Eye on India is a 10 day festival comprised of cinema, music, dance, theatre, literature and food, which was created "to promote the theme of universality in today's increasingly polarizing context” (Sanjoy Roy 2011.)

I attended Day One of the festival, and the pre-show shindig, at the Harris Theater in Chicago's Millennium Park. The duds worn by the party-goers were the first thing that caught my eye. The traditional Indian gowns that many of the ladies wore were fashion masterpieces for sure! Joan Rivers, the Barney Fife of The Fashion Police, better not shoot her mouth off, and tear traditional Indian gown designers a new asshole. Or, perhaps I will protest she give up her Fashion Police badge and Plastic Surgery addiction immediately.

The hors d'oeuvres served were amazing and the conversations I had with some men and women from India in regard to their culture were highly intellectually stimulating, titillating, and straight up, out-of-this-world in every meaning of the idiom.

Two glasses of Heinekens later, the Eye on India performances began in the wee-bit nippy Harris Theatre. The opening act began, which was The Chicago Children's Choir and The Natya Dance Theater. The Natya dancers were a joy to see. They were all beautiful, healthy-sized young ladies and were, refreshingly, not put in Hootchie-Mama costumes!

The Chicago Children's Choir and Natya Dance Theatre had such easy-to-see talent that was intriguing and invigorating to watch and listen to minute by minute. Plus, the lyrics of the song The Chicago Children's Choir opened with called for world peace, and the lead singer sang with infectious, gospel music-like passion.

India's Violin Icon, Dr. L. Subramaniam's performed with Ambi Subramaniam on violin and T.A.S. Mani on Mridangam the entire time. They performed one of Dr. L. Subramaniam's own compositions, which was in the kriti format, and allowed the musicians to improvise at certain times. With that said, the music was suspenseful, and there were exciting and fulfilling climaxes throughout the composition.

I periodically looked around during the show to see most of the audience's faces gave me the impression they were thoroughly enjoying the performance from its start to finish.

Dr. L. Subramaniam is a world renowned performer, producer, conductor and composer who has 150 recordings, some of which were for movies like "Little Buddha". He is clearly adored by many.

There will be different performers and acts, than the ones I critiqued, at Eye on India until the festival's last day on July 17th. For information please go to: www.EYEonINDIA.com. Each of the new upcoming Eye on India events I read about sound like they will be culturally eye-opening and fully satisfying.