Malhaar 2014

An explosion of flamboyance marked Malhaar, the music and dance festival at The Indian School held on 5 August 2014, as 25 schools enlisted to contest. Chief Guest, Padmashri Dr Sunil Kothari, renowned dance critic and scholar, graced the occasion.

Prolific exploration and amalgamation preceded the spectacle as an unprecedented presentation of many facets of the States along the Western Coast of India was unfolded. 450 students from across the Delhi/NCR enraptured the judges and enthralled the audience by their vigorous participation in the categories of group dance, vocal and instrumental melody, computer animation and art. [gallery] The art competition was in two categories -Lippan work from Gujarat and Kalamkari motifs of Karnataka. The participants explored and exhibited a rich palette of traditional floral and figurative kalamkari designs. The dance entries were a rich medley of lavni, garba, dandia, lazeum, tribal dance, lamp dance among others with vibrant costumes and accoutrements, one more effervescent, colourful and bewitching than the next. The music entries had two categories of devotional music: semi-classical and Indo-fusion where soothing and soulful renditions of Purandaradasa compositions, Abhang and Carnatic styles of music filled the air. Computer animation provided a forum to the young movie makers to showcase their talent as they produced movies inspired by stories of valour of great warriors like Shivaji and Parasuram; influence of the Portuguese on the Goan culture and on the life of Zarathushtra. The Indian School, although adjudged the Best Overall, being host school preferred to handover the honour and the rolling trophy to first Runner Up, Somerville School, Noida and the UMAK Trophy was lifted by Springdales School, Dhuala Kuan.