KRNNIVSA hosts artists, scholars for Masters in Residence programme

The Masters in Residence programme hosted by the KR Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts concluded on Friday after a series of interactive sessions that brought together a range of artistic traditions and practices.

According to an official statement, the programme was conceived as a platform for creative dialogue, transforming the campus into a space for conversations, demonstrations and performances. Designed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza, chairperson of the institute, the initiative was aimed at enabling students to interact directly with leading figures from different fields of art and culture through lectures, demonstrations and performances.

As part of the programme, the institute hosted an interactive session on February 27 with queer scholar, activist and writer Anindya Hajra. The session examined trans queer issues in contemporary Indian filmmaking and visual arts, revisiting the subject through the lens of current creative practices as well as the history of activism.

On March 9 and 10, students were introduced to the classical traditions of Kathakali and Koodiyattam, through lecture demonstrations and performances.

Music took centre stage on March 11 and 12 when composer Jassie Gift and his team conducted interactive sessions on creating music for cinema. The discussions explored music composition, sound design and the creative processes behind film scores. Students also had the opportunity to collaborate with the visiting artists.

The programme concluded on Friday with a lecture demonstration on Theyyam by artist Ramachandra Panikkar and his troupe, followed by a night performance of Kandakarna Theyyam on the campus.

According to Sunny Joseph, director of the institute, the initiative seeks to help students develop a deeper appreciation for performing arts traditions and understand their connections with cinema and visual storytelling.