logo
Report: The 2025 Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival

Report: The 2025 Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival

Hindustan Times3 days ago
The theme for the 16th edition of the Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival this year was 'Lucknow ke Gali-Kooche'. While a city is known by its grand monuments in the popular imagination, life takes place in the narrow lanes or galiyan which witness a whole array of diverse syncretic practices that preserve sociocultural memories. Held from 31 January to 4 February at Safed Baradari and Salempur Estate in Qaiserbagh, 'MSLF 2025', as its website states, encourages 'visitors to look beyond postcard-perfect landmarks and instead focus on the lived experiences of communities, the layers of history embedded in architecture, and the social complexities within these intimate spaces.' O Gaanewali celebrated figures such as Gauhar Jaan, Jaddanbai, Begum Akhtar and Shobha Gurtu (among others) through performances of iconic pieces from their repertoire. (L-R) Akshay Jadhav, Rutuja Lad, Avanti Patel, and Nusrat Apoorv. (Courtesy Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival)
The Kids Corner AKA Masti ki Paathshala at Safed Baradari had art workshops, storytelling sessions, interactive games, DIY crafts and puppet shows. (Courtesy Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival)
After the inauguration, Sabika Abbas regaled the audience with a Qissagoi performance on the little-known stories of her animated neighbourhood of Mashakganj. The Husn-e-Karigari Showcase, a first for the fest, followed it. In essence a fashion show, vendors and volunteers walked the stage wearing clothes and accessories from the stalls hosted in Safed Baradari to exhibit the wares on sale. The highlight that night was O Gaanewali, a critically acclaimed music show curated by Avanti Patel. The melodious renditions were interspersed with stories, anecdotes, historical titbits and glimpses of the socio-political context of the lives of women performers, especially tawaifs, who popularised the various semi-classical forms such as thumri, dadra, and ghazal that were a part of the show.
Day two began with three car tours and a heritage walk — common for most mornings of the festival. Since they are programmed simultaneously, it was difficult to pick which one to go for as all are equally enticing. 'Feminists of Awadh par Salaam' was a celebration of the inspiring iconic women of Lucknow, 'Lucknow ki Rehaish' toured iconic havelis, kothis, and bungalows of the old city, 'War Chronicles' explored the Residency in the light of 1857. Other walks centred on the Qaiserbagh palace complex, Raja Bazaar in Yahiyaganj, Chowk, and Aminabad. MSLF also had food-related tours, from an early morning breakfast crawl to lunch at the ancestral home of the Habibullah family to a Miriyasin performance followed by dinner at Ahmad Manzil.
Sopan Joshi (centre) explored the history and the cultures surrounding mangoes in a conversation with Himanshu Bajpai (left) and Jamal Kidwai (right). (Courtesy Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival)
In the afternoon, a short film by Rohan Shivkumar — a Mumbai-based architect, urban designer and filmmaker — was screened. He also gave the Saleem Kidwai Lucknow Lectern Keynote Lecture on how time can be seen through the lens of a city, especially in pop culture, focusing on Mumbai. Sopan Joshi, author of Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango, expounded on the fruit and the unheard facts and stories surrounding it in an engrossing, and often hilarious, session. The evening announced itself with a customary round of Baitbaazi as two teams traded shers and showcased their knowledge of ghazals. Saturday closed with an electrifying qawwali performance by Shahid Sami Niyazi Brothers of the Rampur gharana that cast a spell on packed venue.
The Qawwali performance by Shahid Sami Niyazi Brothers, which included 'Allah Hu', 'Bhar Do Jholi', and 'Kun Faya Kun' among other songs, was a fest favourite that drew the biggest crowd. (Courtesy Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival)
Sunday began with a Hindustani Classical Seher Concert by Omkar Dadarkar at 5:30 AM. The afternoon was dominated by the Awadhi Home Cooked Food Festival where home chefs presented tasty recipes ranging from kebabs and qormas to regional veg thali, kheers and halwas. As usual, the lal mirch qeema and yakhni pulao sold out first but the raan musallam, murgh zafrani, and kali gajar ka halwa were showstoppers too in this gastronomic extravaganza.
A series of interesting talks followed but a particular highlight of the afternoon was a session by Pooja Saxena, a typeface designer and lettering artist. She explored the typography of Indian street signs, bringing out what they can tell us about a city and its people. In the evening Daira, an art-rock band from Mumbai collaborated with folk musicians from Bastar in Chhattisgarh in a lively show that featured songs whose lyrics used Kalbi, Bhatri, Gondi and Hindi.
Shilpa Mudbi (R) and Aditya Kothakota transported the audience into the mythical world of Goddess Yellamma through their take on a traditional musical play that posed questions regarding patriarchy, purity, and dominant power structures in society (Courtesy Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival)
On the fourth afternoon, oral historian and social activist Sohail Hashmi regaled the audience with tales about different galis in Lucknow and Delhi while drawing connections between a city and its culture/s. This was followed by an absolutely mesmerising performance by Shilpa Mudbi and Adithya Kothakota who presented their own version of the Yellammanata, a ritualistic overnight play originating in Karnataka that relates the story of goddess Yellamma, the mother of Parashurama. The duo also spoke about their Urban Folk Project and all they learnt in the years they have spent travelling around Karnataka and learning and documenting its folk practices.
Four short films that explored the lived experiences of both human and non-human denizens of Lucknow's dynamic gali-kooche were screened. The feature films Dhushor (Dir: Purandar Chaudhuri) and Imamdasta (Dir: Rizwan Siddiqui) were also screened. In the evening, actor Danish Husain narrated a fantastical story from the Tilism-e-Hoshruba as part of a dastangoi performance that left the audience in awe. The festival closed with a set by Wild Wild Women, India's first all-female hip-hop collective, whose linguistically-diverse songs touched on everything from women's rights, social activism, body dysphoria and gender inequality to power structures, mental health, and self-love.
Tushar Kadam on percussion and actor Danish Husain presenting an excerpt from Tilism-e-Hoshruba (Courtesy Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival)
Exhibits and installations have always been a big part of the festival and this year was the same. Taijasi Mishra's Life in the Bylanes was a huge painting that portrayed the daily rhythms of Lucknow's bustling side streets. Kothis in Our Gali by Aditya Vikram and Karan was a photographic exploration of the transfeminine worlds of Lucknow's working-class galis. Soumyadeep Roy's Huzn: City of Exile looked at the effects of Wajid Ali Shah's migration on the people around him in Lucknow and in Calcutta through a mixed media. The art fed into the décor — there was a functional paan shop and a non-functional 'saloon' at one venue.
With its dynamic programme of events, handicraft and apparel stalls, and food counters, Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival 2025 definitely left a lasting impression.
Areeb Ahmad is a Delhi-based writer and literary critic. He is @Bankrupt_Bookworm on Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas spark fresh dating rumors in London
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas spark fresh dating rumors in London

Hindustan Times

time5 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas spark fresh dating rumors in London

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas were seen together again, this time stepping out in London just weeks after a sunny yacht trip off Menorca. According to E! News Online, on July 25, the pair were photographed getting off a helicopter, keeping things low-key in casual outfits - Cruise in a T-shirt and jeans, Ana in leggings and a sweatshirt. She also had her two dogs, Elvis and Sasha, by her side. Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas were spotted in London, further fueling romance rumors.(AFP) This sighting has reignited talk that the two might be more than just friends. Speculation first sparked in February when they were spotted walking through London on February 13, posing for photos with fans without seeming to hide their connection. Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas fuel fresh romance rumors Fans were quick to assume a romantic getaway for the actors, but both insist their relationship is centered around work. Months after that first sighting, Ana clarified that their frequent hangouts have involved meetings with directors Christopher McQuarrie and Doug Liman, reports E! News. The duo is set to team up on Deeper, a supernatural thriller set below the ocean's surface, directed by Liman. 'It made me really happy and proud to have someone like him championing my film,' Ana told E! News during the Ballerina premiere on June 3. The Knight and Day actor has not been shy about praising her either. 'There's an actress who has dramatic chops, someone who's comedic, very, very talented. Just a great actress,' he told Access Hollywood at the Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning premiere in May. Also read: Tom Cruise spotted sailing with Ana de Armas in cosy new pics from Menorca; fans take it as confirmation they're dating Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas' past relationship rumors with other stars Cruise and de Armas are both used to the rumor mill. The Mission Impossible actor has been linked to nearly every female co-star he has worked with over the years, while the latter has had her share of tabloid scrutiny. Her relationship with Deep Water co-star Ben Affleck drew intense attention, so much so that she later left Los Angeles, calling the experience 'horrible.' Cruise's personal life has been just as public. He married his Days of Thunder co-star Nicole Kidman and later dated Vanilla Sky co-star Penélope Cruz. Still, as deArmas' history shows, being photographed together does not always mean romance. FAQs Are Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas dating? Neither has confirmed a romantic relationship; they say they are working together on a film. When were they first seen together? Their first sighting was on Feb. 13 in London. What movie are they collaborating on? They are set to star in Deeper, a supernatural thriller directed by Doug Liman. Did Ana de Armas date Ben Affleck? Yes, she dated her Deep Water co-star Ben Affleck before moving out of Los Angeles. Has Tom Cruise dated his co-stars before? Yes, he married Nicole Kidman and dated Penélope Cruz after working with them.

London E‑Prix Round 15: E‑Pad Deep Dive
London E‑Prix Round 15: E‑Pad Deep Dive

Time of India

time10 hours ago

  • Time of India

London E‑Prix Round 15: E‑Pad Deep Dive

This analysis video breaks down the tactical heart of Round 15 at the London E‑Prix using E‑Pad timing data. It offers a look into the strategy zone-from energy deployment and PIT BOOST timing to how key drivers like Nick Cassidy or Mitch Evans handled the pressure in their Jaguar machines. Expect a few glitches: timing overlays that glitch mid-scene, ambient crowd chatter, and split-second jumps in the data feed. That rawness adds to the authenticity, making it feel like sitting trackside with the engineer team, poring over the real-time board.

‘Mashuq-E-Jaan': A mystical confluence of Indian poets and persian qalandars
‘Mashuq-E-Jaan': A mystical confluence of Indian poets and persian qalandars

Hans India

time16 hours ago

  • Hans India

‘Mashuq-E-Jaan': A mystical confluence of Indian poets and persian qalandars

We have regularly been reviewing Dr. Shadab Ahmed's diverse and contrasting books. Dr. Shadab Ahmed is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, acclaimed columnist, translator, and author, renowned internationally in the academic community for his insightful translations and transliterations on Indian history, geopolitics, and ethnic culture. Today, we will be analysing his popular book 'Mashuq-E-Jaan', which commemorates love, longing, and desire for the beloved. This book boldly declares spiritual and mystical poetry as two of the most powerful forms of devotion to the beloved. The verses in the book are carefully selected and edited from the Indian heartlands and Persian frontiers. You have a fascinating and captivating blend of Indian dramatists sharing space with Persian Qalandars, and seeing them co-existing in a single volume of translated poetry is pure literary grace. On one hand, you have the Indian leviathans—Kalidasa, Rajasekhara, Kabirdas, Jayadeva, and Jagannatha Panditaraja—churning out their visions of erotic love, and on the other, the Persian heavyweights—Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Rumi, Abolqasem Ferdowsi, Saadi Shirazi, Attar of Nishapur, and Baba Taher—prophesying the mystical elements of love in transcendental fashion. Through the passages of the book, the reader can discern that eroticism and mysticism in love often appear confusingly entangled and inextricable. It becomes hard to distinguish whether there is erotic love camouflaged under the illusion of mysticism, or mystical spiritual love tacitly masquerading as erotic proclivity. The book stands as a testament to the fact that, despite sensual repression and carnal victimization, the passionate poets from both the Indian heartlands and Persian frontiers dared to write candidly and canonize their sybaritic love for the beloved. Many vanished, engulfed and eclipsed into their beloved. Others dispersed, subsumed, and merged subconsciously with their demiurge. Overall, 'Mashuq-E-Jaan' is a carefully curated collection of translated Shlokas, Kavyas (both Shravyas and Drishyas), Bhakti-kavyas, Mahakavyas, Khandakavyas, Sangam-kavyas, Natakas, Champus, Qitahs, Masnawis, Tadhkiras, Divans, Ghazals, and Rubais. The verses and passages are meticulously researched and edited, accurately transmitting the essence and abstraction from which they originate. Compositions from Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Brajbhasha, Arabic, Persian, and Turkish are translated into conventional American English to cater to an international readership. There is a distinct magnetism and allure within the pages and narratives—but nothing less is expected from the Indian playmasters and Persian Qalandars. This book is a definite gem in the collection of any true connoisseur of this genre.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store