Alliance Française’s all-night cultural extravaganza in Chennai promises cabaret, singing and India-France fusion

Chennai’s late night scene is no longer limited to just the food streets of Anna Nagar. On October 11, the Alliance Française of Madras is bringing back the third edition of La Nuit Blanche (The White Night), an all-night cultural extravaganza featuring a performance slate that includes French and Tamil artists and their traditions – a mix of cabaret, singing, ancient Tamil instruments, hip-hop and fashion – fusing French and Indian cultures with the pomp and show of theatre.

This year, the festival takes place in the musical Moulin Rouge!, set in Montmartre, the bohemian mecca of Paris, France at the turn of the 20th century! Is based on. Patricia Thery Hart, director of the Alliance Française of Madras, says hosting an all-night cultural event in Chennai brings with it a thrill unlike any other. She says, “Local talent and French decor come together at this event. Last year, when the fashion show was held at this event, it felt like it was a fashion runway. Let’s just pray it doesn’t rain this year.”

At The White Night, expect to see a performance of Sabita Srinath’s fast-paced dance, French Can Can, from 5 pm onwards. There is also a show by Wild Wild Women Rappers, Moulin Rouge, a Tamil and hip-hop street-style collaboration, a puppet show by TS Murugan and his team, Bommallatam and the screening of Band Office Gaana.

The Red Dream (Le Rêve Rouge), a visual experience from Cursorama, a media artist and designer who works with generative art and immersive installations, will work with Roy Dipankar of Omnivoid Labs on installing an exhibition with scenes from the Moulin Rouge. The visuals will react to the sounds of artists from bands like No Latency and The Objects apart from two artists including Khushboo and Raj Kanwar Sodi. Expect to hear jazz riffs with low guitar sounds, dub step, drum and bass, dub techno as well as electronica, ambient and intelligent dance music. The show will start at 5 pm and continue till 2 am. Roy says he hopes people will interact with his audio-reactive cube which brings out a variety of sounds and different textures. His show starts at 5 pm.

Contemporary dancer Preeti Athreya Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Contemporary dancer Preeti Atreya says, “Cabaret in the 1980s was a mix of espionage and a story told through strong characters who didn’t back down. For example, Helen is one of them.” After a year of research into the field of Indian cabaret at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, Preeti is all set to bring her show Rubber Girl to her hometown audience at 8 pm. She says, “Cabaret asks a lot of questions. You know whose bodies are you selling? What viewpoints are you selling? There are a lot of interesting aspects of capitalism versus democracy versus colonialism versus post-colonialism that are discussed here.”

Director Patricia says that since the fusion of French and Indian, especially Tamil culture is an important aspect of the event, demonstrations of Villupaatu, Bommalattam, Carnatic fusion and a concert of ancient Tamil instruments will be organised. Thanganila Palasuvai Kalikuzhu will bring Karagattam, Thappattam and Poikkal Kuthirai performances to the venue.

Artist C Su, part of Uru Pannar, says his show will feature ancient Tamil instruments from the fourth century. One such instrument is the Yaal, which was rebuilt by musician and instrument-maker Tharun Sekar. His eight-piece band will play most of the sounds and hope to revive the music of the Sangam era. “But we don’t play music that is an ancient, unrelated language. It’s music with a modern twist,” Si Su says. His show starts at 9.15 pm.

For details about the event at Alliance Française of Madras, Nungambakkam, visit @afmadras on Instagram.