute performance called ‘Sitar in Shanghai’ on Dec 7.
“This idea came when I was performing at the World Expo in Osaka, in August, and met guzheng artiste Sara Heng, as well as sape master Mathew Ngau Jau.
“We got to chatting and the idea of Sitar in Shanghai was born there.
“To me, Malaysian music can be a sitar with a sape, or a serunai with a guzheng… they are equally representative of the cultural arts we know as Malaysian.
“And why not the sitar with Chinese music instruments? For the festival, I will perform with Sara, Yee Zhi Ying on the ruan, Chern Li-Xuen on the erhu, Lim Lin on the dizi and Ant Chua on percussion.
“We will offer our own version of Butterfly Lovers, excerpts from Legend of the White Snake, and a fresh composition.
“There will be strings in harmony on stage for Sitar in Shanghai,” he points out with a chuckle.
“And while we’ve only since met a few times, the concept weaves itself into the festival’s theme of ‘Lineage and Light’, with the tagline – ‘Rooted in Reverence… Rising in Creation’.”
Dr Dhanya Thurairajah
Says SFA 2025 artistic director Dr Dhanya Thurairajah: “We will be honouring artistic tradition while embracing new expressions.
“It spotlights young artistes, while redefining and continuing traditional practices. It aims to bridge generations, foster collaborations and mentorship between seasoned creators and emerging talents.”
She cites a feature performance called The Artiste’s Dream — A Legacy in Motion as one example of the festival theme.
“Expect dances and music from our dance dramas including Legend of the White Snake, Butterfly Lovers, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and folk items from the 1980s.”
Dr Dhanya herself is part of the TFA dance group called Inner Space, and performed in the Chinese-theme show, Butterfly Lovers, 17 years ago. The script was written by Lam Ghooi Ket, and the choreography was done by Zhou Gui Xin.
“It is an artiste dream really, to come from TFA, where even the sound of dance and music seem to come from its walls… So, now the younger generation will perform the productions that TFA has been known for over the decades,” muses Dr Dhanya.
Other feature performance include ‘Mavin Khoo in Concert: A Bharatanatyam Offering’, Joget Gamelan Setanggi and ‘Is this Seat Taken?’ by ASK Dance Company, an Odissi item called “Ekatvam Anugraha’ by Rohini Shetty, and ‘Breathing Doubt’ by freelance performer Wong Chi Ying.
Also on the bill are young Internet sensations Prithvi Nayak and Pritham Das.
Music binds, it is often said, as it connects with people and unites through shared cultures.
With music and dance, the SFA 2025 promises to be a cultural treat.
BOX
Shantanand Festival of the Arts 2025
When: Dec 3-7
Where: Shantanand Auditorium, Kanagasabai Studio and Various Studios in the building for the workshops, Temple of Fine Arts KL, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
For Masterclasses, Workshops, and Lecture Demonstrations, a fixed Participation fee and/or Observer fee applies.
Visit https://www.ticket2u.com.my/event/46726/sfa-2025-shantanand-festival-of-arts-2025