August 2019

ON Stagevolume 9 • issue 1

Jamshed Bhabha Memorial Lecture An ode to the arts

NCPA BANDISH A Tribute to Legendary Composers

AUTUMN 2019 SEASON Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky

Cover Final.indd 1 16/07/19 4:58 PM NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook

Editorial Director Radhakrishnan Nair

Editor-in-Chief Oishani Mitra Contents Consulting Editor Vipasha Aloukik Pai

Editorial Co-ordinator 18 Hilda Darukhanawalla

Art Director Tanvi Shah

Associate Art Director Hemali Limbachiya

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Materials in ON Stage cannot be reproduced in part or whole without the written permission shine the spotlight on the legacies of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed 08 of two trailblazing artistes – Kumar in this magazine are not necessarily those of Reflections Gandharva and Jnan Prakash Ghosh. the publisher. All rights reserved. Statues of Limitations. By Anil Dharker We try to find out how both these NCPA Booking Office men had the impulse, as musicians, to 2282 4567/6654 8135/6622 3724 follow the heart instead of the rules. www.ncpamumbai.com 10 By Reshma O. Pathare A Commemorative Conclave Dr. Jamshed Bhabha’s life was one filled with and dedicated to the arts. Fittingly, the NCPA has decided to have an annual 18 lecture series on his birthday that focusses An orchestra for all seasons on art and culture. This year, we welcome The Symphony Orchestra of India is Jawhar Sircar who will discuss what, primed to give Mumbai audiences according to him, ails the arts in India. an exciting season of music this By Akshaya Pillai September – the first series of concerts on home turf after its successful tour of the United Kingdom this February. Zane Dalal provides an 14 overview of the repertoire – more The Gentle Revolutionaries exciting, ambitious and wide-ranging This year’s edition of NCPA Bandish will than any of the previous seasons.

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22 36 Mudras on screen, Abhinaya Performing Arts: 26 on stage Photography Mamata Shankar talks about A monthly column that explores dance and acting, and the any and every aspect of the interchangeability of the stage performing arts. This month, and the set. By Shayonnita Mallik amateur photographer Nameeta Prakash discusses why the urge to take pictures of everything might

26 not be a terrible thing. Women of Note

This month, the tenth edition of Con Brio will shine a light on the 38 oft-overlooked works of history’s The East-West Theatre Encounter finest female composers. We When theatrewallahs from explore the lives of these path- around the world discussed breaking women who, despite creativity, commitment and possessing musical genius, were everything in between, and hardly celebrated in their time. presented performances just as By Beverly Pereira varied. 29 Concert with a Cause 42 Archives: Epic Variations Not every concert can change In the first installment of a three- lives, but WE can. part series, Dr. Suresh Awasthi discusses the various forms and styles of the Ramayana theatre

30 tradition in India and South- WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/FRANÇOIS DE TROY The Bawas Who Know Their East Asia Dramas This August, get ready for some Follow us on: good old-fashioned Parsi-panu 44 with two plays looking to deliver Programme Guide facebook.com/NCPAMumbai generous doses of wit and A guide to all the events @NCPAMumbai slapstick. By Benaifer J. Mirza happening in August at the NCPA NCPAMumbai

32 youtube.com/user/TheNCPAMumbai1 A New Way of Seeing 56 With an exciting film club in the What’s Next offing, lovers of good cinema in What to expect in the following We look forward to your feedback and suggestions. Please do drop us an Mumbai are in for a treat. months email at [email protected].

Contents.indd 6 16/07/19 5:06 PM Dr. Bhabha with Ravi Shankar A Commemorative Conclave Dr. Jamshed Bhabha’s life was one filled with and dedicated to the arts. Fittingly, the NCPA has decided to have an annual lecture series on his birthday that focuses on art and culture. This year, we welcome Jawhar Sircar who will discuss what, according to him, ails the arts in India.

By Akshaya Pillai

r. Jamshed J Bhabha was taken He got the best architect and acoustician on board to the very end of Nariman to build the Tata Theatre, and told them that every Point when he approached the whisper should find its way even to the last row. In government of Maharashtra for 1980, he invited the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi land to construct a centre for to inaugurate the theatre. On the opening night, performing arts. As a joke, he after the performance of The Barber of Seville, her was shown the sea, and very favourite Italian opera, she told Dr. Bhabha that this candidly, he is said to have taken the offer. This is still does not qualify as an opera house. Dr. Bhabha, howD Dr. Bhabha, who grew up idolising Ludwig van known for taking things in stride, immediately got Beethoven and reciting lengthy Shakespeare verses, down to building another opera house which is now went on to build the National Centre for Performing called the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre. Arts, one of India’s premier institutions to foster art and culture, all on land reclaimed from the sea. Looking back A noted philanthropist and lover of opera, Dr. It is here, decades later, on Dr. Bhabha’s birthday, Bhabha is known to have detested microphones. that former civil servant, noted intellectual and

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JJB Memorial Lecture.indd 10 16/07/19 11:29 AM public speaker, Jawhar Sircar will wield a mike, broadcasting (I&B) of newly independent India, who find a way to continue Dr. Bhabha’s legacy and was at the helm of All India Radio, decided to ban all contribution to the arts and deliver the first in a series film songs. Keskar had decided that the information of annual lectures on art and culture. Revered for and entertainment lifeline of the nation would not his outstanding contribution to history and political air Bollywood songs as he thought of them as vulgar thought, Sircar will deliver a speech on what ails the and westernised, and hoped instead that his country arts in India. would begin to appreciate highbrow classical music. Sircar believes that the visual arts are thriving. This is when Binaca Geetmala came up as a metaphor “It’s a rich man’s paradise,” he tells me, his voice of revolt. The legendary musical countdown would exhausted and strained after a 12-day lecture-cum- tour of central Asia. Instead, he wants to draw Dr. Bhabha (right) with the limelight to the quadrangle of music, dance, his parents and brother theatre and performance art; delve deeply into the Homi Bhabha (left) structure policies and discuss how India determined its cultural policies without much thought. On his journey to Moscow on the Prime Minister’s private plane along with five senior secretaries in December 2009, he recalls how the team kept discussing serious matters of the state, but on the way back from Moscow they all resorted to the same topic: Bollywood. It was the foreign secretary who mentioned how her Russian driver had spoken about Raj Kapoor and Mera Naam Joker. This was followed by accounts wherein they realised what Russia really remembers is Bollywood. “This is With wife Betty Irene what lasts between countries. Time marinates these cultural associations. And India will forever be the land of heroes and songs,” he says. And it is in such a country, in the year 1952 that B.V. Keskar, the minister of information and Sircar wants to draw the limelight to the quadrangle of music, dance, theatre and performance art

With Indira Gandhi and JRD Tata

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JJB Memorial Lecture.indd 11 16/07/19 11:31 AM forms like Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam, how this led to the evolution of the current costumes. For instance, Manipuri dancers used to wear a ghaghara traditionally.” Sircar has written over 100 articles on various cultural aspects of India, and to him, this lecture is a comprehensive 300-, if not a 360-degree overview of his career-long efforts. “Normally people would have a short span of attention, but here at the NCPA, I believe I will be blessed with the ideal audience for this topic,” he says when asked why he chose to talk about what ails the arts in India. The Antiquities Act and the plight of Government- run museums is another subject he wants to explore during the talk. “India doesn’t preserve culturally. We don’t know the art of preserving the dead. We consider even the clothes of the dead impure. This is why our people can’t run a good museum, and places like the Victoria Memorial often end up being called a Bhoot Ghar.” Sircar has always been vocal about the lack of control the broadcasters have on the news they

“Dr. Bhabha’s abstract paintings stunned me and then I discovered his charcoal paintings which were a masterpiece in accuracy” Jawhar Sircar present, and the government interference in it. He is air on Radio Ceylon, a show entirely dedicated synonymous with his bold stand on autonomy and, to Indian film songs hosted by the ever charming in his lecture, he will also be shedding light on the Ameen Sayani. “Even Western classical music was pros and cons of trusteeship, inventory problems edged out. I know of an unverified correspondence and how he thinks that it is high time for corporates between Nehru and Keskar wherein the latter refused to walk the talk. to play Western classical music calling it colonial, and Nehru retorted, “Do you doubt my patriotism?” The legacy lives on It is anecdotes like these that Sircar has planned to Insisting he is too practical to be a poet, Sircar reminisce through his lecture. says this is precisely why he has deep respect and admiration for Dr. Bhabha. “Though I have never met Pundits and policies the genius himself, I have organised his exhibition in Sircar will also talk about rebellions that helped form the National Gallery of Modern Art, and I have been the texture of arts in India, and of iconic aberrations baffled at his capability to move from the finiteness of that changed the social milieu of dance. He will take numbers to the complete randomness of nature. His us back to 1933, when Muthulakshmi Reddy had abstract paintings stunned me and then I discovered piloted a bill that banned the practice of dance in his charcoal paintings which were a masterpiece in the temples, and yet, in times like that, a Brahmin accuracy. Like C.V. Raman says, Dr. Bhabha was truly girl dared to learn dance from a devadasi. Not only the modern equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci.” did this girl learn Bharatanatyam, then called Sadir, It is a commonly shared story that when a fire she also performed it in public during the Diamond destroyed five years’ worth of construction of Jubilee Convention of The Theosophical Society in his dream project, all Dr. Bhabha had to say was: December 1935. “That woman was Rukmini Arundale. ‘Tomorrow we begin again.’ It is this degree of It is said many Brahmins walked out during the resolution and resilience that would perhaps need to event. Dance in India had been exploitative in form. be adapted to rescue all that ails the arts in India. And most of the times, the lower caste performers were cornered, exploited and this was a type of The Jamshed Bhabha Memorial Lecture will be sanitisation that happened. This is something I presented on 21st August at the Jamshed Bhabha want to spend time on, the brahminisation of dance Theatre.

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JJB Memorial Lecture.indd 12 16/07/19 11:32 AM FESTIVAL The Gentle Revolutionaries This year’s edition of NCPA Bandish will shine the spotlight on the legacies of two trailblazing artistes – Kumar Gandharva and Jnan Prakash Ghosh. We try to find out how both these men had the impulse, as musicians, to follow the heart instead of the rules. By Reshma O. Pathare

very once in a while, the universe is blessed Chakraborty, “and could have charted a brilliant career with luminaries who push the boundaries, in the same, had it not been for an accident wherein zoom through the world like a comet and he suffered a serious injury to the eye while playing.” leave a sparkling trail in their wake. These Instead of seeing this as a problem, Ghosh simply are the people that rewrite history. The turned his attention to something else he loved – music. Emusical firmament of India has been blessed with many Another interesting choice Ghosh made was this: in a genius, and among them, Jnan Prakash Ghosh and spite of being a gifted vocalist, harmonium player and Kumar Gandharva have left behind singular legacies. percussionist who could have become a celebrated Strikingly different in terms of their personalities, performer in his own right, he chose to become a guru. the two maestros were so similar in many aspects – As Chakraborty explains, “The fact that Guruji broke including, the foresight to release music from the boundaries is not just restricted to the way he treated ‘captivity’ it was in. We speak to Bhuvanesh Komkali, his music. Instead, his whole life and the choices he grandson and disciple of Gandharva and Kaushiki made have been off the beaten track. Instead of going Chakraborty, disciple of Ghosh, about the trials and into medicine, he opted for music. In that too, instead triumphs of their gurus who defied convention to of hankering for the spotlight on himself, he chose to change the lexicon of classical music as we know become a nurturer to hundreds of students. His life, it today. his views, and his way of tutelage all have been path- breaking in multiple ways.” JNAN PRAKASH GHOSH Born to Dwarkanath Ghose, who established Dwarkin, A freedom so rare a famous enterprise in Kolkata that sold Indian and Chakraborty says that the biggest boon for Ghosh’s Western musical instruments and invented the hand- students has been the freedom he accorded them held Dwarkin harmonium, Jnan Prakash Ghosh’s while learning. “Guruji was well-versed in both vocal foundation in music started at home. According to and instrumental; making him a master of melody and Kaushiki Chakraborty, “Guruji was a very versatile rhythm. He would always say ‘melody without rhythm person, with a contemporary mind-set. He took is like a train without tracks’. In keeping with this belief, tabla lessons from Masit Khan of the Farukhabad he would let his students explore every aspect of gharana and Feroze Khan of Punjab gharana, and music. If you were to venture into his class, you could instead of stopping at that, he also trained in vocal see a vocalist trying his hand at a tabla, and a tabla music from Girija Devi, Mohammad Sagiruddin Khan player trying to understand the sur of a harmonium. and Mohammed Dabir Khan. He was also an ace While it may seem like an unconventional approach to sportsperson who played football, polo, and hockey. a strictly tradition-bound discipline, it helped us all in Not just that, he was a highly educated person who later stages. As a vocalist, I can hold a theka (beat) held three Masters degrees in English, Sanskrit and very well and immediately notice when something is Pali. Even in today’s time when we have so many amiss. He was probably one of the pioneers of the idea resources at our beck and call, it will be difficult to that vocal and instrumental music go hand-in-hand find such a multi-talented personality.” and to be a good musician, one needs to grasp the subtleties of both.” No room for restrictions Ghosh was also generous to a fault. “His method of Ghosh hailed from a prestigious family of well- teaching was also a very giving and free one,” says qualified people, most of whom were doctors. His Chakraborty. “As a child, I had once asked to see choice to immerse himself in music full-time was based his notebook of compositions and he was extremely on a fateful accident that changed the course of his selfless in giving it to me. Not just that, he also destiny. “Guruji was a state-level football player,” says encouraged me to interpret those compositions in my

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Bandish.indd 14 16/07/19 12:20 PM own way. His was a progressive way of teaching – one up his vistas in terms of what heights music could in which the guru did not ask the shishya to follow, achieve if broken free from the chains of convention, but to break free. He endowed a firm foundation to his exposure to sports built his mind-set to be able to all his students, but his emphasis was on the students conquer and stand tall for one’s own belief even in the interpreting the tradition in their own way to develop a face of opposition. It was a pertinent quality to have in new language of music.” an era when toeing the line was considered the best Even though Ghosh devoted most of his life to type of learning,” she says. teaching, he was also a versatile artiste who employed his skills for developing projects that would take music A boundless legacy to the masses. He developed a percussion ensemble His contribution to music has been invaluable. called ‘Drums of India’ in which a multitude of According to Chakraborty, “Today, it is de rigueur for percussions such as tabla, dhol, dholak, pakhawaj, etc. music of all types to be melded, fused and remixed. were played in a sequence determined by him. Another But, one must not forget the courage and foresight famous composition – Chaturang of greats like Guruji. Had they – was a mélange of kathak, tabla, not stood strong against the pakhawaj and tarana. Ghosh tide, the lexicon of Indian music also composed music for several would probably have been Bengali films includingAndhare the same as it was centuries Alo and Jaadubhatta. His most ago. Thus, I feel, musicians groundbreaking innovation was and singers of our generation composing bandishes in English owe utmost gratitude to so as to help it reach people who these masters for giving them would better understand the the wings to fly high. Our composition in that language. responsibility lies in using Chakraborty attributes this those wings with reverence and approach to two things: his regard to take higher flights education and his sportsman’s for the betterment of Indian spirit. “While education opened music.”

His was a progressive way of teaching – one in which the guru did not ask the shishya to follow, but to break free

Kaushiki Chakraborty will present compositions of Jnan Prakash Ghosh (above)

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Bandish.indd 15 16/07/19 12:20 PM Bhuvanesh Komkali (below) will present compositions of Kumar Gandharva INDIAPICTURES/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES

KUMAR GANDHARVA Kumar Gandharva was formally trained in the Gwalior gharana. However, this master of the madhya-laya was trained under a progressive teacher who had pushed the envelope in his time. As Bhuvanesh Komkali, who will be performing at NCPA Bandish 2019, says, “To understand the genius of Kumarji, one has to realise that he learnt from the legendary classical singer B. R. Deodhar, who himself was a proponent of not just one gharana, but several. Singers from various gharanas would be welcomed at his guru’s place; thus, the exposure helped Kumarji to reinvent himself by learning from the best of other gharanas like Agra, Jaipur, Kirana, etc. Deodhar always believed that music is like a free-flowing river and should not be compartmentalised into boxes. Learning with such a guru, it was natural for Kumarji to start seeking the best that every gharana of music had to offer and embellish his own God-gifted gayaki in that way.” Komkali attributes Gandharva’s open-minded attitude to the platform he received. In an era in which musicians were completely puritanical, Gandharva was allowed to discover what wonderful heights music could achieve when allowed to cross boundaries. He thus started giving prominence to the thought process behind every notation and bandish that had been or was being composed, which led him to become the innovator he was.

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Bandish.indd 16 16/07/19 12:22 PM Music for the masses Credited with composing nirguni bhajans and Our Supporter bandishes in the Malwi dialect, he was also an ace musicologist, who converted his long battle with tuberculosis into a period of enhancing his art. During HSBC has been in India since 1853 and his five-year stay at Dewas, where he was sent to deeply connects with the heritage of the recuperate, Gandharva took to listening to rural folk country. Indian classical music is an integral songs in local dialects. Lying in his bed, he pondered part of the country’s heritage and for over the sounds of nature and the intrinsic connection centuries has maintained its inimitability. man, music and nature share. “Kumarji was definitely It is therefore of great pride for us to be an innovator, who staunchly believed that music is associated with Bandish, the festival which meant for everyone – not just for a privileged few. celebrates the best of Indian music. To All his efforts have been in keeping with this belief. pass on the legacy to future generations, He started using bandishes to describe day-to-day HSBC has supported NCPA’s project to happenings in a person’s life. Something as mundane train disciples of by masters of different as how the rain has thrown someone’s daily schedule gharanas, where selected masters mentor into disarray was also conveyed in a bandish by him. students in the traditional style, providing It is this talent that endeared Kumarji to the masses. them with unparalleled learning and the He spoke to them in his language but chose topics of opportunity to showcase their talent. their interest,” says Komkali. HSBC believes heritage and culture are In another effort to bridge the gap between the core to values of a society and therefore masses and classical music, Gandharva, along with need to be nurtured. In keeping with this, his wife Vasundhara Komkali, introduced concerts HSBC has been closely associated with like Geet Vasant, Geet Hemant, Geet Varsha, etc. NCPA to support Indian classical music. to express the beauty of each season through classical music. “The intention was to stir listeners Surendra Rosha to appreciate those types of compositions. In fact, CEO now that we are talking with regard to the upcoming HSBC India NCPA Bandish festival, it would be pertinent to note Kumarji’s contribution towards composing a bandish,” says Komkali. “Traditionally, a bandish was used to convey typical their genre. That was a time when singers of one emotions like viraha rasa or bhakti rasa. Kumarji gharana would not even attend concerts of singers believed that Indian classical music has the power to from another gharanas. So, on such a backdrop, when express so much more than that. Hence, he composed he was pushing the envelope, it was inevitable he bandishes that depicted various facets of a season, or would be raising a few eyebrows.” various real-life situations. He portrayed the realities Nevertheless, Komkali vehemently refutes the of life through his compositions – the relevance of belief that Gandharva was a maverick who refused which is what endeared him to a broad spectrum to follow any particular gharana of music. “I can of listeners.” Little wonder then, that musical say with utmost conviction that this statement is scholar Raghava Menon has segregated Indian a classic example of something getting blown out classical music into two eras: pre- and post-Kumar of proportion and gaining an unrecognisable form Gandharva. altogether. He never opposed or refused to follow a certain gharana. Rather, he is one of the very Filtering the essence rare singers who deeply studied a multitude of Was he heavily criticised by the masters of the time gharanas and brought the essence of them all into for not toeing the line? “I won’t deny that it must his singing.” definitely not have been easy for Kumarji to do what he did, in an era when classical singers were brought NCPA Bandish will be presented from 23rd to 25th up to be purists, in order to protect the sanctity of August at the Tata Theatre.

NCPA Bandish 2019 – The Lineup

Date Performers Composers

Bhuvanesh Komkali Kumar Gandharva 23rd August, 2019 Jnan Prakash Ghosh Kaushiki Chakraborty Bade Ghulam Ali Khan

24th August, 2019 Aruna Sairam Venkata Kavi

25th August, 2019 Suresh Wadkar & Sadhana Sargam S. D. Burman, Roshan & Madan Mohan

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Bandish.indd 17 16/07/19 12:22 PM ARCHIVES

Epic Variations ON Stage brings you excerpts from the NCPA Quarterly Journal, an unsurpassed literary archive that ran from 1972 to 1988 and featured authoritative and wide-ranging articles. In the first installment of a three-part series, Dr. Suresh Awasthi discusses the various forms and styles of the Ramayana theatre tradition in India and South-East Asia.

Kathakali is distinguished by the variety of performances representing the distinctive and elaborate Ramayana theatre tradition. Sri Lanka, costumes and makeup Nepal, Laos and Philippines could not send their troupes for the festival. The festival gave a glimpse of the vast panorama of the Ramayana theatre prevalent in India and the countries of South-East Asia where the Ramayana theatre is an important sector of the contemporary theatre activity. This is even more true about the countries of South-East Asia than India, the mother country of the Ramayana epic, and also the Ramayana theatre. The Ramayana theatre is distinguished by a variety of forms and styles. It is the richest and the most representative form of traditional theatre in terms of story, spoken word, music, dance and production styles. It is also an enduring and significant element of the traditional culture representing the life of the people in its totality – their beliefs and ideals, conduct and customs, and arts and crafts. The colourful traditional theatre of India and South-East Asian countries using the episodes from the Ramayana has often added a new dimension to the epic story and given new interpretations to the characters. With their legendary and mythical motives and overtones, the epic story eminently suited the stylised and convention-based traditional theatre of these countries. The Ramayana theatre has a composite character. It is total theatre. It is a theatre of stylisation and conventions. The The Ramayana has been a vital element A story without borders stylised costumes and make-up elements of the culture of India and South- The cultural ties between these countries are integral to the total scheme, the East Asian countries and has greatly slackened in the course of history, because basis being provided by a non-realistic influenced the beliefs, customs, values of various factors, particularly due to alien delivery of speech treated with a whole and lifestyles of the people in these rule. It was in the quest of these cultural ties set of conventions. The stylisation and countries and enriched their plastic and to highlight the values of the Ramayana conventions of the theatrical presentation and performing arts. The Ramayana tradition that Indonesia organised the are concerned with the treatment of the tradition is a living tradition in these First International Ramayana Festival actor’s face, dramatic speech and gestures countries for the last several centuries in 1971. The festival included theatrical and movements. and it continues to inspire and stimulate presentations by the participating countries Fantastic headgears used in the the creative urge and a sense of beauty. and an exhibition of masks, puppets, Kathakali, Yakshagana and Thai dance- It is through the Ramayana tradition costumes and jewellery. A seminar was drama, the delicate and lyrical masks used that the countries of this region have also organised to discuss the nature of in Chhau dances and in Balinese dance- shared common elements and features the Ramayana dance-drama in all its drama, and the highly stylised make-up of culture and artistic traditions for aspects. India, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand, of Kathakali are most effective devices nearly 2000 years. Cambodia and Indonesia presented a of stylisation. The masks of the Khon

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FOB Archives.indd 42 15/07/19 4:23 PM dance-drama of Thailand and the stylised costumes, symbolic facial make-up and from one locale to another along with the figures of the Wayang Kulit shadow play fantastic masks and headgears; freedom audiences. of Indonesia succeed in creating a world from the unities of time and place and a The Ramayana theatre, with its of mystery and fantasy, deepening the variety of stage conventions – these are ritualistic character, has a dynamic nature meaning of the epic story. The masks the main features which characterise the and along with the epic story, it often and make-up of characters like Ravana, Ramayana theatre of various countries. presents contemporary social life and Hanuman and Garuda have attracted the The traditional theatre in Asian sharply projects secular values. The social greatest attention and inspired craftsmen countries has been a place of the content is introduced in the plays often to evolve stylised approaches and a great intermingling of all the arts reflecting through the impromptu dialogues in variety of conception and interpretation the values of the total theatre, achieving modern language as against the classical of characters. The embroidered zari an intensive and unified quality. The language of the plays. These dialogues mask of Ravana used in the Ram Leela dramatic verse is fully integrated with the are delivered by the clown and the minor in Ramnagar (near Varanasi) is a most music, and the choreographic structure characters of the plays, whether it is the exquisite piece of art. The human-size follows, and is based upon the musical clown in the Wayang Kulit, the shadow- mask of Garuda used in the Ankiya Nat structure of the play. theatre of Indonesia, or the Vidushaka in of Assam and the mask of Ravana used in The spoken word in poetic form provides Koodiyattam. Ramayana plays in various the Javanese dance theatre exudes an air of the entire mise-en-scene and the actor, forms – dance-drama, music-drama, earthiness and primitive vitality. using hieroglyphic figures in his mimetic spoken word-drama, and shadow-play gestures, negates the need for a realistic – have a loose and flexible structure and Of masks and make-up décor. Kathakali has reached the highest this provides scope for elaboration and The make-up in symbolic colours and with point of development of non-verbal theatre improvisation. abstract designs is intended to highlight and represents a perfect integration of Apart from the rich narrative content the facial features and accentuate the aural and visual effects in plastic form. The and the great poetry employed in the qualities of the characters. The mask does Ramayana theatre of the dance-drama Ramayana theatre of different countries, not duplicate the face of the actor; it vitally variety functions like a three-dimensional they also have a rich and highly developed alters it by enlarging and distorting the montage. The meaning of the drama is music and dance content. Music is the very features. It is interesting to note that the carried by the poetry and is passed over dynamic of this theatre, and it determines scheme of colour symbolism used in make- into gestures or into musical rhythm or the pace, rhythm, and the movement up is also more or less the same in the case can be created by more than one mode in of the drama. In Indonesia and other of masks and puppets. The Yakshagana unison or in counterpoint. countries of this region, specific melodies Music is the very dynamic of this theatre, and it determines the pace, rhythm, and the movement of the drama string puppets follow the same principles Flexibility of time and place are fixed for various situations and actions, of make-up, the designs of headgears and The Ramayana theatre has deep religious to express various sentiments and moods costumes as in the Yakshagana human associations and metaphysical overtones. and to accompany the entries and exits of theatre. The Javanese masks like the make- Elaborate rituals and ceremonies are the characters, in the same manner as in up of the Wayang Wong dancer and the performed in many forms as part of the Yakshagana and in Ankiya Nat of Assam. heads of the Wayang Golek puppets, follow preliminaries, and also often as part of the Orchestral pieces are often used as the same iconographic principles as do the drama proper. The Ram Leela of north incidental music, especially during the flat leather puppets of the shadow play. India and Wayang Kulit of Indonesia fight scenes. The orchestra plays in unison The masks represent the totality of the have a dominant religious character. In with the vocal line and repeats the melodic folk arts and crafts of the region and follow the mask-dance-drama of Thailand, a phrase giving relief to the actor to present elements and conventions of the plastic mysterious atmosphere is created and in choreographic patterns and enrich his arts. The stylised make-up and masks Koodiyattam, highly stylised make-up and gestures by an elaborate interpretation greatly accentuate and enrich the scheme symbolic gestures impart a metaphysical of the text. There is a rich dance content of stylisation of the Ramayana theatre and quality to the theatre. too with highly developed gesture impart to it a quality of otherworldliness. The episodes from the Rama legend language. The gestures in Kathakali The use of poetry, music, dance and in almost all the countries are presented and the graceful and lyrical movements mime; the intermingling of epic and as serial plays and the entire epic story in Balinese dance-drama are highly lyric poetry, of narrative and dramatic is performed canto-wise in seven days. developed and refined. The theatrical story material; highly stylised and In some forms, the ‘dance-days’ are presentation with rich music, striking choreographic style of acting illuminating multiplied and the story is presented in 14 poses and codified gestures builds up a the gestures, poses and movements of the or 21 days. In some of the forms, like the spectacle of great choreographic beauty actor; conventions of speech, such as the Ram Leela of north India, the story takes and pictorial charm. alternation of prose and verse; a stylised, the form of a processional drama with recitative and rhythmic mode of delivery scenes mounted on carts, and the main This article first appeared in its entirety in and a multiplicity of delivery-patterns; locales of the story are built at different the NCPA Quarterly Journal in September the use of chorus and narrators, elaborate places in the town and the play moves 1972 (Vol.I, No.1)

NCPA August 2019 • 43

FOB Archives.indd 43 15/07/19 4:23 PM Programme Guide (Programmes are subject to change. Please check the website and refer to our emails for updated information.) August 2019

THEATRE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DANCE FILMS / SCREENINGS

INDIAN MUSIC WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC MULTI ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITION

western classical music the first woman to achieve equal status Eshvita Menezes, Joy Peter, Judyline to her male counterparts, not only as a Fernandes, Kevin Kirs Verstege, Leo Con Brio, 1st to 4th, Experimental composer but also as a pianist, thereby Velho, Nakul Jogdeo, Priya Ann Theatre paving the way for other women Sequeira, Rajat Chowdhury, Shirish composers and instrumentalists. Malhotra, Zubin Behram-Kamdin and last year’s winner, Rishabh Jain. Songs (approx. 120 mins) Competition Semifinals Thursday, 1st – 7.00 pm (approx. 120 mins) Con Brio, 1st to Saturday, 3rd – 7.00 pm 4th, Experimental Women composers had a natural Theatre propensity for song-writing and this Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor concert showcases the exquisite is a masterpiece on par with the greatest compositional skill that they possessed chamber music ever composed and in this genre. The composers on the Marialena Fernandes, Eshvita Menezes programme include Clara Schumann and Kevin Kirs Verstege will perform (Six Songs Op. 13), Alma Mahler, Amy the complex first movement. This Marcy Beach, Amy Woodforde-Finden, will be followed by the semi-finals of Con Brio, 1st to 4th, Experimental Deirdre Gribbin, Eva Dell’Acqua, this year’s competition. The second Theatre Ingeborg von Bronsart, Liza Lehmann, half of the programme will be Sally Muriel Herbert, Pauline Viardot Beamish’s very unique The Seafarer and Rebecca Clarke sung by Ankna Trio, written for narrator and piano trio, Arockiam, Farah Ghadiali, Jennifer Lee, performed by Mika Nishimura, Jennifer Kersi Gazdar, Nitya Thomas, Oscar Son and Parvesh Java, with narration Castellino, Patricia Rozario and Rahul by Rehaan Engineer. The half-hour Bharadwaj. The concert will end with a work is accompanied by projections of chamber chorus singing Alice Parker’s breathtaking animated drawings of the Con Brio 2019 – More Songstream accompanied by a piano sea by Jila Peacock. Schumania: Celebrating duet with Mark Troop and Shirley Women Manuel. Competition Finals Western Music Festival & Piano (approx. 120 mins) Competition Chamber Music Sunday, 4th – 6.30 pm Experimental Theatre (approx. 120 mins) Thursday, 1st to Sunday, 4th August Friday, 2nd - 7.00 pm Sonam Lodhi will perform Clara Schumann’s unfinished piano An NCPA & Furtados Presentation Marialena Fernandes and Ranko concerto with ensemble led by Mika Markovic will perform Astrid Nishimura. Marialena Fernandes, In 2010, Anthony Gomes and Spitznagel’s Divertimento with Nadine Judyline Fernandes, Joy Peter and Parvesh Java decided to memorialise Crasto and Mark Troop will perform Bianca Mendonca will perform the John Gomes and celebrate Robert Hilary Tann’s Water’s Edge, both for first movement of Fanny Hensel’s Schumann’s bicentenary by creating the piano duet. Kyong Mee Choi’s To Piano Quartet in A flat. Subin Sebastian first Con Brio, called Schumania. Today Unformed will introduce audiences to will sing arias by Barbara Strozzi and we embark on the tenth edition of the the world of electro-acoustic music. Francesca Caccini. Other composers festival and this time we are celebrating Other composers on the programme include Cécile Chaminade, Germaine Clara Schumann’s bicentenary. We include Clara Schumann, Elizabeth Tailleferre, Grace Williams, Libby Larsen offer youMore Schumania where we Jacquet de la Guerre, Laura Netzel, Luise and Lili Boulanger. Performers include celebrate Clara by showcasing the Adolpha Le Beau, Mélanie Bonis, Nadia Eshvita Menezes, Josh Henriques, Kevin work of women composers right from Boulanger and Sofia Gubaidulina. Also Kirs Verstege, Jasiel Peter, Mark Troop, the 11th century till the 21st. Clara was performing are Earl Vasanthakumar, Nadine Crasto, Nakul Jogdeo, Priya

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Programme Guide.indd 50 16/07/19 2:42 PM Ann Sequeira and Sherna Doongaji. screening one-act ballet by Cuban choreographer The competition finals and prize Alberto Alonso, originally conceived for Carmen Suite, distribution will also be part of this 5th & 7th, Godrej legendary Bolshoi prima ballerina Maya programme. Dance Theatre Plisetskaya, will captivate audiences. Carmen Suite, along with Petrushka, Daily Tickets: a new creation for the Bolshoi by `500 & 300/- contemporary choreographer Edward Box Office now open Clug, will make for an evening that will encapsulate the soul of Russian ballet. dance Music Director: Pavel Sorokin Charishnu – The Desire Petrushka, 5th & 7th, Choreography & Libretto: Alberto Alonso to Move Godrej Dance Theatre (approx. 90 mins) Petrushka: At Saint-Petersburg’s Jamshed Bhabha Theatre carnival, three puppets are playing the Saturday, 3rd – 6.30 pm same role over and over: the unhappy lover Petrushka, the coquette and a In collaboration with Sahachari Moor. Fed up with this endless part Foundation Events that never goes well for him, Petrushka Associate Sponsor: Creaticity, Pune attacks his rival and flees from the puppet theatre. Charishnu literally means ‘the desire Bolshoi Ballet: Carmen to move’. This spectacular dance and Suite Music Director: Pavel Klinichev music presentation features 45 dancers by Georges Bizet-Rodion Shchedrin Choreography: Edward Clug showcasing a selection of classical, Petrushka Libretto: Alexander Benois folk and martial dance forms of India, by Igor Stravinsky Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists along with an ensemble of drums from Ballet Screenings & Corps de Ballet different parts of the country.Aditi (approx. 140 mins) Mangaldas (Kathak), Aruna Mohanty Godrej Dance Theatre Tickets: `500/- (Odissi), Priti Patel (Manipuri), Monday, 5th & Wednesday, 7th – Box Office now open Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kathakali 6.30 pm and Mohiniattam), Imocha Singh western classical music (Thang-ta), Mahesh Vinayakram An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) (percussion) and Leela Samson Presentation Young Talent (Bharatanatyam) lead their troupes, Western Music Concert with each individual dance style in Carmen Suite: Impetuous Carmen Godrej Dance Theatre dialogue with the other, and all coming seduces Don José in order to convince Thursday, 8th – 6.30 pm together in a spectacular finale. him to let her out of jail. Once outside, she thinks she’s finally free before In association with the Stop-Gaps Concept & Direction: Leela Samson realising that she is, in fact, a prisoner Cultural Academy of a love triangle. She wants to be Tickets: with the famous Torero Escamillo, but The Budding Brigade concert `750, 570, 375 & 150/- (Members) she cannot make Don José go away. gives musically talented children `1,000, 760, 500 & 200/- (Public) Carmen is as passionate and free- between the ages of seven and 15 (Inclusive of GST) spirited as ever, but she finds herself the opportunity to perform on stage Box Office now open caught in a conundrum. The passionate before a discerning audience. The brigade this year comprises pianists Charishnu, 3rd, Avni Benjamin, Malika S. D’Cunha, Jamshed Bhabha Theatre Dhruv Ghoshal, Neel Maheshwari, Navya Mittal, Shruthi Narayan, Daya Maithri Ravi, Tara Salgia-Patel, Kiara Michelle Soares, Josh Varghese and Zachary Siqueira Vaz; violinists Ruchir Sachin Ingale, Gayatri Joglekar, Arav Lalsare, Arnav Lalsare and Cayla Rodrigues These children will enthrall

you with a vibrant selection of music ) from classical to modern, including the

works of Beethoven, Bober, Chopin, petrushka Joplin, Mozart, Pieczonka, Schubert, ( Seitz, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and many fetisova . more. e

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Programme Guide.indd 51 16/07/19 2:46 PM Membership Categories (Renewal Rates for 2019-20): Annual Membership Rates** (R): Membership  Individual 7,500  Couple 10,000 Application form  Student* 2,500 (6-21 yrs)  Differently Abled 750  Senior Citizen (Individual) 4,000 Dear Member,  Senior Citizen (Couple) 5,000 This is a reminder to renew your membership for the next annual term. Renewals are open for Life Membership (25 yrs.) Rates** (R): memberships expiring in the months of July/August/September 2019. You also have the option  Individual 1,87,500  Couple 2,50,000 of renewing your membership for the next two years. In order to keep all information up to date and recent, we request you to please fill in this membership form in order to renew your membership. Special Membership Kindly submit this form along with recent passport-sized photograph/s and your membership Packages Rates** (R): card/s to the membership department. You can now renew your membership online. Log on  Defence Personnel On Request (Army/Navy/Air Force) to www.ncpamumbai.com for details. For enquiry on new membership, please contact the  Corporate Membership On Request Membership Department.  Group & Family On Request Membership Primary Member Name:

Membership Benefits: Joint Member Name: (in case of couple membership)  Avail generous discounts on tickets for events and workshops Membership No.  Enjoy priority booking facility  Access privileged seating to more than 36 free events in a year across various genres. Address:  Receive a personal free copy of the NCPA’s monthly arts magazine and programme guide, Pin Code: ON Stage, couriered to your doorstep  Receive advance e-mail notification of events Telephone: Mobile:  Get a personalised membership card and gain free access to the NCPA Books and Music library Email: Date of Birth:  Enjoy exclusive discounts offered by our brand partners Occupation: Company:

* Conditions apply Date: Signature:

Be a Friend Dear Friend of the SOI,

Become a Friend of the SOI by contributing Thank you for your continued support of the Symphony Orchestra of India. We’d like to R15,000 p.a **. Each friend of the SOI is entitled to take this opportunity to remind you that it is time to renew your association with the SOI. the following benefits: This reminder is for the association ending in June 2019 only. Please check the validity on your card. In order to keep all information up to date, we request you to please fill  Acknowledgement in the SOI Souvenir in this renewal form along with a recent passport-sized photograph and submit it to Brochure the Membership department at the Tata Theatre. A new SOI card will be issued to you  Two complimentary tickets for any one immediately. performance each season  Priority booking Dear Sir,  Invitation to at least one private reception every year I wish to renew my association with the Symphony Orchestra of India  Opportunity to meet the artistes  Complimentary copy of ON Stage (NCPA’s monthly magazine) at your doorstep Name:  Free access to the NCPA Library and the Stuart Liff library SOI Card No.:  Exclusive access to the Members’ Bar  Exclusive offers on our brand partners Address: Cheques for both NCPA and SOI should be drawn in favour of ‘National Centre for the Pin Code: Performing Arts’ and submitted along with a stamp sized photograph to: Telephone: Mobile: The Membership Department, Tata Theatre, NCPA, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Email: Date of Birth: Mumbai 400 021. Occupation: Company: Email: [email protected] Cheque No.: Date: Tel.: 66223719

** GST of 18% (9% CGST & 9% SGST) is Drawn On: applicable on fees for all membership categories (for NCPA & SOI) from July 1, 2017. Date: Signature:

Membership Form.indd 43 16/07/19 4:20 PM Tickets: `200/- dance Tickets: Box Office now open `360 & 270/-(Members) August Dance Residency `400 & 300/- (Public) indian music 9th & 10th August Box Office now open

Aarya Ambekar, 9th, An NCPA Presentation photography Experimental Theatre

Dance Workshop DCP Expeditions by Mamata Shankar Photography Workshops Sea View Room 10th & 11th August Friday, 9th – 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm Fundamentals of Digital A workshop on Uday Shankar’s style of Photography dance will be conducted by Mamata Basic Photography Workshop Shankar at the NCPA. Piramal Art Gallery Saturday, 10th – 10.00 am to Registration Fees: `300/- 6.00 pm For registration, call 66223802 / 66223805/ 8879114939 or email Want to learn photography? DCP Shyam Rang [email protected] Expeditions, which is one of India’s Hindustani Vocal Music largest photography training By Aarya Ambekar & Group Kalpana academies, brings you a workshop that (approx. 90 mins) Film Screening will introduce you to the exciting world Experimental Theatre Godrej Dance Theatre of digital photography. Here is your Friday, 9th – 6.30 pm Saturday, 10th – 3.00 pm opportunity to learn basic theory and the fundamentals of photography from An NCPA Presentation A film made by the legendary dancer our experts. This workshop will enable Supported by Rukmani & Kishan Uday Shankar will be screened at the you to start taking better images of any Daiya Foundation and Motibai NCPA. subject and you will be able to analyse Thackersey Charities and judge the factors that influence an Admission free on a first-come- image and figure the right composition With Janmashtami just a few days first-served basis. while framing your picture and then away, we present Shyam Rang to use these factors to your taste and celebrate the legend of Krishna – “the Sabari! requirements. This workshop includes dark one”, through music. Indian music Performance by Mamata Shankar a field session which will enable you has a huge repertoire of compositions, Dance Company to practice the concepts that you learn whose textual content is dedicated (approx. 60 mins) during the theory session on the field. to the amorous exploits of Krishna – Experimental Theatre the cowherd of Vrindavan, and also Saturday, 10th – 6.00 pm Workshop Fees: to the devotional and philosophical `3,500/- (inclusive of GST) thoughts associated with his divine August Dance Residency will be love. The theme has also engendered presented by the distinguished Mamata Magic of Single Light many beautiful songs that are featured Shankar Dance Company, headed by Portraiture Workshop in Hindi films. Aarya Ambekar has renowned dancer and actress Mamata Piramal Art Gallery trained in Hindustani music. She Shankar, who is also the daughter of Sunday, 11th – 10.00 am to 6.00 pm has been a finalist of MarathiSa Re Uday Shankar. The company, started Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs. Today, as a in 1977, continues to teach a unique Have you heard of the saying 'Less Is versatile artiste, she has several live dance style created by Uday Shankar, More'? DCP Expeditions present 'Magic concerts and TV shows to her credit. which is a mix of classical Indian dance of Single Light' in portrait photography. Besides lending voice to Marathi films, with a contemporary sensibility. The Learn the fundamentals of single light Ambekar has also had the opportunity company has several noteworthy photography with a hands-on practical to act in Marathi films. In this thematic choreographies and is known for their session with a live model. Improve your concert, Ambekar will present a dance drama and dance ballet. portrait photography with minimum bouquet of traditional as well as film Sabari, 10th, photographic gear. songs dedicated to Krishna. Experimental Theatre Workshop Fees: Tickets: `6,000/- (inclusive of GST) `270 & 180/- (Members) `300 & 200/- (Public) For more information on both the Box Office: 26th July for Members & above workshops, please email us 29th July for Public at [email protected] or call us at +912261818464

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Programme Guide.indd 48 16/07/19 2:51 PM Pervez Mody, 13th, indian music Experimental Adapted by Ben Power Theatre Written by Stefano Massini MusSync, 11th, Experimental Directed by Sam Mendes Theatre Tickets: `400/- Box Office now open

theatre

second movement theme which Band Baja: Promoting was widely popularised by the film Young Collaborations Elvira Madigan. with MusSync (approx. 90 mins) Tickets: Experimental Theatre `600 & 400/- (Plus GST) Sunday, 11th - 5.30 pm Box Office now open

An NCPA Presentation screening

Bombay Jazz, 14th, Band Baja promotes innovative The Lehman Trilogy Experimental Theatre music endeavours going beyond Theatre Screening (240 mins) the set boundaries of musical genres Godrej Dance Theatre Bombay Jazz and traditions, especially by and Wednesday, 14th & Monday, 19th – English Play (75 mins) for the youth. The series presents 5.00 pm Experimental Theatre MusSync, a band of young talented Wednesday, 14th – 8.00 pm members who are primarily trained An NCPA-National Theatre Live in Hindustani music but also have a (London) Presentation An NCPA Presentation in keen interest in other music traditions. collaboration with Stagesmith The members include Shruti Bhave The story of a family and a company (violin), Varad Kathapurkar (flute), that changed the world, told in three A semi-autobiographical musical Kamlesh Bhadkamkar (keyboard) parts on a single evening. Academy play about Goan and Anglo Indian and others. Besides some original Award-winner Sam Mendes (Skyfall, musicians who brought jazz pieces, the band will explore a wide The Ferryman) directs Simon Russell influences into Hindi film music array of genres from folk and ghazals Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles between the 1950s and 1970s. to re-arranged popular melodies and who play the Lehman Brothers, There’s jazz, there’s rock‘n’roll; there’s symphonic classics. their sons and grandsons. On a cold sax, there’s violins; there’s egos and September morning in 1844, a young alcoholism; there’s love, passion Tickets: man from Bavaria stands on a New York and bounced cheques. And there `270 & 180/- (Members) dockside, dreaming of a new life in the are some of the biggest names in `300 & 200/- (Public) new world. He is joined by his two popular culture from C. Ramachandra Box Office: 26th July for Members & brothers, and an American epic begins. and Laxmikant-Pyarelal to Shankar- 29th July for the Public 163 years later, the firm they establish Jaikishan and R. D. Burman. – Lehman Brothers – spectacularly western classical music collapses into bankruptcy and triggers Written by Ramu Ramanathan the largest financial crisis in history. Based on Research by Naresh Fernandes SOI Chamber Orchestra This critically acclaimed and five-time Directed by Etienne Coutinho Pervez Mody, piano Olivier Award nominated play features Music Composer: Merlin D’souza (approx. 120 mins) stunning set design from Es Devlin (NT Cast: Denzil Smith & Rhys Sebastian Experimental Theatre Live: Hamlet) D’souza Tuesday, 13th – 7.00 pm The Lehman Trilogy, Tickets: 14th & 19th, Godrej

An NCPA Presentation Dance Theatre `450/- (Members) ) `500/- (Public) trilogy Pervez Mody, described by legendary Box Office now open pianist Martha Argerich as “an lehman extraordinary musician and performing theatre the ( artiste of a very unique kind” will join

the SOI Chamber Orchestra to perform douet Chinta Chhod Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, the Chintamani mark

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Programme Guide.indd 49 16/07/19 3:17 PM Hindi Play (120 mins) many events, small triumphs and photography Experimental Theatre turning points that culminated into Thursday, 15th – 7.00 pm the hoisting of the Indian tricolour on 15th August 1947. This Independence This is the story of a family where Day, Readings in the Shed takes a walk the father thinks his progenies are down memory lane through stories standing on the threshold of total that recount the many milestones ruination. They are wallowing in that made up our country's most self-indulgence and their destiny is memorable journey. leading them to an inevitable fall. On the other hand, the children think this Creative Editor: Himali Kothari Dr. Avaneesh Rajan, 17th, is nothing but a generation gap, and Directed by Nikhil Katara Piramal Art Gallery the old man is unable to understand Performed by Nikhil Katara & others the situation. Is it really a generation Dr. Avaneesh Rajan gap or a case of miscommunication? Please carry your ID proof for Photo Talk If it is really a case of generation registration, which will be done at Piramal Art Gallery gap then who will bridge the gap? the venue prior to the event start Saturday, 17th – 4.00 pm to Chinta Chhod Chintamani is a hilarious time. 7.00 pm family drama commenting on the contemporary social scenario. Registration Fees: There will be a photo talk by `270/- (Members) Dr. Avaneesh Rajan, an eminent Written by Dr. Vasant Kanetkar `300/- (Public) wildlife photographer and ex- Designed & Directed by Om Katare Box Office: Registration now open president of the Photographic Society Cast: Om Katare, Mukesh Yadav, of India on 17th August from 4.00 pm Puneet Maloo, Jaya Ojha, Mukund theatre onwards at the Piramal Art Gallery. Bhatt, Ashok Sharma & others Honey Honey Ke Money Entry Free. A Yatri Production Money Parsi Gujarati Play (150 mins) theatre Tickets: Experimental Theatre An Evening of Two `630 & 450/- (Members) Friday, 16th – 7.00 pm Comedies, 17th & 22nd, `700 & 500/- (Public) Tata Theatre (Plus GST) Dinshu and Jimshu are very Box Office now open good friends who never leave an opportunity to flirt with other theatre women when their wives are away. When Delnaz’s aunt comes to take Nikhil Katara, her out of town for 10 days, 15th, Piramal Art Gallery Dinshu and Jimshu make plans with their girlfriends. In the meantime, a solicitor comes from Hyderabad to inform Dinshu that he has inheirted An Evening of Two crores of rupees, but to get it he Comedies: needs to get his wife’s signature Bicharo Burjor within a day. Suffice it to say, Dinshu By Yazdi Karanjia & and Jimshu hatch a crackpot plan to Police Station Ma have their cake and eat it too. Dhamaal Readings in the Shed By Rustom Irani Chapter XIV (90 mins) Written by Dorab Mehta Parsi Gujarati Plays (105 mins) Piramal Art Gallery Directed by Cyrus Dastoor Tata Theatre Thursday, 15th – 7.00 pm Cast: Mani Mulla, Dilshad Irani, Saturday, 17th (Parsi New Year) – Behram Toddywalla, Hemant 5.00 pm & 7.30 pm An NCPA Presentation Bhatt, Rashna Karai, Gunvant Thursday, 22nd (Khordad Sal) – Surani & others 7.00 pm 73 years since Indian independence... The conflict may have been A Universal Theatres’ Production An NCPA Production for the Adi overcome but the story continues Marzban Endowment Fund to evolve. The year 2019 marks Tickets: In aid of the Times & Talents Club 100 years of the Jallianwala Bagh `450 & 360/- (Members) (5.00 pm show) Massacre, a significant moment in `500 & 400/- (Public) India's independence struggle. The Box Office now open A rip-roaring comedy Bicharo Burjor decades of strife were made up of by the Yazdi Karanjia Drama Group

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Programme Guide.indd 50 16/07/19 2:55 PM from Surat featuring Yazdi Karanjia, An Ank Production plans of finding the next successors Vira Karanjia, Shehzad Karanjia, to their seats of power. The Indian Mehernosh Karanjia and others. Tickets: and American governments share This will be followed by Police `450/- (Members) something comedic in common Station Ma Dhamaal, a Nautanki `500/- (Public) without realising it. That is, until they Bawas’ presentation, encouraging Box Office now open meet of course. young talent. A play about a police inspector accusing a blind man of theatre Written and directed by Meherzad bank robbery starring Rustom Irani, Patel Khurshid Irani, Umeed Kothavala, Two Adorable Losers Cast: Danesh Irani, Dilnaz Irani, Neville Postwalla, Benaisha Irani English Play (100th show) Jigar Mehta, Darius Shroff, Sajeel and others. Come and enjoy a hearty (120 mins) Parakh, Danesh Khambata & others laugh. Experimental Theatre Saturday, 17th – 7.00 pm A Silly Point Production Produced by Sam Kerawalla Two Adorable Losers is an English Tickets: Tickets: comedy about a professor from a `1,500, 1,125, 900, 750, 525 & 375/- `1,125, 900, 600, 375, 300 & 150/- rural state (Odisha), weak in his English (Members) (Members) diction and a third-year psychology `2,000, 1,500, 1,200, 1,000, 700 & `1,500, 1,200, 800, 500, 400 & 200/- student, weak in statistics. Both 500/- (Public) (Public) suffer from the same problem – an (Inclusive of GST) (Inclusive of GST) inferiority complex. In an attempt Box Office now open Box Office now open to regain their lost confidence, they approach each other, which results in photography theatre an unusual alliance. As the coaching progresses, their relationship evolves Splendid China Hamari Neeta Ki Shaadi from teacher-student, to father-son, to Photography Exhibition by Yu Lap Hindi Play (90 mins) two friends, to business partners and Tang Godrej Dance Theatre whatever else that fits the viewers’ Piramal Art Gallery Saturday, 17th – 6.00 pm & 8.00 pm description. Will they succeed in their Monday, 19th to Wednesday, 21st – respective motives? 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm Kaveri and Dashrath, typical upwardly mobile Mumbaikars, originally from Written by Abhishek Pattnaik This travelling photography exhibition UP, are determined to have a beautiful Directed by Murtuza Kutianawala of Yu Lap Tang is in celebration of traditional wedding for their daughter Cast: Abhishek Pattnaik & Darsheel the 70th anniversary of the founding Neeta, with Kaveri striving for the most Safary of the People’s Republic of China. The perfect party, food and decor that exhibition reveals the fantastic inner would be talked about amongst her An Out of the Box Production world of Tang and by following his social set for years to come. The entire works, we are transported to a land household, friends, assorted domestic Tickets: of enchanting beauty and are able to help, an ever-interfering uncle, have `675, 540 & 450/- (Members) admire China’s great achievements all been deployed by Kaveri to have `750, 600 & 500/- (Public) over the length of 70 years. a perfect traditional, by-the-book (Plus GST) wedding. Neeta, born and brought Box Office now open Entry Free. up in Mumbai, is totally flummoxed by these new-found rituals and list of theatre dance dos and don’ts. Kaveri masterminding operations will brook no interference The Devil Wears Bataa NCPA Utkarsh Series in what she now regards as her English Play (120 mins) – In Reverence to the major project in life – her daughter’s Tata Theatre Maestro perfect traditional wedding. Neeta’s Sunday, 18th – 4.00 pm & 7.30 pm Lecture-Demonstration by solution: boycott the wedding by Internationally Renowned locking herself in the bathroom. Will There is nothing political about Kathak Duo – Nalini Kamalini the wedding take place at all? Will the this play, because, let's face it, Godrej Dance Theatre two generations find the middle path nobody understands politics, not Tuesday, 20th - 6.30 pm to sanity? even the politicians themselves. The play is a hilarious fictitious take Internationally renowned Kathak Written & Directed by Veena Bakshi on how an orange-faced, blonde- duo Nalini Kamalini are devoted Cast: Preeta Mathur Thakur, Aman haired, pompous, loud-mouthed disciples of Kathak maestro, Jitendra Gupta, Shankar Iyer, Arunima businessman in the Oval Office and Maharaj of Varanasi gharana, the Joshi, Burhanuddin, Mani Pillai, a sharp-witted Sardarji who is the trendsetter of the temple style Jawed, Rehman & others Indian PM, go about their devious of Kathak dancing. The sisters are

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Programme Guide.indd 51 16/07/19 2:57 PM Nalini - Kamalini, 20th, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Godrej Dance Theatre He was born on Mars, married a tree, 23rd, Tata Theatre once jumped into an audience, got pranked by his own wife, got death threats from Saif Ali Khan fans; and is convinced that he made the Mumbai Indians win the IPL. In his new show, Sorabh Pant shares ridiculous stories from his life that are almost not believable. All the stories are true, barring the needless exaggerations. The content will be clean and enjoyable for almost the whole family, so bring Having trained with his father, Mukul your Dadiji. After a few drinks. Shivputra, and grandparents, the legendary Kumar Gandharva and Age: 12+ Vasundhara Komkali, Bhuvanesh Komkali will present some iconic Tickets: compositions of Kumar Gandharva, `630/- (Members) whose eclectic works have influenced blessed with rare artistic qualities of `700/- (Public) artistes across gharanas. Jnan Prakash natural expression, grace, clarity and (Plus GST) Ghosh was one of the most prolific perfection and known for their refined Box Office now open composers whose works ranged from sensibilities and subtlety. They are classical and light music to modern, often invited to present this traditional indian music orchestral and choral music. Kaushiki form before visiting dignitaries in the Chakraborty will present some Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhawan and NCPA Bandish immortal compositions attributed have participated in several national A Tribute to Legendary Indian to him. She will also include in her and international festivals of repute in Composers recital thumri & dadra compositions of various parts of the world viz. the UK, Tata Theatre the legendary Bade Ghulam Ali Khan USA, Germany, France, Spain, Norway Friday, 23rd to Sunday, 25th – (Sabrang). and the Middle East. In the most 6.30 pm challenging atmosphere of mixed race Tickets: of students, the duo have conducted Supported by HSBC `450, 360 & 240/- (Members) lecture-cum-demonstrations in `600, 480 & 320/- (Public) various leading universities like Oxford, Indian music centres around well- (Inclusive of GST) Cambridge, Leiden, Manchester and structured melodic and rhythmic London School of Economics that compositions known as bandish. It 24th August were of great success. They have represents a central idea or a base upon Aruna Sairam been decorated with various awards. which the edifice of a performance is (Approx. 120 mins) They have set the world record for sculpted and realised. The three-day dancing at the height of 18,000 feet festival will showcase some of the Aruna Sairam, at Kailash Mansarovar in the year 2003. most treasured works of the great 24th, Tata They have been awarded the Nritya composers, presented by eminent Theatre Shiromani from Sur Singar Samsad, artistes. Delhi Nritya Praveen, Madras Special President Award from President R. 23rd August Venkataraman, Delhi Mahakal Samman, Bhuvanesh Komkali Mahila Shiromani Indira Priyadarshini Kaushiki Chakraborty Excellence Award for Dance, Sangeet (Approx. 150 mins)

Natak Akademi Award, amongst others. Bhuvanesh Komkali, 23rd, Tata Theatre Tickets: `90/- (Members) `100/- (Public) Box Office: 26th July for Members & The works of Oothukkadu Venkata 29th July for Public Subba Iyer (Venkata Kavi) are believed to have influenced the following theatre generation of composers including the Trinity of Carnatic music. Aruna Sairam Sorabh Pant Live will present the compositions of the Stand-up Comedy (90 mins) revered composer along with those Godrej Dance Theatre composed by one of the celebrated Wednesday, 21st – 7.30 pm Trinity, Muthuswami Dikshitar.

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Programme Guide.indd 52 16/07/19 2:58 PM Ramakant Apac Photo Tickets: Gundecha, Exhibition, `450, 360 & 240/- (Members) 24th, West 24th & 25th, Room 1 Piramal Art `600, 480 & 320/- (Public) Gallery (Inclusive of GST)

25th August Suresh Wadkar & Sadhana Sargam (Approx. 120 mins)

Suresh Wadkar, 25th, Tata Theatre In collaboration with Dhrupad Patwardhan, art director, will be Sansthan Bhopal Nyas held on Sunday, 25th August from 2.00 pm onwards. There will also be Dhrupad is the oldest surviving genre a lecture on interior photography of Hindustani music. The tradition is and cinematography followed by a reputed for following special training screening of Nadi Vahate. methods to groom facets like voice, breath control, pitch control and Entry Free systematic delineation of composition. We offer a special opportunity to train international music with the internationally renowned exponents of this art form, Umakant Samantha Noella, 24th, Experimental Sadhana and Ramakant Gundecha, and their Theatre Sargam, senior disciples. Following topics will 25th, Tata be covered in the sessions: Theatre 1. Science of svara and raga 2. Voice culture training for raga music 3. Music and Yoga - Nadayoga in Dhrupad 4. Study of laya and tala The sessions will be conducted every month to maintain continuity.

Enrolment Fee: `1,000/- (plus GST) During the past century, celebrated for one session of 2 hours music directors like S. D. Burman, A limited number of registrations Roshan and Madan Mohan composed will be accepted. some iconic compositions for Hindi For enquiries regarding batches, films. Suresh Wadkar and Sadhana timing and registration: contact Sargam will present a bouquet of 66223831 or write to us at unforgettable raga-based songs of [email protected] these composers. Memories of Motown photography and Soul Tickets: Featuring Samantha Noella and the `900, 675, 450 & 300/- (Members) Apac Photo Exhibition Crooked Tailbones `1,200, 900, 600 & 400/- (Public) Piramal Art Gallery (approx. 120 mins) (Inclusive of GST) Saturday, 24th & Sunday, 25th – Experimental Theatre 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm Saturday, 24th – 7.00 pm Box Office for the Festival: 26th July for Members & 29th July for Public Apac Photography Institute had An NCPA Presentation organised a photography contest indian music entitled Photofry VII. The opening Samantha Noella, main vocals ceremony of the exhibition of the Faustin Missier, keys & backing vocals Training Sessions in prize-winning entries of this contest Sounak Saha, guitar Dhrupad will be held on Saturday, 24th August. Keith Donald, bass guitar Conducted by Umakant & The chief guest of this function will be Glyston Gracias, drums Ramakant Gundecha Ravi Kanade, renowned architectural Supported by their Disciples interior photographer. The awards Come join us as we celebrate the heart West Room 1 distribution ceremony by Sandeep and soul of music, tracing the roots of Saturday, 24th – 11.00 am to Sawant, director of Oscar-nominated soul, Motown, R&B, and their influence 1.00 pm & 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Marathi film Shwas, and Neeraja on pop music. Tonight, we play music

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Programme Guide.indd 53 16/07/19 3:00 PM La Bayadère, 27th, celebrating the life and works of Godrej Dance Theatre musicians such as Michael Jackson, The Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and many more. So don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes along.

Tickets: `750 & 500/- (Plus GST) Box Office now open

yusupov

theatre

Go...Go...Gomuli, damir 25th, Godrej Dance Theatre theatre Presentation

Var Virus, The temple dancer Nikiya and the Bairi Anti-Virus warrior Solor fall deeply in love, Parsi Gujarati Play giving way to heated passions and (approx. 120 mins) murderous intrigues when the Rajah Experimental Theatre and his daughter Gamzatti discover Sunday, 25th – 7.00 pm their forbidden love. La Bayadère is one of the greatest works in classical Go...Go...Gomuli The story revolves around a married ballet history – a story of love, death Children’s Play in Hindi/English man having an extra marital affair, and vengeful judgment set in India. (60 mins) enjoying the best of both worlds. Dazzling sets, costumes, and one of Godrej Dance Theatre His happy-go-lucky life changes one the most iconic scenes in ballet, the Sunday, 25th – 12.00 pm night when his wife, mistress, crazy “Kingdom of the Shades”, illuminate best friend and a murderer land up the tragic tale of the temple dancer An NCPA Presentation in in his house turning his life upside Nikiya’s doomed love for the warrior collaboration with Story Circus down. A house full of crazy people, Solor, and their ultimate redemption. along with the police partnered by A must-see. The sleepy village of Gomuli comes the protagonist’s niece, leaves the abuzz when the driver of a stranded hero helpless and confused. Who is Music Director: Pavel Sopylov bus arrives there looking for help and the murderer? Will the hero be caught Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich ends up encountering feuding families. cheating? To know more, come and Libretto: Marius Petipa & Sergei Eventually these warring people learn watch this hilarious play. Khudekov lessons in love and harmony as a mystical tree throws leaves of surprises for them Written by Pravin Solanki Tickets: `500/- and ushers them into the game of life. Directed by Roshan Tirandaz Box Office: 26th July for Members & In this feel-good play, the audience too Cast: Hormazd Chesan, Farengiz 29th July for Public plays a part as tourists of the bus and Crawford, Jeniffer Daruvala, Roshan after watching the world of Gomulities, and Dinyar Tirandaz & others film it is certain that they would tell their friends Go…Go…Gomuli. It is a complete A Centre Stage Production Care of Kancharapalem family entertainer with original catchy Telugu Film with English Subtitles songs, live music, funny one liners, Tickets: (152 mins) slapstick moments, surprising twists and `450/- (Members) Godrej Dance Theatre a heartfelt story of sibling love. `500/- (Public) Wednesday, 28th – 6.30 pm Box Office: 26th July for Members & Written & Directed by Ulka Mayur 29th July for Public The Indian Express Film Club Cast: Sriparna Chatterjee, Atul Presentation in association with Somkuwar, Nimesh Balaji Shinde & screening NCPA Vaishnavi Karmarkar. La Bayadère Care of Kancharapalem is a rare Telugu Age: 4+ by Ludwig Minkus film that takes us beyond the habitual Ballet Screening (210 mins) cinematic settings to familiarise us with Tickets: Godrej Dance Theatre the sights, sounds and lives of people `360/- (Members) Tuesday, 27th - 6.30 pm of a locality. In those narrow lanes of `400/- (Public) Kancharapalem in Vizag, there’s no place Box Office now open An NCPA-Pathé Live (Paris) for secrets. The humour with which all

54 • August 2019 NCPA

Programme Guide.indd 54 16/07/19 3:03 PM Care of Kancharapalem, Pratik Singh, 30th, 28th, Godrej West Room 1 theatre Dance Theatre Mumbai Terror Attacks: The David Coleman Headley Story English Play (105 mins) Godrej Dance Theatre Saturday, 31st – 5.00 pm & 8.00 pm

the characters are presented gently Set deep inside an American federal eases us into this slice-of-life narrative Rasika prison, Mumbai Terror Attacks is a one- Vartak-Garud that presents four romances – of school 30th, West man show that explores the life, times children Sunita and Sundaram, a young Room 1 and lies of the man that planned the Bhargavi and Joseph, 30-something 26/11 attacks. Years later, removed from Gaddam and Saleema, and that of Raju his life and in prison for the next 35 years, and an officer from Odisha whom he Headley is compelled to confess his sins. addresses as madam. He carefully lays out the events of his life and his need for attention. His is the story Director: Maha Venkatesh of a lost boy torn between his American Producer: Praveena Paruchuri mother and Pakistani father. He delves Cast: Radha Bessy, Mohan Bhagath, into both, the details of his story and Praveena Paruchuri, Praneeta nuances of his emotional life, which led Patnaik, Karthik Ratnam, Subba Rao him to become a double agent. Vepada & others Directed by Mark Bennington The film screening will be followed Actor & Writer: Jeff Goldberg by a post film discussion with Shubhra Gupta, Film Critic, The He is being trained under ‘Citi-NCPA A Jeff Goldberg Studio Production Indian Express. Support to Gurus’ and has graduated (visharad) in tabla from Prayag Sangeet Age: 18+ Admission on a first-come-first- Samiti, an esteemed music institution served basis. NCPA Members do not at Prayagraj. Among other events, he Tickets: have to register and will be given has performed at the birth centenary `450/- (Members) entry on display of membership card. of Allarakha Khan at the NCPA. Rasika `500/- (Public) Vartak-Garud started learning music Box Office: 26th July for Members & indian music when she was just three. She received 29th July for Public her first lessons of classical music CITI - NCPA Promising from Bhagyashree Mule and Sanjay western classical music Artistes Series Gavande. She was initiated into khayal Pratik Singh (tabla) gayaki under the guidance of Vasanti The Singing Tree Rasika Vartak- Garud (khayal) Tembe, a renowned vocalist of Jaipur Children’s Choral Music Concert (approx. 105 mins) gharana who groomed her talent Tata Theatre West Room 1 extensively for six years. She has been Saturday, 31st – 7.00 pm Friday, 30th – 6.30 pm under the tutelage of Padma Talwalkar since 2004, having accompanied her The Mehli Mehta Music Foundation Prominent among the various in concerts, both in India and abroad. presents its annual choral concert initiatives undertaken by Citi and Rasika has completed her Masters in with over 200 students from the the NCPA are two schemes: Support Hindustani classical music (vocal) with Foundation’s The Singing Tree choirs, to Gurus and Scholarships to Young an outstanding grade from Bharati the Udayachal High School, schools Musicians. These programmes are in Vidyapeeth, Pune. She has also been managed by the Aseema Charitable the field of Hindustani vocal dhrupad( awarded B grade by All India Radio. Trust and St. Stephen’s School. The and khayal) and instrumental music She has started ‘Fusion-Sanskruti Arts Foundation’s Choral Director Salome (melody and percussion instruments). Foundation’ in Lagos, Nigeria, where Rebello will lead our young choristers This series is launched to showcase the she spends half the year teaching between the ages of six to 18 in a beneficiaries of the above schemes. Hindustani classical music. She has programme on the theme ‘Dreams Pratik Singh has trained in Indian been selected under the ‘Citi-NCPA & Imagination’, with songs in various classical music for 18 years. He received Support to Gurus’ scheme. languages and from across cultures. initial vocal training from Rajaram Shukla (Gosai Parampara, Jaipur Admission for Members on a first- Tickets: gharana), extended training from come-first-served basis. NCPA `700 & 550/- (Plus GST) Surmani Rajkumar Singh and advanced Members will get preferential Box Office: 26th July for Members & training in tabla from Nayan Ghosh. seating till 6.20 pm 29th July for Public

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Programme Guide.indd 55 16/07/19 3:08 PM