Bollywood numbers get Mayor dancing
Satrangi 7 Colors Film Festival 2016 kick-started on Sunday, 22 May at Clayton Hall with a cultural extravaganza and fashion show featuring 132 performers from 22 diverse cultures such as African, Lebanese, Yugoslavian, Chinese, American tribal, Greek, Indonesian, Mexican, Malaya, Afghan, Pakistani, Srilankan, and Nepalese.
After the inaugural Sarasvati lamp was lit by Suraj Handa, Malti Handa, and Kamini Bhatnagar, accompanied by the teams of SIMDA, AIII Inc, IAS Inc and ABS Inc, Santhini welcomed the guests with Ganapathy Bharatnatyam’s Pushpanjali, Kathak Tarana by Smriti Goyal and a Lord Shiva dance by Anoop Sridevi and Nandana from Sri Nithyakala Ashram.
MCs Nesan Naidoo and Shyama Sasidharan also presented the work of nine cross-cultural filmmakers, motivating them to promote the social, cultural and economic benefits of cultural diversity through their film and arts projects.
Yesteryears band Vicki Johnston’s – Lady Luck & The Kings, and contemporary Lebanese band The Indigo Apostles by Josh Grozdanovic mesmerised the audience.
Political guests including Member of Parliaments Mr Hong Lim, Ms Inga Pulich, Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Mr Chidambaram Srinivasan and many other special guests from media, community activists and corporates also attended the festival.
The fashion show, a tribute to Yash Chopra, was dedicated by Mrs Asia International – Debasree Mall who walked with models to music from the tunes from the late film-maker’s movies.
African drummers Doctors Diversity Dance Group from Adelaide to smooth American Tribals dances by Kerry & Crew, Mauritian Fiesta Kreols to Indonesian traditional numbers, electrifying Chinese senior citizens dances to Nepalese youthful romantic numbers, rich Pegasus Greek dances group to energetic Latin dances by Sofia Zumberas… there was entertainment all around for the audience of more than 700 people.
Around 12 women performers from Sankat Mochan Samiti’s surprised the audience with graceful Marathi Lavani and Punjabi Gidha performances while more than 20 children added danced gloriously to numbers from Radha Kaisenajale to Selfie – Balam Pickkari.
Pushpa from Main Nachungi Dance Company shook the stage with her interactive Bollywood dance performance, which had the audience, including Mayor of Mannongham Council Mayor Jennifer Lang, and other councillors on their feet moving to the beat.
Sur Bollywood Company presented Chopra’s favourite Rajasthani folk dances, and Saritha, Vrinda & Group rendered soulful Kashmiri folk dances.
There was non-stop entertainment with Bollywood songs by Melbourne’s heart throb Kunal Sachdeva, Mere Dolna – Tridevia, Dam Maro Dum girl Sapna Sahota, AreDiwano-Vikas Joshi, TujheDekha-SukhdaMajumdar, Bang Bang – Kehav Ram, Jai Ho -Nawal Moudgil & Group. The evening ended with Smriti Dance Company’s medley of Bollywood dance hits.
Satrangi, Seven Colors, is an Indian, Australian and cross-cultural festival of performing and creative arts aimed at increasing the involvement of all ethnic groups in Australia, in a bid to express their cultural, community and life aspirations. The festival is a way to foster Inter-cultural awareness, understanding and unity in multicultural Australia.
Satrangi festival is dedicated to Yash Chopra, who shot his feature “Chak De India” shot in Melbourne. Visit www.skga.org.au for more details.
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