Performing Arts Festival

H3-H6 PAF Dastak, introducing street play as a sub-drama in the PAF.

The Performing Arts Festival, abbreviated as PAF, is the biggest inter-hostel cultural competition in the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay located at Powai in Mumbai (India). The term PAF is used to refer not only to the festival itself, but also to the individual cultural performances that constitute the festival.

Both Undergraduate and Graduate students at IIT Bombay participate enthusiastically in the preparation and organization of the festival. Typically three or four hostels (out of fourteen) are grouped together by random draw for each PAF. Though technically a drama, each PAF comprises contributions from several of the cultural arts including dramatics, literature, music, fine arts, debating and dance. Since 1999, the PAF has been held at the Open Air Theater (OAT) inside the Students' Activity Center (SAC), within the main campus of IIT Bombay. Typically, all dialogues at PAF are delivered using voice overs and not by the actors themselves, mainly owing to the huge size and structure of the OAT. This requires a great deal of co-ordination between the actors and the voice actors.

Prod

A scene from Déja Vu by Hostels 4, 9, 1 and 11 on 28th March 2006

The major work of a PAF is the preparation of the sets by fellow students. It is commonly called prod or prodwork , dialectic abbreviations for productions, . Prod consists of making huge sets using bamboo, jute rope and screens made with layers of newspaper glued together by freshies and seniors in co-operation. Structures strong enough to hold the weight of more than two or three people have been prepared time and again. In the PAF of 2007, for instance, a two storeyed set was made in order to give the dramatists a chance to perform at an elevated level.

Production sets requires maximum amount of man hours to put them in place. Building of production sets (usually from bamboo) starts about a month before the PAF. The teams are allowed 3 days to install the sets and perform the finishing touches in the Open Air Theater.

File:PAF--Bombay.jpg

Bombay by Hostels 1, 5 and 10 on 27th March 2005

Theme and Language

PAFs can be made in Hindi or English. Themes chosen are usually serious and have been drawn from history, science fiction, social injustice, biographies etc. The only caveat is that the scripts are expected to be original.

Some recent PAFs

The PAF season is usually during the last week of March and the first week of April each year, officially culminating all the extracurricular activities of IIT Bombay for that academic year. Some recent PAFs include:

• Year 2010
  • Ramleela (Hindi: रामलीला, lit., Ram's play) by hostels-4,10 and13 on 18 March 2010
  • Panchhi re (Hindi: पंछी रे, lit., O' Bird) by hostels-1,3,9 and 12 on 22 March 2010 - the winning PAF,winner in 5 out of 9 different parts of paf like script,dance and voice over.
  • Mai Mati ([] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: no text (help), lit., My soil) by hostels-5,6 and 11 on 26 March 2010 - runners up,won best music and costume.
  • Antaragni (Hindi: अंतराग्नि,lit., The Fire Within) by hostels-2,7,8 and Tansa on 30 March 2010 - third position, won Prod and Lights.

• Year 2009
  • Karvat ([] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: no text (help), lit., Turn aside)by hostels-5,9,12 and Tansa House on 20 March 2009 — third position.
  • If Tomorrow Comes, by hostels- 3, Hostel 8 and Hostel 11 on 23 March 2009 — runners up.
  • Najafgarh, by hostels- 6,7 and 10 on 26 March 2009.
  • Arthur Road, by hostels- 1,2,4 and 13 on 30 March 2009 - the winning PAF. Won all individual trophies except best music and best costumes

• Year 2008
  • Arsh ([] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: no text (help), lit., Throne) by hostels-1,7,8 and 13 on 18 March 2008 — third position.
  • U-Turn, by hostels- 4,9 and 10 on 21 March 2008 — runners up.
  • 1984, by hostels- 5,6,12 and Tansa House on 25 March 2008 — the winning PAF.
  • The Show Goes On..., by hostels- 2,3 and 11 on 28 March 2008. .

• Year 2007
  • Aashayein ([] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: no text (help), lit., Hopes) by hostels-3,8,10 on 18 March 2007 - first runner up
  • Saare Jahaan Se Achha ([] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: no text (help), lit., The Best in the World) by hostels- 1,5 ,11 and 13 on 21 March 2007 — the winning PAF.
  • Numb-D, by hostels- 2, 6 and 9 on 24 March 2007.
  • Good Morning, by hostels- 4, 7 and 12 on 27 March 2007.

• Year 2006 (all in Hindi)
  • Asrār (Hindi: असरार, lit., the secret), by hostels 2, 8 and 7 on 19 March.
  • Kharāshen (Hindi: ख़राशें, lit, the scratches), by hostels 13, 6, 10 and Tansa House on 22 March-first runnerup.
  • Camouflages, by hostels 3, 5 and 12 on 25 March — the first PAF ever to use the F-word and 'orgasm'.
  • Déja Vu (French, lit., already seen), by hostels 1, 4, 9 and 11 on 28 March — the winning PAF.

• Year 2005 (all in Hindi)
  • Lāl Rekhā—Ek Marīchikā (Hindi: लाल रेखा—एक मरीचिका, lit., the red line—an illusion), by hostels 2, 7 and 11 on 20 March.
  • Satyoaham (Hindi: सत्योऽहम, lit., I am the truth), by hostels 9, 13 and Tansa House on 23 March.
  • Bombay (Hindi: बॉम्बे), by hostels 1, 5 and 10 on 27 March— first runnerup and Best Prod winner.
  • Kastūrī (Hindi: कस्तूरी, lit., musk), by hostels 4, 8 and 12 on 30 March.
  • Dastak (Hindi: दस्तक, lit., knocking), by hostels 3 and 6 on 2 April— the winning PAF.

• Year 2004
  • Far from Vietnam, by hostels 3, 9 and 12 on 29 March. (in English)
  • Asāfeer (Hindi: असाफ़ीर, lit., sparrow), by hostels 6, 8 and 11 on 1 April. (in Urdu-rich Hindi)
  • Agnihotra (Hindi: अग्निहोत्र, lit., the fire-sacrifice), by hostels 7, 10 and Tansa House on 26 March. (in Hindi)
  • Āhvān (Hindi: आह्वान, lit., invoking), by hostels 2 and 5 on 23 March. (in Hindi)
  • Lākshāgrih (Hindi: लाक्षागृह, lit., the house made up of shellac), by hostels 4 and 13 on 4 April. (in Hindi) —the winning PAF.

• Year 2003
  • Le Peintre de Mort (French, lit., the painter of death), by hostels 2 and 3 on 22 March. (in English)
  • Shānte Mrigayam (Hindi: शान्ते मृगयम्, lit., the peaceful deer), by hostels 5 and 6 on 7 April (in Hindi) —the winning PAF. Won all individual trophies except Best Choreo and Best Costume.
  • Child's Play, by hostels 4 and 11 on 25 March. (in English)
  • Omicidio (Italian, lit., the homicide), by hostels 9, 10 and Tansa on 28 March. (in English)
  • Anth (Hindi: अन्त, lit., the end), by hostels 7 and 8 on 10 April. (in Hindi)

• Year 2002
  • Avshesh (Hindi: अवशेष, lit., Residue), by hostels 8 & 9 (In Hindi) - the winning PAF.
  • La Isla dela Musica, La Isla del Amor (Spanish, lit., the island of music, the island of love), by hostels 2, 10 and Tansa on 4 April (In English) - first runnersup.
  • Aham Brahmasmi (Hindi: अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि, lit., I am Brahman), by hostels 4 & 5. (in Hindi)
  • Aahuti (Hindi: आहुति, lit. the sacrifice), by hostels 1, 3 and 11 on 21 March. (in Hindi)
  • 14:12 (a Biblical reference), by hostels 6 & 7. (in English)

• Year 2001
  • Thespian, by hostels 2 and 7 (In English) — the winning PAF.
  • Dansh (Hindi: दंश, lit., the snake-bite), by hostels 4 and 9. (In Hindi)
  • Asakth (Hindi: आसक्त, lit., the addiction), by hostels 8 and 10. (In Hindi)
  • Nimaad (Hindi: निमाड, popular for maa reva, the river Narmada) by hostel 3 alone. (In Hindi)
  • Pratyancha (Hindi: प्रत्यंचा, lit., the Bowstring), by hostels 5 & 11. (In Hindi)

• Year 2000
  • Rashtroday (Hindi: राष्ट्रोदय, lit., the rise of the nation) by hostels 2 and 9. (In Hindi)
  • Al-Qasas (Hindi: अल-क़सस, Urdu / Arabic: lit., The Story), by hostels 5 and 8 (In Hindi) — the winning PAF.
  • Sarhad (Hindi: सरहद, lit., border), by hostels 3 and 4. (In Hindi)

• Year 1999
  • Abhimanyu (Hindi: अभिमन्यु, see Abhimanyu of the Hindu mythology), by hostels 4 and 7 - The Winning PAF. (In Hindi)
  • Where There is a Will, by hostels 3, 10 and Tansa. (In English)
  • All for Love, by hostels 5, and 6. (In English)

• Year 1998
  • The Dream Theater, by hostel 2 and 3 - The Winning PAF (In English)
  • OR, by hostel 4 and 5 (In English)
  • The Artist, by hostel 6 & 7 (In English)
  • Ek Adhura Kalpavriksha - Hostel 9 & 10

• Year 1997
  • ...In Love and War, by hostels 2 and 5 (In English)
  • Nightfall, by hostels 6 and 8 (In English - based on the Isaac Asimov story) - The Runner Up
  • Mrigtrishna , by hostels 7, 10 and Tansa (In English) - The Winning PAF
    • • Sachin Jade (H3) won the best actor award

• Year 1995
  • The End, by Hostels 4 and 8 - Joint Winner
  • Harlequin Chevalerie, by Hostels 2 and 7 - Joint Winner
  • The Twilight Zone, by Hostels H9, H11, and H1

• Year 1994
  • Raga Saaga, by Hostel 7 and 8 - The Winning PAF
  • "Any Dream Will Do" by H3 and H10
  • The Unforgiven, by Hostels H9 and H4

• Year 1993
  • Locomotivation, by Hostel 8 and 9 - The Winning PAF

• Year 1991
  • Moonstone, by Hostel 6 and 9
  • Songs of a Distant Earth, by Hostel 2 and 7 - The Winning PAF

Importance

Most of the students of IIT Bombay consider PAF to be the single most important extracurricular activity in this institute. The prizes awarded for the best PAF and the various other aspects of the PAF's are highly coveted by the hostel fraternities. On the flip side, there have been repeated accusations levelled against the PAF's' in that freshmen are coerced into building the prod. Such allegations have been countered by claims that freshman actually "enjoy the concept of forced labour, cruel torture, slavery followed by a little free food." Another source of displeasure for some of the professors at IIT Bombay is that many students get so involved in the activities that they skip classes to work for the PAF.

All said and done, alumni,students and professors who have been actively involved with the festival believe that the PAF is an integral medium of the campus culture of IIT Bombay. No other IIT has managed to sustain and excel at such a form of theatre, which in itself is worthy of recognition. The beauty of the concept of the PAF lies in the fact that it reinforces in everybody working for it, the fundamental trait for which IIT's stand for - 'Building from scratch, Hand's on and to perfection !'. For some students, PAF is more about being an IITian than the Technology Degree for which they joined the institute in the first place!

Trivia

• Locomotivation by Hostels 8 and 9 - (1992) was the first time PAFs took on their current avataar, that of large scale production, special effects et al. The script was inspired by Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Starlight Express" and had the main actors on roller skates, skating through the audience, while enacting a race of locomotives engines. Not surprisingly, it was the winning PAF that year and many old timers rated it the best in its times
• Raga Saga by Hostels 7 and 8 (1993) and Harlequin Chevalerie by Hostels 2 and 7 - (1994) introduced a new genre of PAFs, with many subsequent PAFs being based on a strong central evil character. The use of revolving prisms standing side by side, to change the backdrop almost instantly was used very effectively in Harlequin Chevalerie
• Perhaps the most (in)famous of the PAFs are Kastūrī, an Hostel 4, 8, 12 production in 2005 and Moonstone, an Hostel 6 - Hostel 9 production in 1991. The word fiasco is often replaced by Kastūrī and Moonstone in IIT Bombay's lingo after those famous performances.
• PAF was staged at IIT Bombay's Convocation Hall till the year 1999, at which point the venue was moved to the institute's Open Air Theater (OAT)
• The move to the OAT brought with it 2 primay changes : 1) The use of huge production, with multiple sets spread across OAT, (which was necessary to create impact in a wide diffused space as compared to the convocation hall. 2) The spectacular success of Abhimanyu (H4/H7), also led to the popularisation of Hindi PAFs; which hitherto had been more an exception than a rule.
• Sarhad (2000) divided the venue into two halves using a curtain and enacted different stories in each. The two enactments however, used exactly the same script. The plot was based on the conflict between India and Pakistan, and the similarity in the actions of politicians and religious fanatics in both countries. At the conclusion of the play, the dividing "wall" was brought down and the countries were symbolically united - only to be repartitioned immediately by communal riots instigated by the politicians and fundamentalists.
• Al Qasas (2000) won 9 out of 10 trophies awarded for PAF in 2000. The only trophy which it lost was for "Best Costume" won by a PAF based on Chanakya, for which a several actors shaved their heads in order to portray students of the era. Abhimanyu in 1999 and Al-Qasas in 2000 sparked a series of PAFs in Hindi.
• Nimad (2001), by Hostel 3 alone, did an extravagant prod experiment by creating a 60 meter long and 5 meter wide river like water body inside the open-air theater. The story dealt with the trauma caused by Reva river changing it course because of a dam being built. So, the Nimad team actually drained out the water from the river during the staging of the play. The play, though appreciated for effort, was not very popular because of over-dragged tragic ending.
• Dastak (2005) introduced the concept of street-plays, as a sub-drama inside a drama, to the Festival.
• Déjà Vu (2006), by Hostels 4, 9 and 11, which perhaps is the best PAF in recent times focused on IIT life and dealt with issues like entrance examination, academic competition, friendship, isolation, suicidal tendencies, and dilemma of those who never desired to pursue core engineering. The PAF won 7 out of the 9 awarded trophies in addition to the overall trophy. A movie sponsored by IIT is waiting to be released based on this PAF. The movie has been premiered in IIT-B and is ready for a nationwide release. Critics say that the movie may make it to Cannes (Times of India- April 17, 2007 Pg 4)
• If Tomorrow Comes(2009) by hostel 3, 8, 11 had one of the most technically advanced production sets which depicted a Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport Scene with a working escalator, conveyor belt, LCD TV with slide show, etc. The sets also included a 22 foot scaled replica of Gateway of India. A non-stereotypical PAF inspired by the English movie "Groundhog Day", focused for the first time in the PAF history, on pure entertainment. It received tremendous applauds from the judges and audiences but lost the race with Arthur Road Jail which won 7 awards out of 9 which includes Script, Prod, Lights, Choreography, Screenplay, Direction, Acting.
• Antaragini (2010) by hostels 2, 7, 8 and Tansa continued with the tradition of having technically advanced production from the last year and went on a large scale set ever in the history of PAF's with the center stage having a mall and a railway station, along with the left and right triangles having a petrol-pump and a multiplex foodcourt. Highlights included: conversion of the center stage from a mall scenario to an entirely new set of railway station (Bandra), a real size mumbai local train, overhead bridge, extension of the center-stage to cover the entire quadrangle, hip-hop choreography sequence, dances on the platforms over the train roof, mid-air; other technical features: a weighing machine, CCTV camera. To top it all the entire set was developed on Solidworks - a CAD software A look at the production sets.

See also

• Indian Institutes of Technology
• IIT Bombay