ART FILM Silver Magic: Vintage Photographs of the Golden Age of Hindi Cinema at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
An exhibition of photographer Jethalal H. Thakker’s film stills and portraits of Hindi movie actors from the 1950s and ’60s. For more details, see here. Tickets for Indians are priced at Rs10 per head for adults and Rs 5 per head for children below the age of 13, and tickets for foreigners are priced at Rs 100 per head for adults and Rs 50 per head for children below the age of 13.
When: Until Tuesday, January 12. Open Thursday to Tuesday, from 10 am to 5.30 pm; Wednesday, closed.
Where: Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Kamalnayan Bajaj Gallery, Rani Baug, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Road, Byculla. Tel: 022 2373 1234.
MUSIC TRAVEL Enchanted Valley Carnival at Aamby Valley City
Over 50 acts, including Fatboy Slim and Tiesto, will perform at this three-day camping electronic music festival. In addition to four stages dedicated to different sub-genres, the event will feature adventure sports and a flea market. Tickets, the prices of which start at Rs 2,750 per head per day, are being sold on Justdial.com. See here for the complete line-up and for more information.
When: Friday, December 18 to Sunday, December 20, from 2 pm to 10 pm.
Where: Aamby Valley City, Lonavala.
MUSIC TRAVEL Magnetic Fields at Alsisar, Rajasthan
The third edition of this electronic music festival held inside a palace in Rajasthan will comprise sets by more than 35 acts such as American rocktronica duo Ratatat and German techno producer DJ Koze. Apart from the music, the fest will have yoga sessions, chocolate tastings, a treasure hunt and a tattoo studio. Season tickets priced at Rs 8,000 per head are being sold on the festival website, where you can also book accommodation at the palace or inside a tent at the campsite. See here the complete line-up and for more information.
When: Friday, December 18 to Sunday, December 20, from 2 pm to midnight.
Where: Alsisar Mahal, Jhunjhunu, Alsisar, Rajasthan.
BOOKS TALKS Vikram Chandra at SodaBottleOpenerWala
The author, whose works include the award-winning novel Sacred Games, will talk about the poetry inspired by Mumbai’s Irani cafes by such writers as Arun Kolatkar, Namdeo Dhasal, Dilip Chitre and Eunice D’Souza and about chitra kavya, a traditional Indian style of poetry in which words are arranged on the page in patterns. There is no entry fee.
When: Friday, December 18 at 5 pm.
Where: SodaBottleOpenerWala, The Capital Building, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex. Tel: 98928 41456.
TALKS William Mazzarella at Godrej India Culture Lab
William Mazzarella, professor of anthropology and social sciences at the University of Chicago, will deliver a lecture titled “Censoring India”. After his talk, he will be in conversation with stand-up comic and writer Anuvab Pal. There is no entry fee. To book a spot, email [email protected].
When: Friday, December 18 at 5 pm.
Where: Godrej India Culture Lab, First Floor Auditorium, Godrej ONE, Godrej & Boyce, Vikhroli (East).
FILM TALKS I Am Not Here at Nehru Centre
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ashvin Kumar’s new documentary I am Not Here, which examines migration among domestic workers through the lives of three women, will be screened. The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Kumar; the documentary’s lead researcher Christina MacGillivray; Jeroo Mulla, former head of the Social Communications Media Department at Sophia College; and Shai Venkatraman, the former Mumbai bureau chief of the news channel NDTV 24/7. There is no entry fee.
When: Friday, December 18 at 6 pm.
Where: Nehru Centre, Hall of Harmony, off Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli. Tel: 022 2496 4676.
MUSIC Shailesh Bhagwat at the National Gallery of Modern Art
Shehnai player Shailesh Bhagwat, who trained under the legendary Bismillah Khan, will perform a solo Hindustani classical music recital, which has been organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Entry is free; seating on a first come, first served basis.
When: Friday, December 18 at 6.30 pm.
Where: National Gallery of Modern Art, Madame Cama Road, Kala Ghoda. Tel: 022 2288 1969.
MUSIC Sivana ‒ An Oasis of Music at Nehru Centre
This two-day festival of Indian classical music put together by events company Pancham Nishad will feature performances by Carnatic classical vocalist T. M. Krishna and Hindustani classical santoor player Satish Vyas on the first day, Friday, December 18. Hindustani classical musicians, singer Shashwati Mandal and sitar player Budhaditya Mukherjee will present solo recitals on the second day, Saturday, December 19. Season tickets priced at Rs 400 and Rs 600 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19 at 6.30 pm.
Where: Nehru Centre Auditorium, off Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli. Tel: 022 2496 4680.
THEATRE A Friend’s Story at Prithvi Theatre
Akash Khurana will direct this English version of Vijay Tendulkar’s landmark 1981 Marathi play Mitrachi Goshta. The story hinges on the romantic relationship between two college students, Mitra and Nama, which is complicated by Nama’s boyfriend Dalvi. Nama frustrates Mitra by carrying on with Dalvi despite their regular sexual liaisons. Eventually Nama marries another man, driving Mitra to suicide. Tickets priced at Rs 350 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Friday, December 18 at 7pm and 9.30 pm.
Where: Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Juhu. Tel: 022 2614 9546.
MUSIC Awestrung with The Other People at High Street Phoenix
The city’s most popular cover band The Other People, which released an album of pop-rock originals earlier this year, will perform at this month’s instalment of the series of gigs held in the courtyard of the High Street Phoenix mall complex. There is no entry fee. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Friday, December 18 at 7 pm.
Where: Courtyard, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
MUSIC Delhi Sultanate at Bonobo
DJ and rapper Taru Dalmia aka Delhi Sultanate will spin a vinyl-only set of reggae and its sub-genres at this gig organised to build awareness about his crowd-funding campaign for India’s first “mobile” soundsystem. There is no entry fee. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Friday, December 18 at 9 pm.
Where: Bonobo, Second Floor, Kenilworth Mall, Phase 2, off Linking Road, behind KFC, Bandra (West). Tel: 022 2605 5050.
MUSIC Prem Joshua + Shiva Soundsystem at Blue Frog
German fusion music exponent Prem Joshua, who plays the sitar and bamboo flute among other instruments, will perform a gig that’s part of Lower Parel venue Blue Frog’s eighth anniversary celebrations. The event will also feature a set by Shiva Soundsystem, the London-based electronica collective helmed by DJ and producer Nerm Chauhan. There is an entry fee of Rs 350 or cover charge of Rs 1,000 per head until 11 pm; after 11 pm, there is an entry fee of Rs 500 or cover charge of Rs 1,500 per head for men and free entry for women. See here for more information.
When: Friday, December 18 at 9.30 pm.
Where: Blue Frog, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Tulsi Pipe Road, Lower Parel. Tel: 022 6158 6158.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
WALKS Queensway (Parel) Heritage Walk
Tour company Khaki Tours will conduct a walk around Parel that will cover heritage sites such as St. Mary’s Church and Baradevi Temple. The walk, which is free, will begin outside the ticket window of Parel station. For more information, see the Facebook event page.
When: Saturday, December 19 at 8 am.
Where: Parel station.
EVENTS FOR KIDS ‘Weaving Tales’ at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
Children’s fiction author Vinitha Ramchandani will conduct a creative writing workshop for kids between the ages of ten and 14 that will teach them how to develop characters. Tickets priced at Rs 500 per head are being sold on MyCity4Kids.com.
When: Saturday, December 18 at 10.30 am.
Where: Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Rani Baug, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Road, Byculla. Tel: 022 2373 1234.
ENTERTAINMENT Mumbai Comic Con 2015 at Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre
This year’s edition of the annual pop culture convention will feature book launches, talks, autograph signing sessions, gaming zones, cosplay contests and merchandise stalls. Among the guests this time around are actor Sylvester McCoy, who played Doctor Who in the sci-fi TV show of the same name in the 1980s and Radagast the Brown in The Hobbit films; Rob DenBleyker, co-author of the web comic Cyanide & Happiness; comic book writer Joe Harris, whose works include the ongoing The X-Files: Season 10 series; and Gavin Aung Than, the creator of the comic strip Zen Pencils. Tickets priced at Rs 350 per head for a single day are being sold on Bookmyshow.com. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20, from 11 am to 8 pm.
Where: Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Nesco Compound, off the Western Express Highway, opposite Mahananda Dairy, Goregaon (East).
SHOPPING & STYLE The Blowout Sale at The Easel
Shopping events company Black Taxi is hosting its annual sale, at which you can shop for clothes and accessories discounted by up to 70 per cent. Participating designers and labels include Krishna Mehta, Aarti Vijay Gupta, Varuna Gupta, Ginil and Disha, Earthy Roots, House of Sohn, Printalk and Pink Zari. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Saturday, December 19, from 11 am to 7 pm.
Where: The Easel, 32 Janki Kutir, near Prithvi Theatre, Juhu Church Road, Juhu. Tel: 98205 24748.
THEATRE The Interview at Prithvi Theatre
Director Akarsh Khurana’s Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award-winning play takes place in an office of one of the country’s biggest companies. A young man shows up for an interview, which doesn’t go quite the way he expected. Tickets priced at Rs 300 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Saturday, December 19 at 11 am.
Where: Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Juhu. Tel: 022 2614 9546.
FOOD & DRINK Mumbai Farmers’ Market at Phoenix Mills
At the Christmas edition of Karen Anand’s travelling market, you can pick up brownies by Brownie Cottage, organic cosmetics by Iraya, honey by Honey Twigs, saffron by SaffroInd, cooking oils by Kamani, milk by Pride of Cows, teas by Typhoo and cold pressed juices by Raw Pressery. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20, from noon to 9 pm.
Where: High Street Phoenix, Courtyard, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel.
MUSIC Arijit Singh at the DY Patil Stadium
The Hindi film playback singer, who is the voice behind some of the biggest Bollywood hits of recent times, will perform a concert at which he will be backed by the 45-member Grand Symphony Orchestra comprising musicians from across the world. Tickets, the prices of which start at Rs 800 per head, are being sold on Meraevents.com.
When: Saturday, December 19, gates open at 4 pm.
Where: DY Patil Stadium, Sion – Panvel Expressway, Nerul, Navi Mumbai.
MUSIC Irshad Khan at Nehru Centre
Etawah gharana sitar player Irshad Khan will perform a solo recital of Hindustani classic music organised by cultural organisation Udayan. Donor passes priced at Rs 200 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Saturday, December 19 at 6.30 pm.
Where: Hall of Culture, Discovery of India building, Nehru Centre Complex, off Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli. Tel: 022 2496 4680.
COMEDY Aisi Taisi Democracy at Rangsharda Auditorium
Lyricist and writer Varun Grover, stand-up comedian Sanjay Rajoura and Indian Ocean vocalist and bassist Rahul Ram will perform their send-up of the current political dispensation. To read our review, see here. Tickets priced at Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 1,250 and Rs 1,500 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Saturday, December 19 at 8 pm.
Where: Rangsharda Auditorium, Hotel Rangsharda, near Lilavati Hospital, K. C. Marg, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (West). Tel: 022 2640 1919.
MUSIC Reggae Rajahs featuring Steppa Style at Todi Mill Social
Delhi-based reggae soundsystem Reggae Rajahs will celebrate the launch of their new EP Beach Party with a gig during which they will be joined by Russian DJ and producer Steppa Style. Entry is free; RSVP via Insider.in. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Saturday, December 19 at 10 pm.
Where: Todi Mill Social, #242, near Viva Centre and Cafe Zoe, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel. Tel: 022 6511 0361.
MUSIC Alo Wala + SickFlip at Blue Frog
A double bill of Copenhagen electro-hip hop act Alo Wala and SickFlip aka Mumbai-residing electronica DJ and producer Sarvesh Shrivastava. There is an entry fee of Rs 500 or cover charge of Rs 1,500 per head for men and free entry for women. See here for more information.
When: Saturday, December 19 at 10.30 pm.
Where: Blue Frog, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Tulsi Pipe Road, Lower Parel. Tel: 022 6158 6158.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20
MUSIC Udayswar with Budhaditya Mukherjee at Prithvi Theatre
Hindustani classic music sitar player Budhaditya Mukherjee, who belongs to the Imadkhani gharana, will perform morning ragas at this instalment of the series of concerts organised by music events company Pancham Nishad at Prithvi Theatre. Tickets priced at Rs 200 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Sunday, December 20 at 7.30 am.
Where: Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Juhu. Tel: 022 2614 9546.
PETS Adoptathon Hangover at ZooBar
Thirty puppies and kittens will be up for adoption at the recently-opened pet-friendly Vile Parle bar. There is no entry fee.
When: Sunday, December 20, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Where: ZooBar, First Floor, Liberty Lodge, DJ Road, above McDonald’s, Vile Parle (West). Tel: 98201 91321.
FOOD & DRINK The Christmas Dessert Crawl in Bandra
This festive dessert-hop organised by events company Paprika Idea Labs will begin at Out of The Blue, proceed to Serendipity, the Cup Cake Factory and Theobroma and conclude at events venue The Hive, which is hosting a festival of art, culture and food. The sugar-fuelled crawl will feature chocolate cranberry and espresso cake; Christmas-themed cupcakes; ginger bread cookies; and hot chocolate and marshmallows. Tickets, priced at Rs 600 per person, are being sold on Insider.in. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Sunday, December 20 at 4 pm.
Where: Out of The Blue, Le Sutra, 14 Union Park, Khar. Tel: 022 2600 3000.
BOOKS WORKSHOPS Short Story Writing Workshop by Karishma Attari at The Hive
Karishma Attari, author of the recently published mystery novel I See You, will conduct a two-and-a-half-hour workshop on how to develop plots and characters in a short story. Tickets priced at Rs 800 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com. For more details, see the Facebook event page.
When: Sunday, December 20 at 5 pm.
Where: The Hive, 50A Huma Mansion, next to Ahmed Bakery, Chuim Village Road, Khar (West). Tel: 96199 62969.
MUSIC Badshah at CIDCO Exhibition Centre
Delhi-based Punjabi and Hindi hip hop artist Badshah aka Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, who scored a number of dance-friendly hits this year, will perform. Tickets priced at Rs 250, Rs 600 and Rs 1,200 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Sunday, December 20 at 5 pm.
Where: CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Sector 30A, opposite Joyalukkas, Swami Pranabananda Marg, behind Raghuleela Mall, near Vashi Railway Station, Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
MUSIC Metal Mania at Hard Rock Cafe Worli
Heavy metal bands, Third Sovereign from Aizawl, Plague Throat from Shillong, Gutslit from Mumbai and Elemental from Indore will stage sets. There is a cover charge of Rs 500 per head. See the Facebook event page for more information.
When: Sunday, December 20 at 8 pm.
Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Bombay Dyeing Mills Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli. Tel: 022 2438 2888.
DANCE Dancing Queens at The Hive
The Dancing Queens, a troupe of dancers, most of whose members belong to the transgender community, will perform. Tickets priced at Rs 500 per head are being sold on Bookmyshow.com.
When: Sunday, December 20 at 8.30 pm.
Where: The Hive, 50A Huma Mansion, next to Ahmed Bakery, Chuim Village Road, Khar (West). Tel: 96199 62969.
ONGOING
ART Unpacking the Studio: Celebrating the Jehangir Sabavala Bequest at the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation
This exhibition comprises the late artist’s paintings and personal articles such as diaries, sketchbooks and portfolios that were donated by his wife Shirin Sabavala to the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, which is housed inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. The show, which has been curated by Ranjit Hoskote, places Jehangir Sabavala’s work in the context of his artistic inspirations, his education in Mumbai, London and Paris, and his practice among his peers from the 1930s to the 1950s. Tickets to enter the museum are priced at Rs 20 per head for children between the ages of five and twelve, Rs 70 per head for Indians above the age of twelve, and Rs 300 per head for foreigners above the age of twelve; free entry for children below the age of five.
When: Until Thursday, December 31. The Foundation is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.30 am to 6 pm; Monday, closed.
Where: Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Second Floor, East Wing, Kala Ghoda. Tel: 022 2202 9613.
ART Archana Hande at Chemould At Prescott Road
Mumbai artist Archana Hande’s new show I am a Landscape Painter is a collection of photographs, videos, watercolours and textiles that draw on her travels across western Australia and the silk route through India, Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet.
When: Until Wednesday, January 6. Open Monday to Saturday, from 11 am to 7 pm; Sunday, closed.
Where: Chemould Prescott Road, Queens Mansion, Third Floor, G. Talkwatkar Marg, near Cathedral School, Fort. Tel: 022 2200 0211.
ART Epic Ecologies at Jhaveri Contemporary
Iftikhar Dadi, an associate professor in Cornell University’s Department of History of Art, and his partner Elizabeth Dadi have collaborated on this show which has artworks from three series. ‘Urdu Film Series’ examines Lollywood, the Pakistani film industry headquartered in Lahore. In “They Make History”, historic figures are removed from their contexts and placed in invented backgrounds. ‘Efflorescence’ features the national flowers of disputed regions.
When: Until Saturday, January 9. Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday and Monday, closed.
Where: Jhaveri Contemporary, 2, Krisha Niwas, 58A Walkeshwar Road. Tel: 022 2369 3639.
ART The Sovereign Forest at Max Mueller Bhavan/Goethe Institut
The video installation by artist Amar Kanwar is his response to the struggle of Orissa’s indigenous communities to protect their mineral-rich land from exploitative corporations. For a schedule of events related to the show, see here.
When: Until Thursday, January 14. Open Monday to Saturday, from 11 am to 7 pm; Sunday, closed.
Where: Galerie Max Mueller Bhavan, K. Dubash Marg, Kala Ghoda. Tel: 022 2202 7542.
ART Liberty Taken at Clark House, Liberty Cinema, Sir J.J. School Of Art and Tarq
This art festival organised by Clark House Initiative, a group of artists and curators, is a suite of exhibitions, talks and videos that deal with the theme of liberty. The events include a show of woodcut prints by Baroda’s Soghra Khurasani, videos by Mumbai’s Amol Patil and France’s Aurelien Froment and a performance by American DJ Spooky aka Paul D. Miller. For the complete schedule, see here.
When: Until Sunday, December 20.
Where: Liberty Cinema, 41-42, Marine Lines, opposite Bombay Hospital. Tel: 022 2208 4521. Sir JJ School of Art, D. N. Road, Fort. Tarq, F35/36 Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Colaba. Tel: 022 6615 0424.
