Weekly planner: 6 events to beat the blues
7-8.30pm. A painting by Nandalal Bose on show at the 'Indian Modern Art: Evolution of Narratives' exhibition.
Art Exposure, Kolkata, is presenting Indian Modern Art: Evolution of Narratives, a survey of artists whose practices shaped the contours of modern Indian art. The featured artists include Gaganendranath and Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, F.N. Souza and Arpita Singh. The works on showcase range from the early 20th-century revivalist aspirations of the Bengal School. 'The exhibition explores how artists redefined tradition, form, and identity in response to evolving political, social, and aesthetic contexts,' states the curatorial note. At Art Exposure, Kolkata, till 15 June, 11am-8pm (closed on Sunday). A glimpse of the Da Vinci Genius-AI Immersive Experience.
Chat with Mona Lisa and walk through Starry Night in A Journey Through the Eyes of Masters, an AI-driven immersive show that brings together several works of Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh under one roof. At DLF Promenade, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, 24 May-31 August, 11am onwards. A still from Aadyam Theatre's dance musical, 'Mumbai Star'.
Presented by Aadyam Theatre, dance musical Mumbai Star follows the life of a young dancer who leaves his coastal hometown to win a talent competition in Mumbai. At St. Andrew's Auditorium, Bandra West, Mumbai, 24-25 May, 7.30pm/also 4pm on Sunday. For details, visit in.bookmyshow.com. Artworks by Yogeeta Yadav for 'Elemental'.
Elemental is a solo exhibition of abstract paintings by Yogeeta Yadav. The artist leaves impressions and marks across the layered surface of her works, drawing on primeval expressions of art. At ARTISANS', Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, till 31 May, 11am-7pm. For details, call 9324732348. Muradabadi Biryani is on the menu of Rampuri Festival at JW Marriott Bengaluru.
Curated by Khansama Nasir Hussain, Rampuri Festival, as the name suggests, celebrates Rampur's royal cuisine. On offer will be dishes such as the Taark Korma, Chappli Kebab, Ratalu ke Nehari, Shaljam Zafrani, Muradabadi Biryani and Mirchi Ka Halwa. At Spice Terrace, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, till 1 June, 6.30-11pm. For details, call 8884675454.
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News18
2 days ago
- News18
The 49th Edition Of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's Iconic Dance Drama ‘KRISHNA' Returns This Janmashtami
Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra presents the 49th Edition of 'KRISHNA': A Dance Drama Depicting the Divine Journey of Lord Krishna from August 12 to 16, 2025 at Kamani Auditorium Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK), one of India's foremost institutions dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Indian classical performing arts, proudly presents the 49th edition of its iconic dance drama KRISHNA, from August 12 to 16, 2025, at Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi. Evening shows commence at 6:30 p.m. daily, with three additional matinee shows scheduled for August 14, 15, and 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. This richly layered production traces the enigmatic life of Lord Krishna from his divine birth to his transcendental departure interweaving mythology, music, and movement into a profound spiritual and artistic experience. The narrative delves into pivotal moments from his life: his early years in Gokul and Vrindavan, his bond with Radha, his role as a peacemaker between the Pandavas and Kauravas, and his philosophical guidance to Arjuna on the battlefield through the Bhagavad Gita. 'It is incredibly rewarding to see KRISHNA enter its 49th year," says Padma Shri Shobha Deepak Singh, the show's Director and Chairperson of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. 'The life of Lord Krishna is timeless not just as mythology, but as a guiding philosophy imbued with love, courage, and wisdom. At the Kendra, we strive to depict this journey with emotional depth and artistic authenticity, enabling audiences to resonate with its enduring and universal truths." The production is presented by the Kendra Dance Repertory, a professional ensemble of dancers engaged full-time in the creation and presentation of the Kendra's dance dramas. KRISHNA has been choreographed by the eminent Shri Shashidharan Nair, supported by his prime disciple and star dancer Shri Raj Kumar Sharma, Repertory In-charge at SBKK. Both bring decades of experience in the Kendra's signature style of dance drama. This year, to enhance the vitality of the production, several talented young dancers have been inducted into the Repertory. The Kendra Dance Repertory of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (an institution of the Bharatiya Kala Kendra Trust) is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and M/s Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd, New Delhi. SBKK's KRISHNA is a stunning blend of Indian classical and folk dance styles, enriched by beautifully designed costumes, traditional jewellery, symbolic animations, and a music score that fuses Indian classical music with regional melodies. Each scene is thoughtfully crafted to reflect Krishna's emotional, philosophical, and divine dimensions—offering audiences a rare opportunity to witness history, mythology, and folklore brought to life with artistic finesse. In alignment with the Government of India's National Education Policy 2020, which promotes cultural learning through the arts, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra invites schools and educational institutions to attend special morning performances of KRISHNA on August 12 and 13, 2025, at Kamani Auditorium. The sessions will include a 75-minute performance followed by a 45-minute interactive workshop exploring themes on Lord Krishna. Bulk bookings are also available to schools and educational institutions for the afternoon shows on August 14, 15, and 16, 2025. For over four decades, SBKK's KRISHNA has inspired audiences of all generations with its timeless message of love, duty, compassion, and truth. The production offers not only an artistic display but also a spiritual inquiry into life's deeper meanings making it an ideal cultural offering for both the young and the old. This presentation stands as a testament to Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's unwavering commitment to nurturing India's cultural identity through performance, training in Indian classical music and dance, and public engagement for the past seven decades. As the nation seeks to reconnect its youth with timeless values and traditions, KRISHNA promises to be more than a production—it is an experience that uplifts, enlightens, and endures. Entry by tickets priced at ₹3,500, ₹2,500, ₹1,500, ₹1,000, ₹750, ₹500, and ₹300 on BookMyShow. Physical tickets can be collected from Kamani Auditorium from August 9, 2025, onwards or on show dates. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
Sunil Shanbag's play ‘The Horse' blends satire and comedy
Over 20 actors—all on stage together at times—are in sync relaying the chaos that comes with a wild albeit deeply political satire. Music interludes elevate the crowd scenes or craft moments of intimacy and idiocy around a horse. The horse is called Incitatus and has Rome—and specifically its notorious emperor Caligula (Akash Khurana)—in a tizzy. After all, no one's ever seen an animal so magnificent. The last in Aadyam Theatre's Season 7 is a play by veteran director Sunil Shanbag featuring horse heads and halters too. Shanbag first read Hungarian playwright Julius Hay's The Horse in the 1980s. It was one of three in a collection of Eastern European plays published by Penguin. The other two were by noted Czech writers Vaclav Havel and Christy Rozek. 'It was a time when there was a fair interest in Eastern European plays. Satyadev Dubey had already done Rozek. Anmol Vellani had done Vaclav Havel. Marathi playwright Vrindavan Dandavate had travelled to Eastern Europe. Mahesh Elkunchwar had spent time in Eastern Europe," recalls Shanbag. He remembers being 'delighted" when he read it, but was aware that it wasn't possible to mount a production of such scale at the time. The play stayed with him and cropped up during workshops and readings at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). 'On further reading, I found out that Hay was a contemporary of Bertolt Brecht. While both were interested in the theatre of ideas, they had differing opinions about the nature of theatre," he says. When the time came to do a play for Aadyam, Shanbag recalled The Horse for its inherent scale and satire. Then came the task of acquiring a copy of the play and requesting permission from Peter Hay, the son of the author and the translator of The Horse. The play begins with a scene at the tavern—a young man, Selanus (Neil Bhoopalam), on his first day in Rome; emperor Caligula in disguise; and a coterie are playing a game of dice. Selanus has lost it all with nothing left to wager but his horse, the mighty Incitatus. Caligula is so taken by the animal that he will go to great lengths to acquire it. With erratic ideas and a God complex, Caligula passes decree after decree, including one to erase every other decree. Another such is the appointment of Incitatus as the Consul of Rome. And the revered Consul must eventually find a suitable bride. There's a love story somewhere in this mix. There's also a donkey and a man pretending to be a horse. The satirical play is large and loud. Shanbag didn't set out to do a comedy but believes it can make complex ideas accessible to an audience. 'Comedy is perhaps the most difficult form of theatre. It must come with comic skills, comic timing and a sense of fun and joy. This play has an additional challenge of an underlayer of satire," he says, adding that it's been a fascinating journey for him and the cast. 'We don't get to do comedy often. It's not looked upon as serious enough," he says. The play—first staged in 1965—is over half a century old but Shanbag believes that satire with a certain depth of ideas resonates with the contemporary regardless of when it was written. 'Besides, history has patterns," he says. 'There are some common themes—the seduction of a population with an idea, the abandonment of rationality and blind faith—that are all relevant today," he adds. As for scale, Shanbag finds it both daunting and thrilling. Daunting for the planning (eight months) and the organisation that it takes to bring a 20-member cast together in a rehearsal room, and thrilling for the ability to perform to an 800-member audience. 'I don't think we get enough opportunities to do that. It's lovely to perform in intimate spaces but the thrill of 800 people watching and laughing is quite something. I believe that with our kind of theatre, we should not surrender or abandon mainstream spaces. We should seize every opportunity to occupy them," he says. The scale also allows him to bring in skilled collaborators like Kaizad Gherda for music, and Shampa Gopikrishna and Bertwin D'Souza for choreography. This, in addition to a vibrant cast which includes senior actor and co-founder of Shanbag's Arpana Theatre Akash Khurana. The two have reunited for a production after three decades, and Khurana portrays the maniacal Caligula with rare charm. While Shanbag's preoccupation with the theatre of ideas has always been evident (his last production was Utpal Dutt's Barricade), he believes comedy is as valid as any other form. He hopes the audience takes a moment to reflect amid laughter. 'That's what theatre can do—hold a mirror and help you reflect a little. In this case, it is through laughter and the absurdity of the situation. All comedy relies on the ability of people to laugh at themselves," he says. 'I want people to have an entertaining and stimulating evening. For me, that's the perfect definition of an evening at the theatre." On 9 August, 7.30pm, and 10 August, 4pm and 7.30pm at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Mumbai. On 6-7 September at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi Prachi Sibal is a Mumbai-based culture writer.
Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
Planner: 5 events to make a song and dance about
A new show at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai draws connections between the rhythm of the soul and the workings of nature. Titled A Moment in Modernity, the exhibition is curated by Alka Pande and features works by husband-wife duo, Sharmila and Haren Thakur. Both artists draw inspiration from the indigenous communities of Bengal and Jharkhand to present contemporary works that reflect the simplicity and powerful spiritual belief in the human bond with nature. While Sharmila works with paper pulp, plaster of Paris and enamel paint, Haren's recent series features large mixed media paintings. At Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, till 11 August, 11am to 7pm. A Tree: A Winter Battlefield Outside Kharkiv by Praneet Soi Experimenter is presenting a solo show, Mashrabiya, of Praneet Soi's works—his third at the gallery. Soi studied painting at Vadodara's Maharajah Sayajirao University. Spanning a decade of his work, the exhibition looks at the archiving and re-appropriation of the circulated image, and the link between body and architecture. The paintings, sculptures, painted papier mache and porcelain tiles, bring together Soi's ongoing engagement with the craftspersons of Srinagar and traditional porcelain makers in Guangzhou in China. At Experimenter Hindustan Road, Kolkata, 13 August to 26 September, 10.30am to 6.30pm. Chef Tikka Singh Enjoy A Punjabi Culinary Story, a Punjabi food pop-up, curated by chef Tikka Singh. On the menu will be dishes made using traditional home-style techniques, like Lawrence Road de Mutton Tikka, Laal Masale Walla Tandoori Jheenge, Amritsari Wadi Stuffed Aloo Tikki, Karachi Walla Dal Meat, Mah Makhan di Dal, Meat Walle Chawal, and desserts such as Khajoor Walli Kalakand. At Ssaffron, Shangri-La Bengaluru, Vasanth Nagar, 8-16 August, timings vary. For details, email bengaluru@ and call 8045126100. A still from a previous performance of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's 'Krishna'. Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra will present the 49th edition of its iconic dance drama, Krishna. The two-and-a-half hour long performance, which includes traditional performing arts styles such as the Mayurbhanj Chhau and Kalaripayattu, documents the life of Krishna, from his childhood to the Gita updesh. At Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, Delhi, 12-16 August, 3pm/6.30pm. For details, call 43503333 or visit A still from 'Tajmahal Ka Tender' Salim Arif's Hindi drama, Tajmahal Ka Tender, explores the possibility of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan being alive today and dealing with the modern bureaucracy to get the Taj Mahal constructed. It takes you through the devious paths of red tape and corruption that have become a part of our daily lives. At Prithvi Theatre, Juhu Road, Janki Kutir, Mumbai, 9 August, 9pm. For details, visit
