The quintessential Chennai College experience is incomplete without a fun-filled day at Sarang, IIT Madras’s long-running cultural festival. Over five days, the largely tranquil green oasis is transformed into a carnival, packed with the city’s youth; Some to escape boredom, some in search of their favorite musician, or others in search of talent they need to be wary of in the competition circuit.
The celebration, now the largest student-run celebration in the country, began as early as 1974 and was called Mardi Gras. In 1996, Mardi Gras was rebranded as Sarong, in honor of the spotted deer that frequently roams the campus. Fifty years later, the festival, complete with concerts, lecture series, workshops, carnival rides and an active games corner, has become synonymous with Chennai’s ever-evolving cultural ecosystem. The five-day programming spectacle, scheduled from January 9 to 13 this year, is based on the theme Frames and Fables celebrating the art of visual storytelling.
But what does it take to put together one of the largest student-led arts festivals in the country? Meticulous planning, and 850 brains. On ‘Day Minus 1’ (the night before the festival begins), the Chiefs gather in the lecture theater of the prestigious institute to address their teams. They recall fond memories of past editions, and reflect on what Sarang means to them. They collectively hope for a festival free from hassles. One last movement, and they spring into action.
Band Mysore Express | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Pooja D, Core (Events) says, “It is a huge responsibility! But it’s magical.” From jotting down ideas, sketching out potential layouts, and dealing with last-minute schedule changes, the organizing team works hard over five months. Ideas are proposed at the time of selection of office bearers. In fact, Pooja says that her selection depends heavily on the ideas proposed herself.
“Preparations start from August itself, [the previous year]“Pooja says. This year, most of the team wanted the theme to have something to do with the medium of cinema, and thus Frames and Fables received the maximum number of votes.
This year, there will be an indie music and hip hop festival, as Pooja says, “a festival within a festival”, which follows an open mic concept to encourage emerging talent in the city. “We are giving underrepresented indie artists a platform to showcase their art. This is something we are looking forward to this year, which will resonate with the crowd,” says Pooja. She also points to the multicultural folk parade that will start from the State Bank of India and proceed to the Open Air Theater (OAT), showcasing around 15 folk art forms to which Tamil Nadu is home. It will conclude with the inauguration of the Classical Night by music director Ilaiyaraaja and the Governor of Tamil Nadu, and the official opening of the festival with a performance by Grammy-winning flautist Shashank Subramaniam.
Amit Trivedi Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A series of public workshops have also been launched this year, highlighting Paraiyattam, Oyilattam, Karagattam, Kalaripayattu and others, led by artistes from across the state. Over 15 speakers, ranging from singer KS Chitra and actor Gautami to musician Lydian Nadaswaram, will conduct the Spotlight Lecture Series. Titled World Festival, the daylong concert from January 10 to 12 will feature a Japanese orchestra, an Italian progressive metal band and a Polish accordionist, among others.
The EDM night on January 11 will be led by Ritwij and inaugurated by DJ Frost, while the rock night on the third day will feature performances by bands Antriksh and Mysore Express. Arguably the biggest night of the festival is Pop Night – “the night that Chennai waits for” – headlined by popular playback singer and music director Amit Trivedi on the fifth day.
Before the pandemic, when there were very few pop concerts in the city, Sarang was one of the first few festivals to be held on a large scale. “After the pandemic, there are many such concerts taking place in the city, but we try to do our best every year. We are expecting 80,000 visitors this year.
Ritwij Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Professor Sushant Panigrahi, Faculty Advisor (Cultural), IIT Madras considers the festival as a testament to the enduring legacy of the cultural spirit of IIT Madras. ,[Saarang] continues to unite creativity, innovation and inclusivity, making it more than just a festival – it’s a movement that inspires and empowers.
IIT Sarang is presented by The Hindu. Find tickets and schedules at saarang.org.
published – January 08, 2025 07:51 PM IST
