Aniruddha Mukherjee

What a great privilege it is to work with BSDC. The commitment, passion for the arts, and the opportunity to learn and develop, as well as the respect it shows for artists, are unique qualities of the company. I feel absolutely honoured to be part of so many phenomenal art initiatives with BSDC, which have given me the prestige of reaching a wide spectrum of audiences in the North and being valued and appreciated for my contributions. It was wonderful to see the strong base of audiences that BSDC has created. Because of its continual effort to present the arts professionally without compromise, audiences show great respect for each artist at BSDC, making it a joy to celebrate and experience.

I have worked on some memorable and groundbreaking projects with BSDC, such as Cricket Green, Unmasking Pain, Roots & Routes, Shakespeare Impromptu, and many more. I was particularly intrigued by Balbir’s phenomenal ideas to use serious arts to engage with diverse communities. For instance, using cricket—a popular sport—and its visual and rhythmic interpretation to portray the inner tension of the game was fascinating. Additionally, some wonderful art initiatives to raise awareness about climate change were eye-opening for me, and I am sure they had the same impact on the audiences.

BSDC consistently creates learning opportunities for its artists through a very professional approach. Cricket Green, in particular, changed my perception of the arts and how we can utilise common elements of the community and apply them in our art practices.

Balbir is an exceptional friend; he is truly a visionary change-maker and a role model within the artists' network. Not only does he educate audiences and communities with his innovative ideas, but he also serves as a mentor for every artist he collaborates with, guiding them in shaping their own fresh ideas and providing significant development opportunities. Working with him has transformed my traditional view of the arts. The projects I've been involved in have inspired me to approach the presentation of traditional Indian rhythm with a fresh perspective.