Suman Sridhar and Natasha Mendonca to Present a Double Bill at the Tate Modern Museum

Mumbai-based filmmaker Natasha Mendonca and vocalist/composer Suman Sridhar will present a film- and-music double bill at the Tate Modern Museum in London on July 5^th. “It feels as exhilarating as a hat-trick as it’s the third time my work will showcase at the Tate Modern,” says Mendonca who has presented her film Darkness for the London Olympics and Cultural festival as well as the award-winning Jan Villa before. (Check out more of Mendonca’s work here.)

The double bill will feature Mendonca’s debut feature-film Ajeeb Aashiq/Strange Love and a preview of Sridhar’s multi-lingual solo album The Black Mamba. Both works are poignant commentaries on the state of human society–while Ajeeb Aashiq/Strange Love is a modern portrait of gender identity, sexuality, class and love, The Black Mamba takes on the degradation of the human race through globalization, consumerism and the patriarchy. Sridhar explores several genres on The Black Mamba, including hip-hop, jazz, afrobeat and Indian classical. “As a musician, it is a rare opportunity to preview one’s album at the Tate Modern museum,” says Sridhar. “I have always intersected art forms in my vision and practice. I am elated and grateful for this recognition of my multiple hats under one identity–art.”

The cast of the film includes Mumbai-based actor Khush Mishra and actor/director Jim Sarbh (Neerja), with Sridhar taking on the lead role. In addition to starring in the film, Sridhar has also composed its original soundtrack. Ajeeb Aashiq/Strange Love also features Sridhar and Mendonca’s 2014 protest music video “Evening in Gay Maharashtra” released on YouTube in 2014 against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. 

Prior to the U.K. premiere, Mendonca and Sridhar will also present the film and music double bill at the 15^th edition of Queer Zagreb, Croatia one of Europe’s leading visual and performing arts festivals from May 22^nd– 27^th . “I was at Queer Zagreb in 2004 as a curator and returning as an artist for its 15^th edition is an ouroboros Balkan treat,” shares Mendonca. 

 

Watch the video for “Evening in Gay Maharashtra” below: