In an unprecedented move, the Chennai-based Sumanasa Foundation, steered by the accomplished musician, activist, and author T. M. Krishna, unveiled its innovative Grants Project in October 2022. Comprising a team of seven dedicated members, the Foundation issued a clarion call to artistes across various disciplines, genres, and gender identities, inviting them to pitch ideas that would propel them beyond the confines of their creative norms. The submissions were encouraged to be bold, challenging artistes to reimagine their art’s practice, performance, content, and presentation while engaging with contemporary and evolving ideologies.
The Foundation promised not just a financial lifeline but also a reservoir of resources to aid the chosen artistes in bringing their visionary concepts to life. From over 150 applicants spanning the breadth of India, a thorough screening distilled the numbers down to five deserving grantees, whose presentations are ceremoniously titled ‘Art, Unfettered.’
The chosen works will see their debut on the evenings of March 2 and 3 at the esteemed MS Subbulakshmi auditorium situated within the Asian College of Journalism campus in Chennai. Those evenings promise to be a grand celebration of artistic expression and unchained creativity.
Among the grantees is Pune’s Hindustani musician Radhika Joshi, who ventured into an exploration of lyrics within classical music. Her avant-garde compositions represent a significant divergence from the traditionally dominant theme of sringar rasa—romantic and erotic love—in Indian classical music. Joshi, known for reflecting on poetry’s relevance, will present pieces that speak to modern-day themes such as adoption, geographic dislocation, and contentious border issues. Grateful for the project, Radhika assimilated the provided freedom and scope to defy expectations gracefully.
T. M. Krishna has articulated that the impetus behind the Grants Project was to cultivate a nurturing support system within the performing arts landscape. The key notion was to empower artistes harboring ideas that deviated from the standard templates of performance, those seeking to probe their craft through the introspective lens of society, culture, and personal identity.
Consider Divya Bharathi, the filmmaker, and Girija Hariharan, an artist and muralist, who teamed up with Shalu Ma, a Dalit transwoman, activist, and Karagam performer. Together they embarked on an ambitious year-long project which will provide a compelling 20-minute glimpse during ‘Art, Unfettered.’ Shalu Ma employed the powerful metaphor of body painting to honor trans bodies, interweaving music and film to articulate trans-politics. Though the project remains incomplete, with three weeks to ultimate realization, Divya underscores the importance of revealing a fraction of their journey—an honest display of Shalu Ma’s indomitable resilience against life’s adversities.
Another grantee returning from an artistic pilgrimage at Natanakairali in Irinjalakuda, Kerala, is the exuberant Mohiniyattam dancer and PhD student, Amith K. He intends to unveil his reinterpretation of the concept of “conversation.” His performance focuses on the interaction between genders, influenced by his fascination with the multifaceted nature of dialogues. Nonetheless, Amith K confides the pressures that come with innovation, emphasizing the responsibility he bears to stand out and elevate the Mohiniyattam form through non-traditional works.
The forthcoming presentations under ‘Art, Unfettered’ signal a bold narrative for India’s vibrant artistic community. As these exceptional grantees ready their works for the world, they represent the myriad voices awaiting to be heard, all unified in their quest for expression that transcends conventional borders and societal expectations. The stage is set for a grand unveiling of creativity that defies the status quo; the artistic world is watching and waiting with bated breath for the curtain to rise on this extraordinary exposition of talent.
