From Russia with love

Providing an impetus to the cultural exchange between India and Russia, the Indian Council For Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Russian Ministry of Cultural Relations put up a cultural exchange programme in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

The soloists from the Bolshoi, Marinsky and Mikhailovsky Theatres, St Petersburg folk ensemble ‘Barynya’ — the troupe of the Russian Academic Youth Theatre — and a photography exhibition were part of the exchange programme. With 65 artistes from Russia, the programme was an attempt by  ICCR to boost cultural ties with Germany, Australia and Canada. They are writers who have touched lives, inspired minds and spread influences through their formidable body of work for centuries now. Taking a few leaves out of their works, artistes from Russia’s St Petersburg brought alive the magic of the works of Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Gogol, Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin, yet again.

Encapsulating the essence of each of the writer’s works, the play in Russian, however, transcended the borders of language. Bringing together dance, music and theatre in one programme, the narrative knitted some of the greatest works by the celebrated writers.

It may be noted that the cultural exchange programme was in response to a similar show put up by India in the country, in 2011. It was also announced that there would be a similar such programme next year, yet again by Russian artistes as a reciprocal gesture.