Visions of south

Photographs at the exhibition

One of the most active clubs on campus, NSUPC's goal is to develop skilled photographers and establish a network between reputed and amateur photographers. This year 27 members of the club went to South India on a 15-day tour. The focus of the trip was the scenic Kerala, otherwise known as 'God's own country'. From Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, the group went to the port city of Cochin. Next stop was Ooty in Tamil Nadu. The tour came to an end with a visit to the historic city of Mysore.

Fifty-four photographs shot by the budding photographers highlight the backwaters, Chinese fishing nets, kettuvellam (large wooden houseboats) and pristine beaches of Kerala; Dutch and Portuguese architecture, Onam festival and Kathakali performances of Cochin; emerald green mountains of Ooty and history trapped within the walls of the magnificent Mysore Palace and Tipu Sultan's Tomb.

M Miran Hossain's photographs are quite informative. Harmonising Fiesta captures a glimpse of the Onam (celebrating harvest) festival. Kombu (a semi-circular trumpet-like instrument) players are seen with a partial view of udukku (percussion). The photograph was taken during a pulikali performance. Pulikali or kaduvaakli is a 200-year old folk dance where performers painted like tigers and hunters in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the rhythm of udukku. Misty Settlements give a bird's eye view of Ooty, popular among tourists as the 'queen of hill stations'. Serpentine streets, buildings on the steps of hills and lush greenery give the viewers an alluring impression of Nilgiri district.

The religious harmony in South India is the subject of several images. Parthonad by Tanzir Kaiser features a church in Mysore: Mother Mary prays in the dark to bring the holy light into the world. An image by M Tahdiul Haq shows a beautiful mosque located in a village of fishermen in Vijhinjan, about a kilometre south of Kivalam beach, Kerala. The state has sizeable Muslim population. Through the Ages by Mollah Ishtiaque Fazlul highlights one of the several intricately sculpted walls of Sreepadmanabha Swamy temple in Trivandrum. Surface erosion has added a touch of antiquity to the sculptures that belong to the past, looking over present and future.

Ananta by Prium Mujtaba provides a view of Tipu Sultan's mazar (tomb) in Mysore during sunset, a queue of birds perhaps making their way home.

And what photography exhibition on South India can be complete without images of Kathakali dancers? In Chronicles of South India: The Kathakali Dancers, a collage by M Miran Hossain, Mollah Ishtiaque Fazlul and Faiz Mahmud demonstrate different aspects of the dance form. Through facial expressions a Kathakali artiste displays navarasam (nine expressions) - Sringaaram (amour), Haasyam (ridicule, humour), Bhayam (fear), Karunam (pathos), Rowdram (anger, wrath), Veeram (valour), Beebhatsam (disgust), Adbhutham (wonder, amazement) and Saantham (tranquility, peace).

An interesting aspect of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Characters are categorised according to their nature. The faces of noble male characters are usually green. Regal characters that have an evil streak, are allotted a similar green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks. Violent characters wear red make-up. Forest dwellers such as hunters are represented with a predominantly black make-up base. Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellowish faces.

Highlighting culture, architecture and lifestyle of South India, the exhibition is a treat for photography enthusiasts. The exhibition ends tomorrow.