8 WHAT’S HOT, THE TIMES OF INDIA CULTURE/TV MOVIES FRIDAY 11 MARCH 2016

THEATRE STAND-UP COMEDY I’ve learnt not to bottle up emotions Bharatiya Chinta Party, Andheri Base, Andheri, Mar 11, 7.30 and 9 pm; A stand-up comedy, sketch [email protected] and musical parody show. Mahabharata with an international twist Best In Stand-Up, Canvas Laugh Club, Lower he will be performing in Mumbai after a gap of a year, and Vani Parel, Mar 11 to Mar 13, 8.30 pm; Watch comics REVIEW OF THE WEEK Angad Singh Ranyal, Manan Desai and Varun Thakur Play: Battlefield SGanapathy says she can’t contain her excitement. The danseuse will be pre- perform. Director: Peter Brook & Marie-Hélène Dwaaram Estienne senting , her debut production, Comedy Open Mic Night, Duration: 65 minutes for the second time in the city.“It was 2006 when I thought of this concept. I discussed The Jeff Goldberg Studio, Cast: Carole Karemera, Jared McNeill, Bandra, Mar 13, 8 pm; This Ery Nzaramba & Sean O’Callaghan the idea with my mother (Indubala Ganapathy), but put it in the cold storage is an open mic evening where Language: English new and established comedi- Rating: ★★★ after she passed away in 2007. It was not until 2013 that I decided to bring it to life on ans will do some kick-ass stage, after a friend insisted I revisit the [email protected] material along with the host, theme. I collaborated with Sathyanarayana comedienne Jeeya Sethi. Raju; we worked together on the choreog- Jeeya Sethi ven today, France-based raphy, music, costumes and set. It pre- Open Mic, The Hive, Khar, English theatre director E miered in Bengaluru, and since then, I’ve Mar 14, 8.30 pm; This is Mumbai’s oldest running Peter Brook is most famously taken the production to Hyderabad, Vani Ganapathy open mic where you can see new and upcoming known for his critically-acclaimed, Chennai and Mumbai. I’m looking forward nine-hour long piece on the ancient comedians try out their new and tested material with to present it in Singapore soon,” she says. script Mahabharata, which he We are so engulfed in the host Rahul Subramaniam. The theatrical dance performance, staged more than 30 years ago. And victory feel like a defeat. It talks this Indian epic in pop culture. which is an autobiography of doors, will be negative emotions that our Popcorn And Improv Shots, Cuckoo Club, rightly so, because it was the first about how the tormented king Though it does have biblical shades, presented at NCPA on March 17, at 7 pm. Bandra, Mar 12, 8 pm and 9.30 pm; Catch the time this Indian epic was presented mind is blocked. We have to struggles to live with himself, know- you wish the makers had added “Dwaaram is a musical dance theatre, but on the world stage and as one inter- experimental romantic improv comedy or classic ing he was also responsible for something new and different to has kept the essence of traditional cross many doors before we national newspaper review stated, improv with the city’s best improv group. the devastation. the story. Bharatnatyam intact. It’s not so stylised ‘it (the play) did nothing less than Mahabharata finally realise our inner self If you’ve read the , On the positive side, it’s hearten- that the aam janta can’t understand. There Live Stand-Up Comedy, Tap, Andheri, Mar 13, 7.30 attempt to transform Hindu myth you’ll concur that it’s one of the ing to see an international cast per- will be lines in English, Hindi, Sanskrit, pm; Gaurav Kapoor, Deep Chhabria and Mikhail into universalised art, accessible tions bottled up,” she smiles. most interesting and magnificent form an Indian mythology, and Tamil…,” she says, “The concept revolves Almeida will perform classic comedy. to any culture’. While Vani is busy working on the con- epics written, with innumerable there’s some fantastic live drum- around mankind’s journey from the world Resting on this laurel, the award- cept of her next production, her dance subplots, fables and tales that come ming too. Also, the play relies very of illusion to the spiritual world. Humans Johny Lever Live, Kashinath Ghanekar winning director is revisiting the school in Bengaluru is also keeping her with their own set of morals and life little on props or costumes and a lot pass through so many doors — literal, spir- Natyagruha, Thane, Mar 13, 8.30 pm; A modern Mahabharata with the play Battlefield occupied. And when she isn’t doing any of lessons. weaves a few of on imagination. Though it begins itual and even imaginary ones. We’ve day Hindi stand-up show in which Lever incorporates Battlefield, written by Jean-Claude these, she spends her time decorating her these in its narratives. on a sombre mood, there are a few woven the performance with a lot of sto- references and observations from all spheres of life. Carrière. This piece showcases the home. “I am a house proud person. I potter But this play is more of a recital light moments, like in the snake ries from mythology, history and even aftermath of the Kurukshetra war, around the house, rearranging artefacts. The Best In Stand-Up Comedy, Blue Frog, Lower than an acting piece. Somehow, the story.Of course, the humour is mis- instances from human relationships. We fought by the Pandavas and Till a few years ago, I used to cook a lot. stories don’t come alive on stage, as placed, but at least it’s entertaining. are all so engulfed in negative emotions Parel, Mar 12, 8.30 pm; An interesting line-up of Kauravas. Yudhisthira, who Now, I enjoy working on my bonsai,” the international treatment to the A short performance minus any like jealousy that our mind is blocked. We comedians Andy Reghu, Vinay Sharma, Hijas Moosa emerged victorious in the battle, she reveals. Vani is quite content with her narrative is lacklustre and not dra- heavy drama, this is a play strictly have to cross many doors before we finally and Prathviraj Purohit. laments that though they’ve won, life. “My hands are full, doing stage shows matic enough. Also perhaps because for those who want to experience realise our inner self.” the millions of lives lost makes the and teaching an entire generation of Open Mic Night, Canvas Laugh Club, Lower Parel, audiences here have been exposed to Brook’s style of theatre. So, did it help open any doors for her? youngsters. Dance is my only love; it has Mar 14, 8.30 pm; An open mic for budding comedi- “Yes, I realised I shouldn’t keep my emo- been and will always be,” she signs off. POOR★ l AVERAGE★★ l GOOD★★★ l VERY GOOD★★★★ l OUTSTANDING★★★★★ ans in the city.

Aapnu To Badhur Golmaal Chhe SCREENINGS 10 short animated films will be Dear Father (Hindi), Bhaidas Hall, (Gujarati), Nehru Centre, Worli, Mar screened. Vile Parle, Mar 12, 8.30 pm; 13, 3.30 pm; Directed by Imtiaz Patel; Directed by Dinkar Jani; It delves into Bhushan’s wife leaves him because he 36 Chowringhee Lane (Hindi, the complexity of generation gap, dif- is unable to buy a house in Mumbai. Bengali) (122 mins), Little ferences of ideologies and the usual During that period of stress, he meets Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, middle-class family drama. The story with accident. His fraud brother-in-law Mar 17, 6.30 pm; Directed by revolves around a family with many tries to encash his accident. Starring: Aparna Sen; Anglo-Indian school- laugh-out-loud moments. Starring: Muni Jha, Jaideep Shah, Pravin Nayak teacher Violet Stoneham lives a Paresh Rawal, Chetan Dhanani and and others. lonely life in her single room flat Mrinmayee Godbole. Pas Son Genre (French) (101 located at 36 Chowringhee Lane in Half Ticket (Gujarati), Bhartiya Vidya mins), Alliance Française Calcutta. Starring: Jennifer Kendal Aniruddha Khutwad; It is the story of Bhavan’s Auditorium, Chowpatty, Mar Auditorium, Marine Lines, Mar and others. Juliet — who chose love at every turn, 13, 3.30 pm; Directed by Anil Kakde; 14, 6.30 pm; Directed by Lucas Irawati’s Gandhari who refused to let the anger and impul- This is a social comedy. Starring: Bakul Belvaux; A young philosophy Liquid Borders (English) (38 (English/Hindi), Prithvi Theatre, siveness of those around her change Thakkar, Manisha Vora, Surya Govle teacher is sent to Arras for a year, mins), Little Theatre, NCPA, Juhu, Mar 17, 9 pm; Directed by her heart, who knew what she wanted and others. where he meets Jennifer, a pretty Nariman Point, Mar 11, 6.30 pm; Sanjukta Wagh; The play is a and went for it with all her might — Directed by Barnali Ray Shukla; Unhen Kuch Kehna Hai (Hindi), hair stylist.The two try to overcome retelling of the entire Mahabharata and the story of her Romeo. The documentary explores existing Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mar 15, 6 the cultural and social divide from Gandhari’s point of view. geographical and political bound- Raju Raja Ram Aur Main (Hindi), and 9 pm; Directed by Avneesh between them. Starring: Émilie aries of India and juxtaposes them Nehru Centre, Worli, Mar 13, 7.15 pm; Mishra; This play is all about poetry. Dequenne and others. with human and spiritual bridges. Directed by Kedar Shinde; This is a Actors will present a number of Gabrielle (French) (102 mins), Hindi version of the Marathi original, poems to the audience that are writ- Alliance Française Auditorium, Love Comes Lately (German) (86 Sahi Re Sahi. It’s about an industrialist ten by great Hindustani poets. Marine Lines, Mar 11, 6.30 pm; mins), Max Mueller Bhavan, Kala who catches his second wife red-hand- Starring: Manish Tipu, Subrojyoti Directed by Louise Archambault; A Ghoda, Mar 11, 6.30 pm; Directed ed with her lover. The lover is none Barat, Sashi Chaturvedi and others. young woman with Williams syn- other than his PA! Starring: Sharman drome has an exceptional musical Anything But Love (English), St Joshi, Rajesh Bhosale, Rajesh Singh waiting for the right opportunity. gift. Since she met her boyfriend Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra, and others. Starring: Siddharth Randeria, Tejal Vyas, Martin, at the recreation centre Mar 13, 7.30 pm; Directed by Mukund Panchal and others. where they are choir members, Vikranth Pawar; A comedy for adults Shah Ki Kanjari (Hindi), The Hive, Khus Raho Yaar, Life Is Beautiful they have been inseparable. with cut-throat humour, blended Khar, Mar 13, 8.30 and 9.30 pm; This (Gujarati), Aspee Auditorium, Malad, Starring: Gabrielle Marion-Rivard with stilling poignancy. Starring: is an instance in the life of two women, Mar 13, 3.45 pm; Directed by Rasik and others. Mandira Bedi and Samir Soni. the wife and the mistress. Starring: Akriti Singh. Dave; Two families are at logger-heads Dead Man Talking (French) (101 The God Of Carnage (English), with each other as the son of one family mins), Alliance Française Toba Tek Singh (Hindi), The Hive, Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mar 11, 7 and the daughter of the other have by Jan Schütte; Though approach- Auditorium, Marine Lines, Mar Khar, Mar 12, 6.30 pm; Sadat Hasan and 9.30 pm; Directed by Nadir eloped and gottem married. Starring: ing his eighties, Max Kohn shows 15, 6.30 pm; Directed by Patrick Manto’s famous short-story is set in Khan; Two children have a fight in Dave, Amit Devatia, Meera Acharya no signs of slowing down and pur- Parindon Ki Mehfil (Hindustani), Ridremont; An anonymous criminal post-1947 when India and Pakistan a park. One suffers minor injuries. and others. sues his love life with youthful Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mar 12, 6 is sentenced to death for murder decide to exchange their mental asy- Their parents meet to discuss how vigour. Starring: Otto Tausig and 9 pm; Directed by Heeba Shah; Baa Tane Hu Kya Rakhu (Gujarati), and is soon to be executed. lum inmates on religious basis. to proceed. They’re only looking and others. Based on the 12th century Persian Zaverben Sabhagruha, Ghatkopar, Starring: Patrick Ridremont, Starring: Mohit Sharma. out for the children’s best inter- poem Mantaq-ut-Tayr by Fariduddin Mar 13, 9 pm; Directed by Vipul Mehta; François Berléand and others. Memory Of A Light (English) (26 ests. At least, that’s how it starts Attar, the story documents a per- Krishna Kidding (Hindi/English), Turf After her husband’s death, a widow is mins), Little Theatre, NCPA, out. Starring: Shernaz Patel, ilous and exciting journey undertak- Club, Mahalaxmi, Mar 12, 2 pm; Lord forced to shuffle between the two hous- Nariman Point, Mar 11, 7 pm; Sohrab Ardeshir and others. en by a collection of birds. Starring: Krishna was born on this earth to kill es of her sons. She finds her happiness Directed by Sandhya Kumar; The Anubha Goel, Anmol Joshi, Chandan the demonic Kansa. His many heroic despite the daunting nature of her two documentary is a visual essay on Bisht and others. tales are told in funny way for kids to daughters-in-law. Starring: Rohini nostalgia for the childhood house enjoy in this play. Starring: Bharat Hattangadi, Parag Shah, Tulika Patel and what makes the experience of A Fairytale Of Rapunzel (English), More, Aakanksha Gade and others. Thakkar and others. the first home so unforgettable. Andheri Base, Andheri, Mar 13, 6.30 pm; Directed by Rashmi Sharma; A Jashn-E-Qalam: Premchand, Khissa Khali Bhapka Bhari (Gujarati), Manon Lescaut (Opera musical drama in a sing-song dialogue Gadhha Aur Gaddha (Hindi), Amritlal Nagar, Phanishwar Nath Aspee Auditorium, Malad, Mar 13, Screening) (188 mins), Godrej form with comedy and action. Starring: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mar 13, 5 Renu (Hindustani), The Hive, Khar, 8.45 pm; Directed by Imtiaz Patel; A The Fortress (Documentary) Dance Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Vedika Bhandari, Eshaan Sharma, and 8 pm; Directed by Naseeruddin Mar 13, 6.30 pm; This celebrates the middle-class man with decent income (French) (100 mins), Alliance Point, Mar 16 and 17, 6 pm; Reshma Kotian and others. Shah; A series is a tribute to master genius of eminent litterateurs with dra- wants to live life with simplicity but his Française Auditorium, Marine Manon is on her way to a convent satirist Krishan Chander. The play matic readings and performances of family is spendthift and causes a chaos Lines, Mar 16, 6.30 pm; Directed when she meets the young student A Magical Tale Of Cinderella consists of selections from his cele- their notable works. Starring: Ayesha in his life. Starring: Vipul Vithlani, Kalyani by Fernand Melgar; People from Des Grieux, who fall in love and (English), Canvas Laugh Club, Lower brated works — Hindi ka Naya Singh, Manjeet Mahipal, Sonal Jha and Thakar, Nilesh Joshi and others. Romania, Togo, Georgia, Kosovo escape to Paris. Parel, Mar 12 and Mar 13, 2 pm; Qaida, Ek Gadhe ki Aatmakatha and Shashwita Sharma. and Colombia are running from Pappa Aavaj Hoye Chhe (Gujarati), Album (Persian) (92 mins), Little Directed by Vishal Asrani; Come find his famous short story Gaddha (The war, dictatorship, etc., reach Karmnu Kurukshetra (Gujarati), Tejpal The Great Raja Master Drama Prabodhan Thackeray Auditorium, Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, out, as Cinderella, her mean stepmoth- Hole). Starring: Danish Husain, Switzerland after life-threatening Hall, Gowalia Tank, Mar 13, 7.45 pm; Company (Hindi), Prithvi Theatre, Borivali, Mar 13, 9 pm; Directed by Mar 12, 2 pm; Directed by Reza er, silly stepsisters, hilarious fairy god- Faisal Rashid and others. struggles. mother and animal friends show you Directed by Mehul Buch; The play prom- Juhu, Mar 16, 6 and 9 pm; Directed Dharmesh Vyas; This is the journey of a Heydarnejad; Amir Dadashi is a 13- ises to shake up your conscience and year-old student who is greatly that nothing is impossible. but not imaginary. What follow are tales Avneesh Mishra; This musical is middle-class father, who suddenly Canadian Animation Films, make you question whether one’s fami- affected by Pourya, his new class- of spectral and metaphysical phenom- about Raja Master, who is a tailor by realises that his son has a dream of his Alliance Française Auditorium, The Vagina Monologues (English), ly or one’s integrity is more important. mate and the son of an engineer. ena. What follows is true. Listen care- profession. However, he notices that own... a dream that is way bigger than Marine Lines, Mar 12, 6.30 pm; Canvas Laugh Club, Lower Parel, Mar Starring: Rajendra Butala, Bijal Mehta, fully. Starring: Akriti Singh. off-late his tailoring shop is not his own. Starring: Dharmesh Vyas, 12 and Mar 13, 6 pm; Directed by Payal Thakkar and others. doing too well and in a flash of Chitrak Shah, Neha Pakai and others. Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal and Kaizaad Battlefield (English), Tata Theatre, inspiration he decides that The TV MOVIES Kotwal; This powerful play is an unusu- NCPA, Nariman Point, Mar 11 and Great Raja Master Tailor Company Ek Anokho Karaar (Gujarati), al blend of outrageous comedy and Mar 12, 7 pm; Directed by Marie- should now become The Great Raja Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Auditorium, Knightley, Mark heartbreaking drama. It tells the story Hélène Estienne and Peter Brook; A Master Drama Company. Chowpatty, Mar 13, 7.30 pm; Directed Ruffalo, Adam Levine; of a woman like you have never heard revisit to the great Indian epic by Viral Rachh; This is a tale of two peo- Music before. Starring: Mahabanoo Mody- Mahabharata 30 years after Brook’s Ek Selfie Sajode (Gujarati), YB ple from different strata of society Kotwal, Dolly Thakore and others. legendary production took world the- Chavan Auditorium, Nariman Point, whose destiny changes when they Home Alone 3, 11 accidently meet. Starring: Sanjay pm; Cast: Alex D. True Ghost Stories (English), The atre by storm. Starring: Carole Mar 13, 7.45 pm; Directed by Vipul Karemera, Jared McNeill, Ery Mehta; The play is about a series of Goradia and others. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Hive, Khar, Mar 12, 6, 8.30 and 9.30 Kihlstedt; Comedy pm; Truth, the quality of being in com- Nzaramba and Sean O’Callaghan. emotional somersaults between a cou- Mar 11 ple who has been married for 35 years. plete accordance with reality. Reality, Juliet Aur Uska Romeo (Hindi), Mar 13 Starring: Darshan Jariwala, Alpana ane the Virgin — Season 1, being the genuine character of these Marathi Sahitya Sangh Mandir, Buch, Vinayak Ketkar and others. Episode 19, 6 pm; Cast: Gina Tin Cup, 6.35 pm; Cast: Kevin occurrences. Occurrences imaginative, Girgaon, Mar 12, 7 pm; Directed by Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Costner, Code Mantra (Gujarati), Bhaidas Hall, Grobglas; TV Series/Comedy Rene Russo, Don Johnson; Vile Parle, Mar 13, 4 pm; Directed by Rom-com Dil Ley Ke Dekho The Ellen DeGeneres Show — Rajesh Joshi; It is an unusual story of a (Hindi), Rang Sharda Season 13, Episode 19, 8 pm; One Fine Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha court martial case of a young army offi- Auditorium, Bandra, Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Stephen Day, 9 pm; (Hindi), Tata Theatre, NCPA, cer, set against the background of the Mar 13, 7 pm; Boss; Comedy/Talk Show Cast: Nariman Point, Mar 13, 7 pm; Indian Army; it promises to challenge the Directed by Aditya Michelle Directed by Rakesh Bedi; The play is very notion of patriotism. Starring: Dumb & Dumber, 9 pm; Cast: Dubey; The play Pfeiffer, about two lovers Preetam Kumar Pratap Sachdev and Sneha Desai. Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels; revolves around a Chopra and Hema Roy, who drifted Waiting For Naseer Comedy George young doctor, his com- apart for no apparent reason. They Gujjubhai Banya Dabangg (Gujarati), (English/Hindi), Brewbot, Clooney, Mae Mar 12 pounder and his beau- meet 35 years later, in the autumn Bhaidas Hall, Vile Parle, Mar 13, 7.45 Andheri, Mar 13, 7.30 pm; Directed Whitman; tiful nurse. In their of their lives and try to discover the pm; Directed by Siddharth Randeria; It by Sapan Saran; The play is a cele- Marmaduke, 7.15 pm; Cast: Rom-com effort to make money, truth behind their separation. revolves around Jagdish Pandya, who is bration of theatre, acting, passion Owen Wilson, Judy Greer, Lee My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 11 they end up changing Starring: Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta constantly nagged by his wife and son and life itself. Starring: Jamini Pace; pm; Cast: Nia Vardalos, John hearts and the lives of various characters. Starring: Salma Sikandar, Aditya and Rakesh Bedi. that he has not achieved anything in life Pathak, Debtosh Darjee and Comedy Corbett, Michael Constantine; Dubey, Vikash Singh and others. to which he calmly replies that he is Siddhesh Shelar. Begin Again, 9 pm; Cast: Keira Rom-com