Bandra Festival at MMRDA

My friend calls me to ask if I would be interested in listening to Music of Hariharan. Now who wouldn’t be, especially if it is so close to my house? Yes! Bandra Festival is in full swing.

There is music festival happening in Bandra at MMRDA Grounds from 26th September to 3rd October. There will be musician like Hariharan, Pankaj Udhas, Jasbir Jassi and many other famous singers performing daily at 8pm, and this is presented by Times of India.

I asked my friend to collect the free invites from ‘Trade Avenue, Ground floor, Suren Rd, Andheri(E)’ they are giving on a first-come-first-serve basis. Also I am told that it is available from the Times Classified Centers at The Times of India Building, 1st Floor, Dr.D,N Rd, Matulya Mill Compound, S.B. Marg, Lower Parel(W) from 10am to 6pm

Besides Music there will also be dance, theatre and plays, exhibitions and trade and workshop and seminars and many, many more events.



Oh Gawd!! So much is happening and not enough energy to catch all, but I will, at least few of the events, for sure.

If you, too, are interested, check details at Times Bandra Festival

image source

A New Art Gallery in Mumbai

As art lover, I am looking forward to the exhibition of ‘The Dark Science of Five Continents’ at Gallery BMB, (in the Fort area) a significant event for the Indian art world.

What I like about this gallery is that the new space presenting groundbreaking exhibitions will also accommodate a specialist art bookshop with a dedicated reading area and an onsite café. I am sure it will be perfect venue to eavesdrop on conversations of well known artists and learn the tricks of trade over a cup of coffee. I might even succeed in making a friend or two since it is designed as a truly interactive space with its accommodating resources - the gallery and its public areas which act as a pillar for the artistic community; it is a place where artists, collectors and students can meet and gravitate for differing reasons from research and browsing to collecting.

And what is interesting is the inaugural exhibition of ‘The Dark Science of Five Continents’. According to press report it is "Curated by Berlin/ London based curator Shaheen Merali, group of renowned artists from each of the five continents have been selected, including two from Asia to exhibit their work. Their individuated and often nuanced practices have been well received critically, and with their visionary morphism, they have articulated a re-examination of atrocity within our rapidly mutating epoch. The exhibition, like the gallery, is geared to speak for our times."

Just waiting for a good company to go with and a holiday and I am rushing right there....soon....

Source: http://fineartamerica.com/events/the-dark-science-of-five-continents-curated-by-shaheen-merali.html

Flex Up Your Muscles For Cycling Tour from Mumbai to Goa…

Sometimes I wish I was young again. Not that I am old now, (hello, I am still young) it’s just that I can’t cycle anymore. There was a time when I would arise early in the mornings and go cycling from Bandra to Juhu beach (about 6kms) to see the morning sun reflecting on the sea, with waves breaking the light at every crest. Sometimes, the guys would take us double seat, which was fun, then we wouldn’t had to cycle but just give them directions and be ready to eat ice candies on our way back.

Now-a-days, my outdoor activities are limited, But these youngster are really having fun!! I heard them talking about cycling 500kms spread over seven day and travelling across Konkan Maharastra by bicycle from Mumbai to Goa.!!

There is a group called ‘Cycle for Youth-Indian Cross Country Cycle Tour’ who are planning a small 7-day trip for everyone who keeps interest to cycle in the western Ghats of Mahatrashta and believe that the best way to see a place is by pedaling through it.. The route takes 2 states, Maharashtra, Goa on the famous Mumbai-Goa highway road (NH 17)

The expedition will start on 19th of December 2009. Detailed planning has started and they plan to freeze the master plan by end of October 2009.

Before taking part in the actual trip, the participants will take part in training which will prepare them for cycling that includes four stages of training.

Anyone who wishes to participate in this amazing country cycling trip
should register with them here

Registration should be done before 15th October 2009.

Now me thinking if somebody will risk double-seat pedal with me to Goa. On a second thought, me gonna to let the youngsters enjoy, I will watch the video of their adventures and sigh!

Actually, I am jealous!!!

ps: Cross posted at ‘Metro-Twin Mumbai’

This Is Also Mumbai

This also is Mumbai,
Where family lives on streets,
Where child with soft body
Sleep on a very hardened bed.
Oblivious of dirt and
Creeping insects beneath,
Unfeeling of crawling worms
That might walk over his legs

A child lays cuddled
In a strip of a cloth wrap
Stretched between two poles
Tied loosely at its ends
A young girl with dreams of future In school dress,
she proudly stands Memorizing her riddles
Crumbled and tattered in her bag.


A place of worship at every street Guards people's faith, big and small Blessing them with courage to liveIn bitter life of frost Bestows them His special grace Helps live in this terror zone Courageous in a crowded city Fearlessly, they run and board


Bridging lives of common man
With those of fortunate ones
All live together harmoniously
Under a common, cold sky
Juggling along their lives
In midst of four scary P’s
Poverty, population, pollution, Penury
Of this Mumbai city of dreams

All plays, No Films, makes it a Wonderful day, What Say??

For those who love to watch theatre, there are two plays at Prithvi during the coming week-end

Puna Highway



Writer : Rahul Da Cunha
Director : Rahul Da Cunha
Cast : Buga Bhargava Krishna,Rehaan Engineer,Rajit Kapur,Yamini Namjoshi,Shankar Sachdev

Pune Highway is the story about three friends, who are holed up in a seedy hotel room, off the Bombay-Pune highway. They have just witnessed the stabbing of a fourth friend, in a robbery attempt by goondas. They need desperately to get back to Bombay, but are constantly thwarted by obstacles. A comic thriller, that explores the survival of friendship in extreme circumstances. The play is filled with tension, nostalgia and humour.

Catch it on 17th September 2009 at 9pm
Or 7pm and 9:30pm on 18th September 2009

Then there is also another play called Me, Kash & Cruise at Prithvi theatre



Director : Rahul da Cunha
Cast : Yamini Namjoshi, Amit Mistry, Neil Boopalam and Rajit Kapur.

Me, Kash & Cruise is a roller coaster ride of three Bombayites and their attempts to deal with the city’s ever changing social, civic and political landscape – over twenty years. The play opens in 1984, while the three protagonists – Pooja Thomas (unabashed Bombay lover), Rajesh Kashyap (true blue South Bombayite) and Cruise (a Delhiite, and named after the Hollywood star) traverse their way through the 1992 riots, the 1993 bomb blasts, the Moral Police, Bollywood mania, and the age of marketing and hype – while coping with man-made disasters such as dug up roads, festival band baaja and Himmesh Reshammiya!!

There are four shows as follows
19th September at 7pm and 9:30pm
20th September at 7pm and 9:30pm.

I believe it makes more sense to watch plays rather than go for those long Bollywood films where neither the movie is good nor the popcorns and samosas…….

What say you???

Source; http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/

Card-o-logy For Art Lovers at Hacienda Gallery

This was the clipping posted in ‘India Today’ on 31st August.



Curetted by Jasmine Shah, it features 60 artists who have painted five picture postcards each, and many of the 300 resulting works of art are just stunning. The artists are a mix of well-known veterans, mid-career painters and young guns, and many of them have taken the chance to get out of their comfort zone and try new things.



When Jasmine had the idea last year, she had the following aims in mind:

~ Get all these well-known artists to work under the constraints of this new format that most of them had never tried out.

~ In recessionary times, come up with work that anyone could afford. Some of these artists sell in 7 figures, and art lovers have a chance to pick up their work here from Rs. 500 onwards. Most of the works are priced between Rs 3000 to 8000.

~ Compel art viewers to immerse themselves in the show, as they will have to in order to take in all the 300 works. They can’t simply stand back with a cocktail glass in one hand, take a sweeping look around the room, and satisfy themselves that they’ve viewed the exhibition. The very size of the works demands a more intimate viewing.

And now the exhibition is on 300 original Picture Postcards created by 60 artists

Interested?

Head towards ‘Hacienda Gallery’, at Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
From September 4 to 18, 2009

Source:
http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/card-o-logy-by-jasmine-shah-varma/
http://indiancolours.blogspot.com/

‘Celebrate Bandra Festival’ is round the corner.

Every two years, during the month of November, Bandra is dressed in colorful carnival type of spirit to “Celebrate Bandra Festival’



The streets are lit up, and the promenades of Carter road and Band stand come alive with various cultural shows that include dances, music and competitions.



There is also a ‘Souvenir’ released during the festival that showcases the art and culture of Bandra. This year it calls for your submissions about your thoughts on your beloved Bandra.



You can submit anything that can appear in print (without spending enormous amounts of money): essays, short fiction, poetry, play scripts, illustrations, photographs.

Please email your submissions to celebrate.bandra.festival@gmail.com

Original post is here

Please use one of these subject lines: Souvenir Submission - short story, Souvenir Submission - poem, Souvenir Submission - essay, or Souvenir Submission - script.

For photographs, scanned illustrations or computer-generated art
• Please submit only one piece. (A picture being worth a thousand words and all that.)
• You can include a short (not more than 100 words) descriptor or caption in the body of your email.
• If your image is a very large file, please upload it online somewhere* and mail in a link.
• If you think you must submit more than one image as part of the same entry, then please mail in only one, but add a description of what the rest of the series will be like, or upload the additional material elsewhere and send in a link. If we want to see the rest, we'll mail you.
• Please use one of these subject lines: Souvenir Submission - photograph, Souvenir Submission - illustration, or Souvenir Submission - digital art

In one paragraph at the end of your email, please include your name, postal address, email address and a phone number, land or cellular, where you can be reached during the day and in the evenings.

Okay, I am going to look into my archives, I have so many stories to share, but I will share just one…rest I post regularly on my this post for you…..Cause I know you love to visit me here, again and again…isn’t it???

Ps: And during the festival, watch this space for live report of the event, I am not promising you..but I will try.....

Check this Event on “Symphony Orchestra’ at NCPA

Do you enjoy Symphony Orchestra?

Well ‘Season 7’ is on from September 18-27 at NCPA, Mumbai.

Fresh as ever, even after more than 200 years since it was composed, the Mozart concerto for Flute and Harp is unique. No one before or since has composed a concerto for this instrument combination.

Bach’s 5th Brandenburg concerto is from a set of 6 written during his Anhalt-Cöthen period. Each concerto has different instrumental solo parts and the 5th has a virtuoso harpsichord part which will be performed on the piano by Vag Papian

There is an opening concert of four masterworks (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Wieniawski) featuring international soloists; a Popular Classics Concert with 200 children who've been learning violin at the NCPA since 8 months; An Opera Gala, and finally, climaxing with two precious shows of the SOI performing Beethoven’s towering 9th Symphony as the Season Finale.

Interested??

Visit their page for details
on ‘The Symphony Orchestra of India — Season 7’ (Sep 18-27th)

Go puffing and huffing up the Belapur hills trek

Did you know that there are ample of things to do on week-end besides lazing in the bed and watching TV and boring your wife and family specially if your wife is as adventurous as you are and you have children who want some excitement in life.

‘Life Away From Life’ designs trips connected with nature in some way or the other, Prateek Deo, the Director of LAFL believes that each one of us should give ourselves a chance to see a life way from life, at least once in life, a chance to explore the little universes which exists in us.

They have a habit of exploring new hills and mountains. Last week their team found an interesting route on the Belapur hills and thought that it will be a great one-day trek on 6th September 2009, Sunday.

They are inviting all beginners and nature enthusiast to opt for this interesting route and experience trekking in Maharashtra during the rains. (Before it disappears)

One can drive to the starting point (which is in 8A, Artist Village, very close to my school, Swami Brahmanand Pratishthan, centre for mentally challenged) or travel by public transport like train, bus or that new AC, comfortable bus.

Join them on 6th September 2009 to trek through this interesting simple route in Navi Mumbai , Belapur Hills.
This trek is recommended for first time fit trekkers and nature enthusiast.

For more details contact Prateek Deo
cell: 9869158351

email : prateekdeo@gmail.com

PS: and remember, if you going then come back and tell us about your experience. You know you can use this comment box, don’t you????

Would you be interested in ‘The Mumbai 48 Hour Film Project’ ???

Yes?? Then this might interest you.



The 48 Hour Film Project comes to Mumbai on the weekend of October 2nd. Filmmakers from all over the country of India will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world. You also can take part in this project but you must hurry because the space is limited.

This year, teams will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Once the initial registration is complete, then they will accept teams for the Waiting List. If a registered team must drop out, they will go to the Waiting List. If there is enough interest, and they can secure additional theater time, they may be able to add more teams from the list.

Registration price is Rs.2500.

They prefer films in English, Hindi, Gujarati or Marathi, and they will screen films in any language.

They have several links where you can sign their Mumbai team, or watch films from Mumbai using their Film Catalogue and 48,tv. You can also sign up for their Mumbai maling list, get in touch with Robina Gupta, who is Mumbai producer of the 48HFP

You can get more details of this information HERE

ps: Me thinks that you must be struggling for new ideas if you need to make a film on Mumbai..(are you scratching your head?)....fear not! arrey.... all the information on Mumbai is right here on my this blog na....japak ke....steal it, churn it, but just acknowledge me....respect my zone and also my effort (mopping my brow)...wat say????