‘Artists world over should raise alarm'

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE NOT JUST DRYING THE EARTH BUT ALSO THE SPIRIT OF HUMANKIND. THIS IS THE MESSAGE DANCER, WRITER AND ACTIVIST MALLIKA SARABHAI AND DIRECTOR YADAVAN CHANDRAN AIM TO DELIVER THROUGH THEIR RECENT DANCE VIDEO, ARID. THE DANCE COMPRISES THREE ACTS ON THE INTENSITY OF THE WATER CRISIS. THEY SPEAK ON THE ROLE OF ART IN TACKLING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DAKSHIANI PALICHA. EXCERPTS:

- DAKSHIANI PALICHA

Arid is a call for action to urgently mitigate the impact of climate change, especially on water resources. How has it been received?

We have got some amazing reviews from different kinds of people— dance enthusiasts, the general public and those involved in the climate movement. For example, chief environmental economist at the UN Environment Programme, Pushpam Kumar, in his reaction to the video has said how dance, music and theatre can help bring the conservation and sustainability agenda to the fore. The arts are a powerful wake-up tool and perhaps artists around the world should raise alarm.