Antaragni 2023 witnessed energetic performances
Kanpur: The 57th edition of Antaragni, IIT Kanpur’s iconic cultural festival, is going on in full swing with several energetic performances. On Day 2 (March 17), prelims of Pair on Stage, the duo singing competition, Nukkad Natak competition, and Antaragni Idol prelims, were held during the day. The Alum Inspired event was graced by the presence of Dr. Uday P Singh, the Secretary-General Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Association, where he shared the learnings from his experiences in civil, water, and environmental engineering.
Stage Play, Jitterbug, Aamne Samne, a debate competition, a Japanese Quilling and an Origami event, marked Day 2 proceedings in the daytime. Estampie – a solo dance competition, saw huge engagement from across India. The reputed RAW WAR was on the judging panel for the competition.
Ritambhara, one of the biggest inter-college fashion competitions, was held in the auditorium, and has some amazing innovative and designs on display. Judges Pankhuri Gidwani and Zoya Afroz, graced the event.
Day 2 also saw the culmination of the eight-month-long competition to celebrate the beauty of rock music – Synchronicity – in a grand finale that was held in high spirits and was headlined and judged by the proficient rock band Gultslit. For all the pop and rap enthusiasts, the Battle Underground was the one place to witness, with celebrated beatboxer Dilip and rapper MC Heam, judging the event.
The evening turned mystical with some harmonious ragas and talas during Classical Eve. The captivating melody of the electrifying flutist S.Akash, Shubh Maharaj, harmonium player Lalit Sisodia and tabla virtuoso Unmesh Banerjee, complemented by the refreshing vocals from Nirali Kartik left the audience in awe.
Antariksh, a profound artist and rock band, stole the show at night; while Pina Colada Blues and 39 Kingdom performed their best sets and playlists during the EDM night. Further up, the “International Carnival” had celebrated musician Alexa Rose and renowned guitarist Matt Bacon delighting the crowd with their stellar performances.
The second day also had a Silent Disco and Comic Kaun, which left the audience in laughter. The thrilling Fire Show performed by the Kashi Fire Warriors was another star attraction of Day 2.
The Day 3 kicked off with Roots, a traditional dance competition that highlighted the skills of talented dancers who showcased their cultural heritage through various dance forms. Remaining sessions of Estampie – solo western dance competition, was also held.
A lot of musical competitions took place throughout the day including Sangam- a celebration of classical music, Junoon- a celebration of fusion-rock, and Unplugged. This was followed by the Alum Inspired event that hosted Rajan Singh, Ex IPS officer & CEO HabitStrong. In the Women Empowerment session, two remarkable personalities – Ms Aruna Roy, an Indian Social activist and Ms Manasi Pradhan, the founder of Honour for Women National Campaign, graced the occasion.
Day 3 had the MELA Quiz, Word Games, and Sports Quiz, Poetry Slam, Tour De Force dance competition, and the prelims of Antaragni Idol that included captivating ghazals, exhilarating qawwalis, as well as folk, film, and indie rock performances. Stage Play Finale kicked off with participants showcasing their skills in acting, directing, and stage production. The play performances ranged from serious dramas to comedic faces, each bringing a unique perspective and message to the stage.
The JAM and Debate competitions, held in both Hindi (Aamne-Saamne) and English, the Fashion Geek competition, and the Monoact, the monologue competition, witnessed a sequence of brilliant performances in each domain.
International Carnival was graced by talented Puerto Rican beatboxer extraordinaire, Black Rhythm. Audience could not resist tapping their feet and swaying along to his infectious rhythms and beats. This was followed by the jaw-dropping magic show by Nikhil Raj.
India Hatt, a celebration of the diverse cultures and traditions of our country, featured the performances of two traditional art forms – Bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance and Mallakhamba, involving performing acrobatic feats on a vertical pole.
The Major highlight of the day was the soothing, and soulful performance by the sensational Bollywood singer Mohammed Irfan, in the Fusion Nite. The third day also marked the beginning of DJ War – a battle amongst the top DJs of the country, which culminates in the celebration of the winners via the Colour Run.
The day came to a close with the fashion event- Impressionate judged by Poonam Yadav along with other judges. The night witnessed Mehfil that hosted Swastika Rajput and Chetna Balhara, and Battle Underground, a flagship event of Antaragni that celebrates rap music, along with Silent Disco.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur was established on 2nd November 1959 by an Act of Parliament. The institute has a sprawling campus spread over 1055 acres with large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 22 centres, and 3 Interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with 540 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students. In addition to formal undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the institute has been active in research and development in areas of value to both industry and government.
