Oasis - BITS, Pilani 2019: The Neon Noir Chapter

Stellar line-up for professional shows and many exciting events designed for demography with diverse interests have never failed to amaze the crowd that takes part in Oasis. Three days into the 49th edition of Oasis 2019, the flagship Cultural Fest of BITS Pilani, it is time to talk about what this year’s fest is like.

The Oasis Film Festival is an amalgamation of all of Oasis’ film making–related events like Metamorphosis (the short film–making competition), the vlog making competition, movie screenings, talks and panel discussions on movies.

The chief guest for the inauguration ceremony that kicked off the 96-hour-long extravaganza was Madhur Bhandarkar—known for directing movies like Chandni Bar, Page 3, Traffic Signal, and Heroine. His work is known for being uncompromising to people’s judgments and for being a blatant reflection of the society. It is this ability of his, to seek inspiration from the society around him, that makes him a National Award-winning Director. 

The Oasis Film Festival, in just its second edition, hosted Imtiaz Ali as its chief guest. What sets the critically acclaimed director apart is his stellar ability to connect with the audience through his stories and create characters that they can relate to. At the Oasis Talk on Day One, Ali spoke about a variety of topics ranging from the art of film-making to his journey in the Indian film industry. 

With an outstanding line-up comprising of Sunidhi Chauhan, Nucleya, Dan Deacon, Abhishek Raghuram, and many more, Oasis has set the stage for an ecstatic experience for fans of all genres of music. The fest also provides ample opportunities for aspiring musicians through events like Pitch Perfect, Axetacy, Andholika, and Swaranjali. It is an on-going legend that the band Parikrama rose to fame after their performance in Rocktaves—Oasis’ renowned battle of the bands. 

While Oasis through my Lens, Alternate Photography, and Recreate on the Go appeal to those inclined towards photography, events like Pun Wars and Improv Comedy attempt to bring out one’s humorous side. Joining the line-up of fantastic performers is Biswa Kalyan Rath, who is yet to unleash a laughing riot on the parting day of Oasis. Dance competitions like Razzmatazz, Street Dance, Desert Duels, Choreo, and Tandav are tough tests for performers, especially in front of a sizeable audience.

With a plethora of quizzing events covering various topics such as entertainment, music, anime, etc, even the elite intelligentsia can have their share of fun during Oasis. Oratory events like BLAB, Turncoat and Mock Parliament have consistently been crowd-pullers and are an integral part of the Fest this time around as well. 

Looking away from cultural events, Oasis hosts a multitude of events that provide wholesome entertainment like Treasure Hunt, Escape Room, Taboo and Beg Borrow Steal. With reputed judges and huge prizes, the flagship Talent Show of the fest, Mr and Ms Oasis, is a kernel event that witnesses significant participation every year.

The organizers emphasis on recognizing and encouraging talent is apparent through the increased prize pool and many event-exclusive sponsorships. Overall, the curtains of the most awaited Cultural Fest of BITS Pilani have been raised, marking the start of another enthralling edition of Oasis this year, 2019.