Where creativity knows no end

This was the atmosphere at the ‘painting day’ held at Ranga Shankara in the City recently.

The event was organised to launch AHA International Theatre Festival for children and this event drew close to 200 children who enthusiastically participated in the competition.

Children aged between five and twelve years, trooped in with their parents and friends. They were all geared with drawing materials such as pencil, eraser, ruler, crayons, brushes, palette and coloured pencils to exhibit their creativity on paper.

The team of Ranga Shankara had drawn up three themes, ‘Ant bit Bum’, ‘Inside a Whale’s Tummy’ and ‘My Inside Down Classroom’ and the kids were asked to draw any one of the given topics. Though the topics seemed funny, they offered a variety for their creativity.

As soon as the organisers provided the kids with paper and paint, they eagerly began painting. They were energetic and excited to sketch their imagination on paper. Most of the kids, especially younger ones, were having fun by dipping their hands in paints. More than sketching, they were excited to play with colours.

Out of her interest for painting, Rhea Jain, class six student at Kendriya Vidyalaya, NAL chose the topic ‘Inside a whale’s Tummy’. “I have imagined a girl sailing in a whale’s stomach. I am going to sketch that and will make it colourful with my crayons and colour pencils,” she said. There were a lot of kids like her who found a different world inside a whale’s tummy.

For Ujwal, another class six student from Kumaran’s Children Home, it was another opportunity to showcase his painting talents. He beautifully drew an ‘ant bit bum’ of Chota Bheem.

“When I saw the topics, I felt ‘Ant bit Bum’ is quite easy. And immediately my favourite cartoon character Chota Bheem struck my mind. I imagined a row of ants crawling towards Chota Bheem and biting him on his bum. I put tear drops on his eye depicting him crying out for help in pain,” he explained. Some of the other children also tried their hands on this topic.

Avyaktha, Rohan Aiyappa, both primary school kids and many others had wonderfully sketched a view of their classrooms.  The highlight of the evening was the exhibition of art works to decorate the theatre premises through the nine-day theatre festival
for children.

After receiving an overwhelming response for the event, Arundhati Nag expre­ssed her excitement.

“The enthusiasm and creativity of kids are amazing. They are future of India. As the whole festival is centred around them, we want them to take active part in theatre activities,” she felt.