Montage’18, the annual cultural fest of Jesus and Mary College (JMC) was inaugurated by Sister Rosily, Principal and Sister Lawrence, Superior General of the college. The lighting of the lamp ceremony was initiated by the sisters and the teachers followed while Tarannum, the Indian Music Society of JMC, performed on the stage and then the fest declared open by the Student Union.
Ashwamedh, the theatre society of Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT) kick-started Stagecraft, the stage play competition, in the presence of Gaurav Gautum and Udit Goel of Theatre Leela Acting Studio. Ashwamedh of NSIT, Ibtida of Hindu College, Pratibimb of Delhi Technological University, and Fourth Wall Productions of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS) showcased stories on themes ranging from identity, obsession, insanity, a cycle of life, and rivalry. Ibtida of Hindu College won the prize and cash money of INR 10000. The best male actor award was given to Akshay Raheja of SSCBS and female actor went to Devanshi Khanna of Hindu College respectively.
The most coveted, insightful, and fun-filled event of the day, Awaaz ’18 was hosted by Kahkasha, Hindi Dramatics Society of JMC. Various dramatics societies of the colleges from all over the University of Delhi participated in the Nukkad Natak competition. The underlying themes of all the street play ranged from issues of Islamism, third gender, body-shaming to rape, depression, and education among others. The first prize was bagged by DramaNomics, the Theatre Society of College of Vocational Studies, whose heart-wrenching performance on ‘rape’ shook the audience. Lady Shri Ram College for Women finished second performing on the crucial issue of ‘Body-Shaming’. Abhivyakti, the dramatics society of Indraprastha College for Women, was awarded consolation prize for their special performance on the theme of ‘Body-Shaming’.
Nrityanjali, the Indian dance society of JMC organised Adaa, the staging of solo and folk (group) dances. The judges invited to the competition were Nandita Kalaan Mehra, a professional Bharatnatyam dancer, and Hemant Guru Maharaaj, a professional wizard of heterogenous dance forms. Commencing the solo dance competition with her incredible depiction of Lord Ganesha, Nandita from Hansraj College lit up the stage with intriguing steps of the Bharatnatyam fold. A little while later, Anjana from JDMC impressed the audience as she swayed and whirled in her violet Bharatnatyam costume coupled with gold zari embroidery design. Setting the stage ablaze with a fiery spirit, Raghav from Sri Venkateswara College put forth a breathtaking rendition of the ancient dance form of Kathak. The first position in the solo dance competition was bagged by Nimisha Devi from Janki Devi Memorial College (JDMC). Priya Das from Maitreyi College, who performed Kathak, took away the second position. There was a tie for the third position, bagged by Raghav from Hansraj College and Nandita from JDMC, who had charmed the audience with her Bharatnatyam dance performance.
Engaging the audience in their aesthetic rendition of the Bihu dance, the team from Kamla Nehru College was the curtain-raiser for the group dance competition of Montage. Following this, the team from Hindu College enthralled all those present in the auditorium with their exquisite Chauu Dance, a folk dance form originating in Odisha. Combining elements of tremendous kinetic fury and very fast foot-work with mellowed elegance, the dancers displayed beguiling movements with sword and shield in hands. Mesmerizing the audience with their arresting Khoriya Nritya, a folk dance from Haryana, the 10-member team from Maitreyi College depicted a scenario of the sangeet ritual that traditionally takes place before an Indian wedding.
The western music society of JMC, Echo, organised Madrigal. The first competition was western solo, Tap That Treble wherein participants from DU, NSIT, and DTU participated. The judge was Mr. Erwin. Aditya Paul of Hansraj College bagged the first prize. The second position was a tie between Alankrita Bari of Lady Shri Ram College for Women and Christina A. Dayal of Ramjas College. The third position was bagged by Aronjoy Das of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.
In the A capella competition Finding Do Re Mi, music societies performed their lyrical pieces, beatboxing and harmonising the melodies that are mellisonant. Medleys of different popular songs like “New Rules”, “Hips Don’t Lie” were sung by Zephyr, the western music society of Kamala Nehru College. The Western Music Society of Lady Shri Ram College of Women was awarded the first position as they sang “Show me how you Burlesque” by Christina Aguilera. Dhwani of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies won the second position in the same event.
The eventful and lively concluded on a musical note with DJ Zaeden’s groovy and upbeat tunes.
Feature Image Credits: Sahil Chauhan for DU Beat
Anagha Rakta ([email protected])
Prachi Mehra ([email protected])
Oorja Tapan ([email protected])
Radhika Boruah ([email protected])
Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak ([email protected])
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