Urban landscapes under the lens: Sudhir Patwardhan's solo exhibition opens in Kolkata
A new solo exhibition by renowned artist
Sudhir Patwardhan
opened on Wednesday, April 17, at TRI Art & Culture in Ballygunge. Titled
Cities: Built, Broken
, the show runs until June 15 and features 40 new works by the artist, along with select prints of earlier paintings dating back to 1977.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Organised in collaboration with Vadehra Art Gallery, the exhibition explores the dynamics of urban construction and destruction in the context of global modernisation.
Known for his decades-long engagement with Mumbai's evolving cityscape, Patwardhan uses oil and acrylic to reflect on the visible and invisible forces shaping contemporary urban life. His artworks delve into themes such as displacement, infrastructural violence, and everyday resilience.
Among the featured works are
Yellow Sky
(2023),
Lynching 1
(2023), and
Aspire
(2024), depicting fractured skylines, crowded neighbourhoods, and moments of unrest. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on a central question: 'What is truly being built, and what is irrevocably being broken?'
Spread across the ground and first-floor galleries of TRI—a nonprofit cultural space housed in a restored triangular heritage building—the exhibition includes a walkthrough with the artist on April 17 and a public conversation between Patwardhan and
art critic Gayatri Sinha
on April 19.
Patwardhan, who began his career as a radiologist, has exhibited widely in India and abroad. His recent works continue to explore the city not merely as a physical space but as a lived experience shaped by its inhabitants. The exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
A bit of Manto in Urdu theatre workshop at Daryaganj school
NEW DELHI: 'If you cannot bear these stories, it is because we live in unbearable times,' wrote Saadat Hasan Manto—words that lingered like a quiet pulse in the sunlit auditorium of Crescent School, Daryaganj. Just past 10 am, the room buzzed with the vibrant energy of over 40 students, their laughter and chatter filling the space. This was no ordinary summer programme—it was a celebration of Urdu's enduring spirit, brought to life through a theatre workshop hosted by the Urdu Academy under Delhi's Department of Art, Culture, and Languages. Here, young minds are not just learning lines but breathing life into Manto's timeless stories, rediscovering a language that connects, heals, and inspires. Open to students from classes IV to XII, the workshop runs daily from 10 am to 1 pm, transforming the auditorium into a stage of creativity and courage. Children sat in a loose circle on the polished floor, their faces lit by morning light. Leading the session was Naghma Parveen, whose warm smile and infectious enthusiasm set the tone. 'Aaj hum Manto ki kahani 'Toba Tek Singh' ko zinda karenge,' she declared, her voice brimming with excitement. Through mirror exercises, tongue twisters, and scene rehearsals, students found both voice and confidence. One girl's raw portrayal of Bishan Singh moved the room to silence. Younger participants lit up the stage with Ismat Chughtai's Chui Mui. 'Theatre teaches empathy,' Parveen said. 'Manto's stories demand raw honesty, and Urdu gives these children the words to express it.'
India Gazette
28-05-2025
- India Gazette
Madhya Pradesh-shot film 'Homebound' creates buzz at Cannes Film Festival
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 28 (ANI): Neeraj Ghaywan's feature film 'Homebound', shot in Madhya Pradesh, won critical acclaim at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, a release said. The film premiered in the renowned 'Un Certain Regard' section at Cannes and was the only Indian film to be featured in this prestigious category. The screening was met with a standing ovation lasting nine minutes, with international filmmakers, directors, artists, and audiences lauding the film. The film's global standing was further elevated by the involvement of internationally acclaimed, Oscar-winning American filmmaker Martin Scorsese. This achievement not only highlights the creative potential of Madhya Pradesh but also reinforces the state's reputation as a preferred global film-making destination. A major portion of 'Homebound' was shot in 2024 in Bhopal and nearby areas, which offered a rich mix of natural, cultural, and urban landscapes. The international recognition of the film is a testament to the state's film-friendly policies and the suitability of its diverse locations for cinematic storytelling, as per the press release. 'Homebound' has been produced under the banner of Dharma Productions, marking their fifth film shot in Madhya Pradesh. The film is produced by Karan Johar and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, whose earlier film Masaan also received critical acclaim. 'Homebound' stars Ishan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles. The team expressed immense happiness over the appreciation received at Cannes. The Homebound team praised the smooth filming experience in Madhya Pradesh. From the easy availability of diverse locations to the support of local communities, the filmmakers regarded the state as an ideal shooting destination. Several team members expressed a strong desire to return for future projects, as per the release. Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, Religious Trusts and Endowments Dharmendra Singh Lodhi congratulated and extended his best wishes to the 'Homebound' team on this achievement. He stated that Madhya Pradesh's natural diversity, historical heritage, and cinema-friendly environment have once again proven their worth. The fact that an internationally acclaimed film like 'Homebound' was shot in our state, and that the team experienced seamless support throughout, stands as a testament to our film policy and the cooperation of local communities. The state government is fully committed to extending all possible support to the film industry, so that more national and international projects are drawn to the region, the release added. Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts and Endowments Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, extended his congratulations to the film's producers, director, cast, and crew for this remarkable achievement. Shukla stated that Madhya Pradesh has become a prominent ease-of-shooting destination due to its scenic shooting locations, supportive local communities, a collaborative film ecosystem, and rich cultural heritage. The state also encourages local talent and provides assistance through financial incentives and a single-window clearance system for film permits. He welcomed filmmakers from across the globe to bring their creative visions to life in Madhya Pradesh, adding that Homebound's international recognition proves that the state is rapidly emerging as a hub for creativity and cinema. Madhya Pradesh's new Film Tourism Policy has streamlined the process for producers and directors. The single-window system has made permit acquisition easier, while financial subsidies have incentivised film production. Since the launch of the Film Tourism Policy, over 350 films and web series have been shot in the state. So far, financial support of over INR 24 crore has been granted to 12 Hindi films, 1 Telugu film, and 6 web series. It is worth mentioning that Madhya Pradesh was awarded the title of 'Most Film-Friendly State' in 2022, as per the press release. (ANI)
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- The Hindu
Of dreams and childhood josh in Vicky Roy's b/w frames at Delhi exhibition Bachpan
What does it mean to grow up with nothing and still find joy? Vadehra Art Gallery invites viewers to ponder over it through a photo series titled Bachpan (childhood) by Vicky Roy. The photographs, filled with laughter, are a fleeting magic of play of moods and emotions. They display the resilience of childhood shaped not by material comfort, but by imagination, community and survival. Vicky's lens captures children who find delight in the simplest things, even as they live in the shadow of poverty and displacement. His work is inspired by his own humble beginnings. Originally from Purulia, West Bengal, he left home at the age of 11 and began working as a rag picker at the New Delhi Railway Station. His life took a pivotal turn when he was taken in by the Salaam Baalak Trust, a Delhi-based NGO supporting street children. Reflecting on the time he spent playing with his friends in his village, the photographer says, 'We didn't need electronic gadgets. A ball made out of plastic was enough for us to play and have fun.' It is a sentiment that runs through much of his work: the idea that joy does not have to be bought but can be built from what is available. Bachpan, developed over 16 years, documents children in both rural and urban parts of India, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal. The photographs show children creating games with discarded materials and forming a strong sense of community and deriving joy from what little they have. Bachpan evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time and an awareness of childhoods that are prematurely cut short. Vicky has also showcased photographs under series Janwaar, which were taken between 2015 and 2018. These shift the focus to a rural community in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. Designed by his friend, Ulrike Reinhard, the series captures the transformation of a village after the creation of a skatepark, built to uplift children from the Adivasi and Yadav communities. With no formal training, the children taught themselves to skate by falling, getting up, and trying again. 'The motivation behind developing such a park in a rural area was that these children have the resilience to get up after a fall and continue to push their boundaries,' Vicky says. Today, some of the children travel internationally, representing India in skating competitions across Europe and China. Bachpan and Janwaar do not assert themselves loudly. There is no heavy-handed messaging in the 45 black-and-white frames. Vicky's photography resists spectacle. They stay close to the everyday acts of balancing on a skateboard, a pause in the middle of a game, a shared glance between friends. The strength of Bachpan and Janwaar lies in their quiet specificity. By placing the two projects side by side, it becomes evident how environments—rural or urban, improvised or designed—shape the way children move, play and grow. There's no singular narrative of hardship here. Instead, Vicky offers parallel photographs of energy, resourcefulness and change. By the time one exits the gallery, the question is not just about what these children lack, but about what they have made, how they have moved forward, and what new futures are already in motion. Rhea Kapoor and Akhya Shriti At Vadehra Art Gallery, D-53 Defence Colony; Till May 30; 10am to 6pm
