Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal inaugurated the exhibition "Carlos Saura's Flamenco India" at National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai today. Neerja Sekhar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India,  Alejandro Palma, Administrator of the Cervantes Institute in New Delhi and Guillermo Rodríguez Director, Casa De La India were present on the occasion.

The exhibition, curated by Anna Saura, Carlos Saura's daughter, and Guillermo Rodríguez, Director of Casa De La India, contains original photographs taken by the versatile Spanish Film Director. It includes some of his iconic photographs of Flamenco legends that form the core of his work as an internationally renowned photographer and images taken during his travels in India. Also included are press clippings, video images, a photograph of the show "Flamenco India" by photographer Nacho Gallego and photographs of his son Carlos Saura Medrano, film producer and assistant director of "Flamenco India", who accompanied his father on his field trips.

On the occasion of the inauguration, a panel discussion was also held on the ‘Reception of Carlos Saura in India’ with the participation of Shyam Benegal,  Neerja Sekhar , Alejandro Palma and Guillermo Rodríguez.

Speaking on the occasion, veteran film maker Shyam Benegal said, “Carlos Saura was a multitalented person. He was a photographer, painter and had the knowledge of dance - particularly Flamenco. He was an extremely knowledgeable person. Some of his drawings remind me of Picasso's drawings.”

Referring to popular cinema Benegal added, “If you  look at popular cinema, it  tells a story but songs and dance are part of the story. The theatrical format in cinema is not only part of Indian cinema.  Most parts of world  make such kind of films. Flamenco and Indian art have certain similarities, hence anyone can connect to it.”

“India and Spain have interacted with each other on various platforms and there are many similarities between the two counties. Due to these similarities in the culture, food and behaviour, there is a sense of comfort between the two countries.”, said Neeraja Shekhar, Additional Secretary , Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

 

Applauding Carlos Saura’s work she praised the artist for brilliantly documenting the connection between the two countries through dance, music and performance. She encouraged such documentation so that it can, not only be preserved but showcased as cultural heritage to the rest of the world.  

Alejandro Palma, Administrator of the Cervantes Institute in New Delhi expressed, “Artists like Carlos Saura can see future before people like us as he produced film with half Spanish- half Indian artists. This type of collaboration is needed today.” He further added that without interacting with other cultures, one cannot expand one’s own culture. He spoke of the ongoing efforts in Spain to introduce different cultures through art forms and activities like cooking.  He gave the example of the Silk Route which was not only a path for trade, but also a path through which food, culture, song and music travelled along continents.

Guillermo Rodríguez, Director of Casa de la India quoted Carlos Saura and reiterated that art has no nationality. He was of the opinion that as India has a tradition of dance and storytelling,  Indians can instantly connect to Saura’s flamenco films which also have songs and dance.

The panel discussion was followed by the screening of Saura's "Carmen", which was awarded the Best Foreign Language Film at the BAFTA Awards and nominated at the Oscar, Golden Globes and César Awards, among others.  This screening is part of a film programme dedicated to Carlos Saura that will take place in parallel to the exhibition "Flamenco India by Carlos Saura" and which also includes the films "Cría Cuervos" (1976), "Iberia" (2005), "Flamenco Flamenco" (2011) and "Carmen” (Flamenco Ballet by Antonio Gades and Carlos Saura in the version produced by the Teatro Real in 2011).

The exhibition in Mumbai, presented by the National Museum of Indian Cinema of the National Film Development Corporation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is produced by the Instituto Cervantes and the Casa de la India in Valladolid with the collaboration of the Valladolid City Council (Spain), and Delhi-based partners Teamwork Arts and Ojas Art. The exhibition can be visited from 1 to 15 December at the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai.

 

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