The searchlight on art of critiquing in Amrit Yuva Kalotsav by SNA - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

The Late Subbudu (P.V. Subramaniam), a music and dance critic whose caustic pen scorched many an art reputation without compunctions, and who seemed to thrive on unpopularity, often quipped that more than art, criticism was in peril, in a world where journalistic space for critiquing was getting to be minimal, with artistes who had 'arrived' so to speak, not open to accepting less than flattering comments about their work. In India, where no formal degrees specify credentials for art critiquing, dance and music critics form a mixed group - some coming from learned backgrounds and others acquiring knowledge on the run. Along with writing skills, art critiquing needs to be driven by a passion for the art form, since the very modest remuneration critiquing fetches in our country, has meant its being pursued more as a labour of love, rather than as the main occupation of a person earning his living. Where, society in its total scheme of things places art and its assessment, will finally determine the level of proficiency in art critiquing.

Sangeet Natak Akademi's Amrit Yuva Kalotsav 2022-23, in collaboration with Kalakshetra Foundation, initiated its two day event at Chennai, with the searchlight on an Art Critiquing workshop for aspiring youngsters, held at Kalakshetra's Rukmini Arangam.

Dashabhuja Gotipua Odishi Nrutya Parishad from Odisha, is one of those groups whose Gotipua presentation has not become far too sophisticated -robbing it of all the rustic charm.

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