NCPA Mumbai Events Calendar - June 2011

PROGRAMME GUIDEJUNE 2011

A Tribute to “The King”Remembering Elvis Presley

Women of PowerShowcasing Shakti through dance

Stage to ScreenNational Theatre London brings Frankenstein to NCPA’s stages

FrankensteinDanny Boyle’s

1On Stage June 2011

On Stage June 2011

1

A facility that members, as well as col-laborators and supporters have been

constantly requesting, is a proper theatre restaurant and café that would cater, not only to young visitors to the NCPA and members before and after perfor-mances, but also to the general public, to spend time in pleasant surroundings and enjoy culinary delights over a wide range of cuisines. In accordance with these requests, a new restaurant, chris-tened Amadeus, will be opened around mid-June.

One of the areas that need attention at the NCPA, is the inability to provide suf-ficient entertainment facilities for its mem-bers during the day. `We are basically a bunch of theatres that come alive in the evenings and have hardly any activities during the day. This is a situation we seek to remedy by gradually creating pro-grammes and facilities, which will make the NCPA a desirable venue to visit from

breakfast to dinner time. Its vast spaces should be filled with events that will make it an attractive destination for people from all walks of life.

An exciting event this month is the first ma-jor collaboration the NCPA will have with a prestigious foreign organisation, the Na-tional Theatre in London. Although we are offered direct broadcasts of their plays, this would obviously be inconvenient due to the time difference. We have therefore decided to show these unique events very soon after the actual performance in London. The NCPA is equipping one of its theatres to ensure a thrilling experience and theatre goers will be surprised at the quality of the presentation provided. Watch out for the announcement in this first series of performances with Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein.

In the future, we hope to have many such collaborations with prestigious organisa-

tions abroad, so that the best interna-tional offerings are available for viewing by NCPA members and the public.

The NCPA will also embark on a new prop-erty named NCPA Legends, where we will ask current artistes in various genres to pay tribute to legendary performers in all spheres of music. The first concert will feature the popular Gary Lawyer, paying tribute to the King of Rock and Roll – Elvis Presley. We will also screen Elvis films a few days prior to the performance.

In Indian dance, we will be highlight-ing the Devi, the female character of Indian Dance.

We have also decided that we will be highlighting future performances in each issue of On Stage, so that members can mark their calendars well in advance, and also arrange for early openings at the Box Office.

from thechairman’s

desk

Khushroo N. Suntook

2On Stage June 2011

It was indeed an ecstatic experience attending the Mudra Dance Week, 2011. The entire range of performances, with such great dancers from various styles, was beautifully organised and presented. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavours of each of the genres and will look forward to the same in the forthcoming events.

– Amrita Mukherjee

NCPA’s Mudra Dance Week truly showcased some of the finest artistes who are exploring the depths of Indian classical dance today. In particular, Margi Vijayakumar’s Poothana Moksham was a spectacular performance. One was left completely mesmerised, forgetting that the dancer was a male, in sthree vesham! Also, it was a rare treat for Mumbai’s dance lovers, for whom Kathakali perfor-mances in their home town is quite a rarity.

– Purnima Patni

Please feel free to write in with your comments to Lily Shroff (RelationshipManager – On Stage). We are committed to providing you with an enjoyablemagazine and look forward to your feedback after each issue. We’dlike to know what you think about our programmes and our stories, and lookforward to bringing you exciting events on an ongoing basis. You may sendan email to [email protected] with your comments and feedback.

Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein will send shiver’s down Mumbai’s spine this summer!

NCPA – On Stage Magazine

Relationship Manager: Lily Shroff

Consulting Editor: Anushree ChatterjeeDeputy Editor-in-Chief: Jaideep VGEditorial Co-ordinators: Divya Mishra, Priyanka Mathur Hilda Darukhanawalla Art Director: Rahul DasNational Photo Editor & Art Director: Chirodeep Chaudhuri PR Manager: Rashmi DhanwaniSenior RM Sales (West): Vishwanath ShanbhagDesigners: Brijesh Gajjar, Chittaranjan ModhaveDigital Imaging: Devang H Makwana

Published by Deepak Bajaj for The National Centre for the Performing Arts,NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021.

Produced by

Project Management TeamEditor in chief: Naresh Fernandes

Chief Operating Officer: Rajnish Rawat

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Materials in On Stage cannot bereproduced in part or whole without the written permission of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved.

NCPA Booking Office2282 4567 / 6654 8135 / 6622 3724 www.ncpamumbai.com www.soimumbai.in

Letters to the editor

We look forward to your feedback and suggestions on the NCPA’s programmes, as well as our magazine On Stage. Please do write in to The Editor – On Stage, The National Centre for the Performing Arts, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 or E-mail [email protected], or Fax (022) 6622 3830.

NCPA DepartmentsIndian Music: Dr. Suvarnalata Rao, Head – Programming

International Music: Farrahnaz Irani Sr.Manager – Programming

Centre of Photography as an Art Form:Mukesh Parpiani,Head – Piramal Art Gallery

Theatre & Film:Deepa Gahlot, Head – Programming

Dance: Amrita Lahiri,Head – Programming

Marketing, Sales & Administration:Deepak Bajaj,Director

Jt. Executive Director:D. B. Biswas

NCPA Chairman: Khushroo N. Suntook

J U N E 2 0 11

FrankensteinDanny Boyle’s

contents

July 2011 Highlights30

What to look forward to in the coming month.

Glimpses of April and May 201129

All that was memorable in the last two months.

A tribute to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll10

The NCPA pays tribute to Elvis Presley. Lily Shroff takes us through this musical journey.

On Stage Global – World Views14

A look around the world for the most exciting performing arts events in June.

On Stage Explores – Shringar rasa12

Isabel Putinja studies jewellery, one of the prime aspects of an Indian dancer’s couture.

Programme Guide 15

All of June’s events at the NCPA.

NCPA News32

New developments at the NCPA.

08

04Stage to Screen

Deepa Gahlot tells us why watching the theatre broadcast of Danny Boyle’s

Frankenstein is a must-do this month.

Women of PowerOdissi and Bharata Natyam dancers pay

homage to the eternal Shakti through their performances. Karanjeet Kaur tells us more.

4On Stage June 2011

The NCPA always endeavours to bring its audiences the best theatre proj-ects from across the world. For the first

time in India, a collaboration with the UK’s National Theatre will enable audiences in Mumbai to see what the world is watch-ing—not on stage, but through high qual-ity digital recordings shot live. The National Theatre Live (NT Live) is a ground breaking initiative to broadcast the best of live British theatre around the world. The first NT Live production, which will be showcased only at the NCPA, is Danny Boyle’s smash hit, Frankenstein. This grand stage version of the Mary Shelley classic, adapted by Nick Dear, has a cast led by Benedict Cum-berbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the

Creature. Audiences will have the chance to see both combina-

tions. Described as “visionary,” “mesmerising,” “stunning” and “brilliant,” the production by the

Oscar-winning Slumdog Million-aire director, has garnered rave

reviews in the press.

A collaboration between the NCPA and London’s National

Theatre allows Mumbai audiences to experience the best of British Theatre.

Deepa Gahlot tells us more

StagetScreen

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In this gothic horror story, a scientist makes a human creature out of separate body parts and brings him to life. Then, horrified at the sight of the monster he has cre-ated, he casts it away. The ugly innocent creature encounters hostility and cruelty wherever he goes and in desperation, then sets out to track down his creator…“Urgent concerns of scientific responsibil-ity, parental neglect, cognitive develop-ment and the nature of good and evil are embedded within this thrilling and deeply disturbing classic gothic tale,” reads the NT Live release.

The first ten weeks of Frankenstein were sold out in advance; after its resound-ing success, the production run was ex-tended. The performance of the play has been broadcast to 375 screens around the world so far. According to estimates, over 100,000 people worldwide watched the shows. Upto eight cameras were employed to capture the broadcast the same and make it dynamic and visually exciting. In an interview with The Times, London, Boyle said, “I haven’t directed plays for 15 years but Frankenstein has been on my mind for a long time. I first talked to the playwright Nick Dear about the idea of doing an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel when we worked on The Last Days of Don Juan at the Royal Shake-speare Company. Nick’s first drafts were faithful to the novel until we came up with this idea of opening the play from the Creature’s point of view. Doing so gave the Creature his voice back; Shelley gave him a voice, but so many manifestations

of the story have denied it to him. Start-ing from the Creature’s point of view was the key to unlocking the adaptation. The key to then getting the production up and running was to rebalance the story. Once you don’t start with Victor Frankenstein, it’s fantastically refreshing because it means that you have to rethink everything. Once you get going, you need to balance the Creature with his obsession, his creator. So we rebalanced our approach by coming up with the idea of double casting the actors. If you are going to do that, Victor ultimately has to be an equal. So the first half of the play, the first 20 or 30 minutes, is very much from the Creature’s point of view. And then it shifts to being this great debate between the two of them. We wanted to get away from movie im-ages of the Creature and also the idea that he is a stitched-together series of parts, he’s a whole body that has been operated on internally. You’ll see evi-dence of his internal organs in the play. Shelley clearly based Frankenstein on Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, the extraordinary men in her life. They were egotistical romantics who were obsessed with science. Of course, the play em-phasises that by putting two men at the heart of creation, women are excluded. And in reality, there was Mary Shelley con-stantly going through pregnancies, losing children and writing this incredible book. Whenever she got pregnant, she fell ill! He couldn’t stand her having all the at-tention. And so Frankenstein became a brilliant depiction of the self-importance of men.”

David Sabel, Head of Digital Media and Producer, NT Live, says, “The concept be-hind Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein is that the two lead actors are alternating the roles of the Creature and Victor Frankenstein. The concept is to look at the duality and fusion of these two characters – the rela-tionship of master/servant and creator/creation, how they affect each other and what they learn from each other. It’s a re-ally fascinating approach and many peo-ple are booking to see both versions here at the theatre – the scripts are the same, but the staging and performances vary.” Now Mumbai audiences will see this breathtaking production on screen, mark-ing the start of high quality screenings of National Theatre's productions at the NCPA.

Frankenstein is on June 17, 18 and 19. For more information see page 24 of the Programme Guide.

"Once you get going, you need to balance the Creature with his obsession, his creator. So we rebalanced our approach by coming up with the idea of double casting the actors."

Danny Boyle's Frankenstein comes to send chills down Mumbai's spine

6On Stage June 20116On Stage June 2011

Reviews of Frankenstein The Times

‘This taut, thrilling play runs with hardly a moment for breath.’‘Lee Miller is physically wild, free of the slightest self consciousness...’

‘To see (Cumberbatch) hurling himself into the agile physicality and awkward strangeness of the Creature is revelatory, a quantum leap for his reputation.’‘... they’re both teriffic...‘It is a theatrical coup.’

‘Mark Tildesley’s stunning design and Bruno Poet’s remarkable lighting effects use the Olivier’s vastness with controlled, imaginative strength.’

‘The music, by Underworld, is perfect.’ ‘... it is rather wonderful: thoughtful, exciting, moving.’

Sunday Express ‘Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller lend both gravitas and a frightening physical immediacy’

Independent‘Boyle’s role-reversal twist a shocking, haunting success.’

‘Danny Boyle’s extraordinarily haunting production.’‘Johnny Lee Miller’s astonishing Creature.’

‘Lee Miller gives a whole new lease of life to the term “shock to the system”...’‘Cumberbatch is brilliant at conveying the blackly ridiculous aspects of the hubristic scientist.’

‘These are imaginative productions that pack a devastating cumulative punch and score a singular success.’

Evening Standard ‘The National Theatre has a hit on its hands.’

‘The opening 10 minutes are stunning. They are as atmospheric as theatre ever gets.’‘The scenes that concentrate on Cumberbatch and Miller are powerful. There is a compelling chemistry

between them...’

Guardian ‘Cumberbatch’s Creature is unforgettable... It is an astonishing performance.’

‘The actors complement each other perfectly.’ ‘Boyle’s production is a bravura triumph in which Mark Tildesley’s design provides a whole series of visual coups.’

‘A stunning evening.’

Daily Telegraph ‘Boyle... pulls off something truly spectacular here.’

Daily Mail‘Boyle draws terrifically gutsy performances from his two leads.’

‘The visceral nature of the performances is tremendously impressive...’‘... this is a memorable production and will doubtless be spoken of for years to come.’

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8On Stage June 2011

The spirit of Shakti, the feminine force, is celebrated in the

performances of Priya Venkataraman

and sisters Leena and Leesa Mohanty,

writes Karanjeet Kaur

F or a country with such a de-pressing gender ratio and a his-tory of violence against women,

our present belies our collective past. Our traditional arts and culture, inextri-cable from our spiritual beliefs, has al-ways valourised Shakti, or the feminine force. Classical dancers have referred to the epics and ancient Indian texts to illustrate this – and two upcoming performances at the NCPA this month, offer fresh perspectives on the same. Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Venkata-raman presents Devi, with episodes culled from Ananda Lahiri and Kalida-sa’s Kumarasambhavam, while sisters Leena and Leesa Mohanty perform a portmanteau Odissi recital Ambaa, inspired by the Mahabharata.

ofWomenpower

On Stage June 2011

9

Priya Venkataraman, born and raised in Delhi, was expected to take lessons in classical music and dance like any good South Indian girl. “I hated my music les-sons and tried to run away from them all the time,” she quips. But she gradually discovered it was in solely dance that her interest and her heart lay – she took a brief break during Class 12th to focus on her studies, and decided she never wanted to give it up. During her early years, she trained with Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. Now, even as she juggles teaching young disciples in Gurgaon, she keeps shuttling to Chennai to train with A. Lakshman and Bragha Bessell.

After her marriage, Priya moved to Illi-nois, USA, where she established a dance school named Kalakriti. At Kalakriti, she trained over seventy childern, of Indian diaspora parents, as well as Americans. She straddled teaching with performing all across the country and abroad, in places as diverse as Canada, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago. She also conducted residencies in American schools, where she choreographed pieces for children’s performances, and even collaborated with the Tony- and Emmy-winning play-wright Terence McNally on A Perfect Ga-nesh in 1993, where she had to “teach a pot-bellied man some dance moves”.

Priya’s repertoire is primarily traditional and rarely includes any contemporary stylis-tic influences. In her latest performance as well, the dancer has a rather modern thematic consideration, but her choreog-raphy and the flow of the performance re-main traditional. The recital is a combina-tion of heterogeneous set pieces in praise of the Devi as the mother, as the protector and as Shiva’s consort. She commences with verses from the scripture Ananda La-hiri by Adishankara, followed by a varnam in praise of the Devi wherein Parvati is re-ferred to as Vishnu’s sister, composed in Raga Todi. The latter half, or the abhinaya part of the performance has been culled from Kalidasa’s Kumarsambhavam and was especially composed for the recital. “This was the only sringara text I could find, where the Devi is also a lover,” she says. The evening concludes with a thillana in Raga Nalinakanthi, composed by mridan-gam maestro Karaikudi Krishnamurthy.

If Priya had trouble finding a conceptual text, the Mohanty sisters had basic logis-tical problems – younger sister Leesa is based in Mumbai, while Leena is based

in the USA. The two will have only a few days ahead of the final performance to rehearse together, but mercifully, technol-ogy has come to their rescue. The sisters have been rehearsing and exchanging notes over Skype. Distance is but a minor quibble when you’ve spent your childhood dedicated to the arts.

Born in Bhubaneshwar to industrialist and Krishna devotee Rabi Narayan Mohanty, the sisters inherited their father’s zeal to be involved in and promote traditional arts. They recall being taken to Vrindavan at a young age, following an incident when

their father took note of a shloka in the Bhagavatam, which enjoined devotees to enact the Krishna Leela, as the only way of reaching God in Kalyug. This was also the philosophy behind the creation of the cultural organisation Bansi Bilas, a non-profit organisation, which was established in 1984 by their father, with the mandate to preserve and propagate Odissi.

The organisation engendered several productions – including Basanta Raas, choreographed by the legendary Guru Debaprasad Das, who also taught the girls – which travelled from one village to the next. The troupe then graduated to performing in temples across Vrindavan, especially during the Dussehra holidays. Meanwhile, Basanta Raas was also pro-duced as a film that went on to win several State awards, including a best child artiste trophy for Leesa.

Now, after graduating from the presti-gious IRMA (Insitute of Rural Managament Anand) in Gujarat, Leesa straddles a ca-reer in HR by training youngsters, while Leena trains professional dancers. Along with their individual practice around the world, together they run Bansi Bilas, orga-nising festivals, such as the First Interna-tional Odissi Festival, held in the capital at the Habitat Centre in 1999. Simultaneously, Leesa also runs the Powai-based Nirguna Centre for Excellence, which trains children in Odissi and Hindustani music.

The sisters say that most of their perfor-mances are oriented around Krishna, often highlighting the ‘Shyam-Shyama’ dichoto-my inherent in the character. “But we had never explored the ‘she’ part in detail, so we decided to dedicate this performance to Ambaa, the feminine force,” says Lee-sa. The recital begins with a traditional in-vocatory mangalacharan, dedicated to Kali – the rest of the performance follows her in her numerous avatars. Pallavi, set to Raga Basanta, explores the sensuous and lyrical side of Odissi. As Leesa puts it, as sensuality rises, one loses the ability to take objective decisions – this part segues into the abhinaya bit, where Kunti’s dilemma is focused on. The second part of abhinaya is the Dasamahavidya, or “the ten forms of primordial creative female energy”. The performance fittingly concludes with Moksha, a dance of release.

Ambaa is on June 9 and Devi is on June 16. For more details see page 20 and 23 of the Programme Guide.

Page 8: Priya Venkataraman; Page 9 Leesa Mohanty and Leena Mohanty

“Kumarsambhavam was the only sringara text I could find, where the Devi is also a lover.”

(Priya Venkataraman)

The NCPA presents a tribute to this iconic artiste, whose immortalised vocals have transcended generations together. Lily Shroff takes us through this musical journey.

A tribute

Famous Quotes on ElvisBob DylanWhen I first heard Elvis’ voice I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail.Johnny CashElvis was so good. Every show I did with him, I never missed the chance to stand in the wings and watch. We all did. He was that charismatic.Mick JaggerHe was a unique artist-an original in an area of imitators.George KleinLet’s not think of how Elvis died, but how he lived…the man wasn’t just a star he was a damn galaxy!!’…Elton JohnIt was Elvis that got me interested in music. I’ve been an Elvis fan since I was a kid.

King of Rock and Roll to the

On Stage June 2011

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When you have a legendary per-former’s music and songs, cou-pled with a rocking band where

in the lead you have Mumbai’s premier pop-rock artist paying a tribute to this im-mortalized star you can’t help but want to be a part of the action. Add a dash of the best performance location in Mum-bai, couple it up with some fine American cuisine, rocking music and you can’t ex-pect anything less than a glorious evening of fun and endless entertainment. That’s

whats in store this 11th of June , 2011 at the Tata Theatre, NCPA where we

have live in concert Gary Lawyer performing a Tribute to the

‘King of Rock and Roll- Elvis Aaron Presely!’

Theres not much that can be written about El-vis that people are not

already aware of, his fan following is unmatched even

today. In his 42 years (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) he man-

aged to create glorious musical and fashion trends and completely

changed the face of American and world music. Born in Mississippi, Presley

moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the young age of 13. He began

his career there in 1954 when Sam Phillips, (the then owner of a company called Sun Records) was eager to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audi-ence and saw in Presley a way to fulfill his vision. There was no limit to the sponta-niety and moves of this creative genius, outrageous dress codes, long side-locks, puffed up tresses ( his secret was a combi-nation of Vaseline and rosewater) and an

ever so handsome face could easily give

any Hollywood icon a run for

his money, add to it a voice

t h a t could

drive millions crazy. In an attempt to find privacy post his enormous success, Presley bought Graceland in Memphis his home, which was a 23-room, two storey mansion in 13.8 acres of ground at 3764, South Bel-levue Boulevard in the Memphis suburb Whitehaven. Today Graceland is the most famous address in modern music history. The famous music gates of Graceland were installed in April of that year. It was open to the public only after Elvis’s death, and an estimated 1 million people still visit it yearly.

This was just the beginning of an icon that exceeded mortality. The vast expanse of his musical works from rock, blues, and pop to gospel tunes captured the hearts and minds of millions. Elvis created waves with his first single Heartbreak Hotel in the year 1956, and later that same year also made his film debut in the English film, Love me Tender. Some of his greatest hits included Jailhouse rock, Let me be your Teddy Bear, Hound Dog, and Are you Lonesome Tonight, among many others. It becomes difficult to attempt to ape this great artist, and only a humble effort can be made, many artists over the years have paid their tribute through performances to this icon one such artist is Mumbai’s very own Gary Lawyer.

When asked, ‘why Elvis?’ Gary replies quite promptly ‘there can be no other; he was the most influential entertainer of mankind’ Going on he adds, ‘His music exceeds genres and having performed twice in Pune to the similar theme, he knows the fan following in Mumbai will love to hear his tunes’ With the expanse and over powered support for Bollywood within the Indian media, Gary feels the need to create a space for Western Music across genres is a must. With the finest indoor set up for performances at the NCPA (Nation-al Centre for Performing Arts), an Indian artist along with many international ones can create high quality live performances to enthrall audiences.

This initiative is part of a new property cre-ated at the NCPA called, ‘NCPA Legends’ where recent artists will perform tributes to great musical legends. The first one in its series is the Elvis tribute and may be fol-lowed by tribute performances of Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Mohammed Rafi among many others in the years to come. This initiative by the creative de-partment at the NCPA has commenced to expose and reignite the fan following

of these evergreen composers and sing-ers to create new waves of entertainment among the Indian audiences. In fact the whole first week of June starting with the 6th, 7th and 8th, will involve Elvis themed events at the NCPA, one of them are the 3 film screenings at the Little Theatre within the NCPA.

The 6th will screen the 1957 hit film, Jail-house Rock which showcases Elvis’s leg-endary portrayal of Vince Everett a pris-oner who turns his life over to become a superstar. On the 7th the renowned film ‘This is Elvis’ will be premiered in the Little Theatre. In this biography concert movie rare behind the scenes footage will be shown covering the life and story of this great icon. The highlights will further in-clude Elvis’ first TV appearance in 1956, scenes from his most popular movies, “Love Me Tender” and “Loving You”, plus concert scenes from his 1968 show, That’s the way it is, Aloha from Hawaii, and from his last filmed show in 1977 as well.

Fans get to see him perform live with all the essential hits – from the early rock n roll tracks (Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel) to the soulful ballads (Love Me Tender, Can’t Help Falling in Love) right down to his per-sonal favorites (Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shows). Finally on the 8th will be a documentary screening of ‘ Elvis by the Presleys’ where for the first time his wife Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie offer an intimate look at Elvis’s life.

Over the years artists have shaped differ-ent aspects of civilization and vice versa, but few have managed to transcend gen-erations with their popularity and talent. The magic of stardom and a fan following is addictive and limitless. The Elvis fan club started online, is one such example of this and is run in India by 107.1 FM, RJ and a die-hard Elvis fan, Fali Singara who gathers information from across India, connects with fans and gives a thorough account of Elvis’s life, films, songs and memorabilia.

Of all the performers across generations inspired by Elvis and those bowed down to his talent , attitude and music one quote sums it up as aptly as it could: Before Elvis there was nothing! – John Lennon

The NCPA Legends – A Tribute to The King of Rock and Roll concert by Gary Lawyer is on June 11. For more information see page 22 of the Programme Guide.

King of Rock and Roll

12On Stage June 2011On Stage Explores

From the rakkodi on the crown of her head, to the nupura adorning her feet, the classical dancer is literally

bejewelled from head to toe. Jewellery is an essential part of the dance costume. It adds sparkle to a dancer’s appearance and enhances the visual effect and aes-thetic appeal of her dance, invoking rasa in the observer.

South Indian temple jewellery has a very long tradition dating back over 5,000 years. It was traditionally made for temple idols by master craftsmen who worked within the precincts of these temples. Nagercoil, a temple town in Tamil Nadu, is famous for its jewellery, that is used to adorn the deities during important festi-

vals. It was also worn by the resident tem-ple dancers, a tradition which is continued to the stage, today. Traditional jewellery was made of pure gold and embedded with uncut diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Today replicas are made in sil-ver, then coated in gold leaf and embed-ded with semi-precious stones.

“I find that the quality and craftsmanship of temple jewellery has declined over the years,” reveals actress and dancer Hema Malini. “Of course, real jewellery is too ex-pensive to wear, so dancers wear artificial jewellery. But after a few shows, it loses its shine and charm. For my dance ballets I get special jewellery made. It’s artificial but very beautifully done, with an antique

finish. Jewellery is very important for a dancer. The belt enhances the waistline and the nose ring makes the dancer look very feminine and beautiful. I have a few pieces of temple jewellery which are my favourites: I have a long necklace made of gold and diamonds with mango shapes. Many traditional pieces are inspired by na-ture. Also, during my initial dance perfor-mances, I would wear my mother’s gold belt. This piece is very special for me and I still have it and cherish it.”

Temple jewellery not only adorns and em-bellishes a dancer; it is also believed to have a deeper significance. Pure gold is believed to promote well-being. The surya worn on the right side of the head and the

Isabel Putinja explores the history of jewellery traditionally worn by Indian dancers of the

past and present

On Stage June 2011

13

chandra on the left, are believed to impart a positive energy to the dancer, allowing her art to flourish. The rokkodi worn on the crown of the head protects the brain.

For leading Bharatanatyam dancer Rama Vaidyanathan, the sheer resplendence of South Indian temple jewellery is a good reason not to wear too much of it. “I love temple jewellery because its vibrant co-lours are very striking. It’s the ideal jewellery to wear with Kanchivaram saris because it matches so well. But because it’s so strik-ing, I don’t want to clutter myself. The less I wear, the more it stands out.” Rama gives much thought and importance to her jew-ellery: “I choose my jewellery to match the costume I’m wearing, but also according to the theme of the performance,” she explains. “For example, one of my recent productions, Akhilam Madhuram, is based on Krishna and the symbolism of Mathura and Vrindavan, and explores the theme of bhakti. I used Rudraksha beads, which are significant for their healing powers, and matched it with a Tanjore pendant. I like old, traditional pieces and I often come up with my own designs. My inspiration comes from temple sculptures, old Tanjore paintings and Ravi Varma paintings.” In contrast to the opulent temple jewellery of South India, the silver jewellery used by Odissi dancers is elegantly understated. Cuttack in the state of Orissa is famous for its silver filigree work. Oriya tribal jewellery is also made of silver. “Odissi jewellery has a distinct style,” explains celebrated Odissi dancer Sujata Mohapatra. “It adds beauty and elegance to the dance. The tahia (crown) is unique to this dance style and resembles a temple spire. The bengapa-tia (silver belt) is also unique to Odissi. The maharis, who had danced in the temples, had worn many necklaces around the neck and several chains around the waist. The leading gurus had come together and decided on the aesthetics of the Odissi costume and jewellery. It should not be too heavy. The beauty of the body has to be seen.”

Inspiration for the Odissi costume came from temple sculptures, as well as the Ab-hinaya Chandrika, written in the 15th cen-tury by Maheswara Mohapatra. This text mentions the costume, ornaments and make-up to be used for Odissi and de-scribes a silver belt to be worn around the waist. In her biography of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, The Making of a Guru, Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi recounts when the

bengapatia was first introduced. A bro-ken and discoloured bengapatia was found in an old box of jewellery belong-ing to the mother of a Brahmin from Puri. Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra painstak-ingly rethreaded the belt and meticulously cleaned it with tamarind. It was first worn by legendary dancer Sanjukta Panigrahi at the All-India Dance Seminar held in Hyder-abad in 1963. Now it has become a hall-mark of the Odissi costume.

The use of costume and jewellery is called aharya abhinaya, one of the four types of abhinaya described in the Natya Shastra, Bharata Muni’s classical treatise on the per-forming arts. It mentions the different types of jewellery or ornaments to be worn by a

dancer, which “if used properly and with understanding, add beauty to the body.” It then illustrates in detail the specific or-naments to be worn by male and female performers. While these number to 16 for

men, there are over 38 for women, includ-ing six for the hair and head, eight for the ear, six for the neck, at least two garlands of jewels and pearls for the breast, eight for the hands and fingers, five for the hips, and three for the ankles and feet!

Bedecked and bejewelled in this way, it is difficult to imagine how a dancer can attempt even the simplest dance move-ment! However, after this detailed descrip-tion, the ancient text does concede that too much jewellery can restrict movement and defeat its very purpose: “Too many or-naments are not to be used lest the artists feel tired or hindered in free movements. Weighed down with heavy ornaments one cannot move much and one is likely to feel exhausted.”

It is no surprise that many dancers prefer a minimal use of jewellery. Real jewellery made of pure gold and precious stones is heavy and cumbersome – and exceed-ingly expensive. “I don’t wear any jewel-lery when I’m performing contemporary dance,” explains renowned danseuse and choreographer, Aditi Mangaldas. “But I like to wear jewellery when I’m doing tra-ditional Kathak. Traditional Kathak jewellery is made of gold, uncut diamonds, emer-alds and rubies. Most of the jewellery I use is Jadau jewellery which I find in Ahmed-abad, Hyderabad and Lucknow. When I wear a beautiful piece of jewellery, it gives me a sense of grandeur, even if it’s just a small piece.”

“I think jewellery adds embellishment to a dancer: the tikka frames the face and bangles bring attention to the wrists be-cause we use a lot of mudras and wrist movements. I like to keep the look minimal but classy. I don’t like heavy, overbearing jewellery. For me, jewellery has to be as light as possible but it also has to look real. I wear only a tikka, earrings and slightly thick bangles on each wrist. I don’t wear long necklaces anymore. I don’t like wearing rings or anything on my feet.”

For practical and aesthetic reasons, there seems to be a trend among dancers to-wards reducing the ‘covered from head-to-toe’ look to one of minimal elegance which responds to the dictat that less is certainly more. Dancers agree that jewellery should embellish the dancer but not hamper the dance. After all, as Bharata Muni cautions in the Natya Shastra: “Decoration not done properly is no decoration at all.”

Page 10 & 11: Hema Malini displays jewellery worn for her traditional and ballet

Bharata Natyam performances

The surya worn on the right side of the head and the chandra on the left, are believed to impart a positive

energy to the dancer, allowing her art to

flourish.

14On Stage June 2011

Israel Opera FestivalJune 1 – 9The base of the Masada Mountain, near the Dead Sea, transforms into an epic stage for glorious theatrical productions by the Israeli Opera this June, for the yearly Israeli Opera Festival. This year, the Israeli Opera will join hands with Italy’s Arena di Verona Orchestra as they take the stage at Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem, to perform Verdi’s famous Messa da Requiem. Thou-sands of visitors, both local and interna-tional, will get the opportunity to witness acclaimed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performing. The Israel Symphony Orches-tra Rishon LeZion will also be presenting a rendition of Aida with the Israeli Opera, and other highlights include the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra accompanying the Opera for Verdi’s Jerusalem.

Auckland Festival of PhotographyJune 3 – 26The trauma and suffering experienced by New Zealand over the past year serves as inspiration for this year’s Auckland Festival of Photography, as the artists and man-agement look to channelise the misery towards a positive outcome through art. Themes interpreted by the artists include Culture, Identity, Participation, and Art. Displays include works by international photographers as well as established and emerging artists from New Zealand for a collection of exquisite images from across the world. Highlights for this year include works of the upcoming photographer Ro-berta Thornley, which will be displayed for the first time at the festival, having been commissioned by the management itself.

Guernsey Festival of ComedyJune 3 – 11A few laughs will always go a long way in cheering up the most miserable state of mind. And what better way to wish your woes away than nine days of incessant, roll-on-the-floor comedy? The Guernsey Festival returns in its fifth year, with a line-up promising to knock the socks off even the

most poker faced ones around, as Jarred Christmas, Milton Jones, and Mitch Benn, among others, all take the stage. If that weren’t enough, visitors even have the op-tion of registering for the Open Mic Night on June 6, giving them a maximum of eight minutes to perform on stage.

Saskatchewan Children’s FestivalJune 5 – 8Since 1988, the Saskatchewan Children’s Festival has been attracting thousands of visitors as it aims at involving children in ar-tistic and creative endeavours, expanding their horizons and promoting the perform-ing arts. For this year’s edition, puppetry has been singled out as the primary per-forming art, so the festival will showcase this art form in full vigour as performers from across the world – including Australia, Mexico, West Africa, and the US – will take the stage to enthrall kids and adults alike. Also featured, aside from puppetry, are theatre performances, dance, storytelling, circus acts, as well as music.

Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing ArtsJune 24 – 26This June will see thousands of hippies and music lovers flock to Glastonbury for the annual Glastonbury festival, one of the most distinguished and easily recognised music festivals in the world. This year’s edi-tion is set to feature hundreds of prominent artistes from across the world, playing on several different stages. The headliners for the three days are U2, Coldplay and Be-yonce respectively. While close to 200,000 unkempt fans let loose in vast open fields could well be a recipe for an environmen-tal disaster, the Glastonbury management remains keen on organising a ‘green’ fes-tival with several provisions available, such as solar panels, green tractors and the presence of the Green Police. In fact, last year, half of all waste generated at the fes-tival was recycled, and the management is aiming at increasing the number to 60 per cent this year.

On Stage Global

World Views

Israel Opera Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Saskatchewan Children’s Festival, Auckland Festival of Photography

A look at this month’s most exciting

peforming arts events from around

the world

On Stage June 2011

15

DanceExhibitions – Art, PhotographyFilm ScreeningsIndian MusicTheatrePresentations & DiscussionsInternational Music

BOX OFFICETel: +91 (0)22 2282 4567, 6654 8135, 6622 3724

National Centre for the Performing Arts, N.C.P.A. Marg, Nariman Point,Mumbai 400 021. Tel: +91 (0)22 6622 3737

www.ncpamumbai.com www.soimumbai.in

Hindi play (120 mins)Experimental TheatreWednesday, 1st to Sunday, 5th – 7.30 pm

An Artistic Exclusive Event

A tragic comedy about mar-riage, this brilliant classic that broke the bounds of Hindi theatre in the ‘60s, remains an incisive portrayal, even today, of contemporary so-ciety and a middle class family on the brink of collapse. Savitri, a middle-aged woman, is dissatisfied with her circumstanc-es – an unemployed son, an un-settled newly married daughter, a rebellious teenager, and above all, a husband who has failed to provide her emotional and financial security. She seeks to fulfill herself in re-lationships outside marriage, only to re-alise that men are the same beneath different faces. The play explores the

themes of incompleteness at the indi-vidual and social level with humour and uncanny insight.

What makes Mohan Rakesh’s portrait of Savitri (one of Hindi theatre’s first feminist

icons) so gripping, is that one is never sure whether he admires her rage to get a grip on her life, or whether he suggests that she is a woman caught in her own destiny and circumstances in the manner of a tragic Greek heroine.

Starring: Rajendra Gupta, Lillete Dubey, Ira Dubey, Rajeev Sid-dhartha and Anuschka Sawhney Original music by Gandhaar SangoramSets designed by Bhola Sharma Lights designed by Pradeep Vaidya

A Primetime Theatre Co. Production

Tickets (on weekdays): `300, 250 & 200/-Tickets (on weekends): 400, 300 & 200/-Box Office: May 26 for Members and May 29 for the Public

Children’s theatre workshop Sea View Room

Wednesday, 1st to Sunday, 5th –

11.00 am to 1.00 pm

As one of the best acting academies in

Mumbai, Raëll Padamsee’s Academy for

Creative Expression (ACE) for children be-

tween four and twelve years of age, has

been committed to developing children’s

acting skills for over 15 years. ACE uses in-

novative techniques in developing their

speaking skills, creative thinking, self-es-

teem, confidence and social interaction.

After the immensely successful The Sound of Music presented at the NCPA this year, parents expressed a strong desire to have their children attend a workshop based on

this much-loved musical. This will encour-age children to engage with the songs and story of a young postulant and her love for music.

Through this workshop, children will dis-cover themselves through improvisations, climb out of their shells through theatre games, stretch their vocal cords through song and perform like never before, through acting. Registration Fees: `3,000/- per child. Please contact Ace Productions on 2284 2845 – 8 orEmail: [email protected]

Adhe Adhure

The Sound of Music Workshop

Programme guide


French film with English subtitles(Col – 108 mins – 1971)Dance Theatre GodrejFriday, 3rd – 6.30 pm

In collaboration with Taj Enlighten Film Society

Truffaut's classic adaptation of the novel of the same name by Henri Pierre Roche is set in early 20th century France. Claude Roc, a young middle-class Frenchman, meets in Paris Ann Brown, a young Eng-lishwoman. They become friends and Ann invites him to spend the holidays at the house where she lives with her mother

and her sister Muriel, for whom she intends Claude. During these holidays, Claude, Ann and Muriel become very close and

he gradually falls in love with Muriel. But both families lay down a one-year-long separation without any contact before agreeing to the marriage. So Claude goes back to Paris where he has many love affairs before sending Muriel a break-off letter. Directed by Francois TruffautCast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Kika Markham and Stacey Tendeter

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis(NCPA and Taj Enlighten Film Society members will get preferential seating)

Hindustani music recitalJanhavi Phansalkar (Vocal)Kaushik Mukherjee (Sarod)NCPA Umang SeriesLittle TheatreFriday, 3rd – 6.30 pm

Supported by Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation

Janhavi Phansalkar trained under Dr. Usha Parkhi and Veena Sahasrabuddhe, both of whom rank among the most dis-tinguished and talented artistes of India. She has many public performances and awards to her credit.

Kaushik Mukherjee has trained under DilipPatra and Tejendra Narayan Majumdar.He has won the National Scholarship forOutstanding Artists and has also per-formed at a number of prestigious music festivals.

Both artistes will include in their presenta-tion, a special repertoire to welcome the much-awaited rains.

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis(NCPA members will get preferential seating)

Two English Girls

Rainsong

Western music concertSymphony Orchestra of IndiaTata TheatreThursday, 2nd – 7.00 pm

An NCPA Presentation

This benefit concert will be held for the relief of victims of the devastating earth-quake and tsunami that struck the north-east coast of Japan on March 11 this year. Proceeds will go to the Indian Red Cross Society. There will also be an op-portunity to make additional donations. Programme:

Karl Jenkins – Passacaglia from Palladio

Edward Elgar – Salut D’Amour

Henryk Wieniawski – Valse caprice (piano)

David Popper – Requiem for three cellos and piano

Nicolai von Wilm – String Nonet, Op.150

Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Interval W.A. Mozart – Symphony No. 29 Allegro moderato Andante Menuetto: Allegretto Allegro con spirito

Edward Elgar – Serenade for stringsAllegro piacevole Larghetto Allegretto

Dag Wiren-- Serenade for Strings Op 11 Tickets: `1000, 800 & 600/-Box Office: May 14 for SOI Members, May 17 for NCPA Members and May 20 for the Public.

Japan Tsunami Benefit Concert

On Stage June 2011

17

English play (80 mins)Dance Theatre GodrejSaturday, 4th – 5.00 pm and 7.30 pmAn Artistic Exclusive Event

This play, set in Mumbai with a backdrop of Kashmir, portrays the catharsis of two mothers who have lost their sons to a meaningless war.

Through the four characters, Apples and Walnuts encapsulates the state of af-fairs in Kashmir and how it has changed their lives. It ends on a positive note with

a mantra of how to bring about change during troubled times.

Written and directed by Troy RibeiroCast: Madhuri Bhatia, Ashish Chawla, Mini Ribeiro and Akshay Dogra

A Litmus production

Tickets: 200/- (for Members) `225/- (for the Public)Box Office: May 26 for Members and May 29 for the Public

English play (105 mins)Tata TheatreSunday, 5th – 7.00 pm


This Pulitzer Prize-winning play is about four friends: two married couples. Both couples are at different stages of their lives. We wit-ness the effects of the break-up of one couple on the other, who first feel com-pelled to choose sides, and then begin to question the strength of their own seem-ingly tranquil marriage.

Written by Donald MarguilesDirected by Feroz Khan

Production design and costumes: Sonya KhanMusic composer: Piyush KanojiaCast: Tisca Chopra, Vinay Jain, Joy Sengupta and Perizaad Zorabian Irani

A Moving Platform Production

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS ONLY

Tickets: `1,000, 750, 500, 300 & 200/- Box Office: May 26 for Members and the Public

Gujarati play (135 mins)Dance Theatre GodrejSunday, 5th – 7.00 pm


Korat, that’s the way he pronounced the word "court". His inability for the cor-rect pronunciation for the law house matched his scepticism for what was going on there…in the court!

What the law labels as a brutal murder, for him was just a rational way to end an individual’s agony. He had killed his father, rather a patient of carcinoma of lungs in his last stage pleading for death every day. His poor house awaited the uninvited guest by the name of death, which was already on its way.

Poverty and the label of being an anti- social element from the society is what he got with the grief of his family for the so called murder of his father. Locked behind those rigid iron bars of law, he

now awaits death just like his father did and watches the gallows’ structure through the hopeless window.

So how do we exactly define a murder? It can’t just be the act of taking anotherindividual’s life. There should be certain peculiarities of the act that deems it a murder. Euthanasia can never be com-pared with a murder. No one wants to suffer, no one wants to feel pain and misery, and no one wants to see their loved ones suffering. On the contrary, we dedicate our lives just to be away from it, all of our efforts are directed only to relieve ourselves of any sort of pain and end the suffering of our loved ones.

The arguers will want one to consider the mental makeup of our country, and willquote that acceptance of euthanasia for people who are tired of life, will further put a social and domestic pressure on those who feel themselves to be a bur-den to others, and to ask for euthanasia. In India, where abuse of the law is the

rule rather than the exception, the mis-use of euthanasia is very likely, since we have a large number of illiterate popu-lace and rampant unethical medical practitioners. But can this helplessness and corruption of our existence deny us a life devoid of pain?

The play is a hope to have the above questions echo in the huge rooms of ‘Korat’.

Written by Dr. Shankar SeshGujarati Adaptation by Paresh VoraDirected by Pritesh SodhaProduced by Kamlesh MotaCast: Pratik Gandhi, Mihir Trivedi and Paresh Vora

A Utopia Communications Production

Tickets: 225/- (for Members) `250/- (for the Public)Box Office: May 26 for Members and May 29 for the Public

Apples and Walnuts

Dinner with Friends

Korat


events at a glanceDay Date Time Programme Theatre

Wed. to Sun. 1st to 5th 7.30 pm Adhe Adhure Hindi Play

Wed. to Sun. 1st to 5th 11.00 am to 1.00 pm The Sound of Music Children’s theatre workshop Sea View Room

Thu. 2nd 7.00 pm Japan Tsunami Benefit Concert Western music concert by the SOI

Fri. 3rd 6.30 pm Two English Girls French film with English subtitles

Fri. 3rd 6.30 pm Rainsong Hindustani music recital

Sat. 4th 5.00 pm and 7.30 pm Apples & WalnutsEnglish Play

Sun. 5th 7.00 pm Dinner with Friends English play

Sun. 5th 7.00 pm Korat Gujarati play

Sun. to Tue. 5th to 14th 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm Tree’ppreciation! Photo exhibition by Sham Manchekar

Mon. to Wed. 6th to 8th 6.30 pm The King in Cinemascope Film screenings

Thu. 9th 7.00 pm Casa de Goa’s Ekvat Group from PortugalTraditional Goan music and dance

Thu. 9th 6.30 pm Rain Raga by Subhra Guha

Thu. 9th 7.00 pm Ambaa - The Feminine Force Odissi duet by Leesa Mohanty and Leena Mohanty

Fri. 10th 6.30 pm Nilesh Singha Bharata Natyam recital

Sat. 11th 7.00 pmNCPA Legends - A Tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll by

Gary Lawyer Western music concert

Sat. Sun.

11th 12th

7.30 pm 4.00 pm and 7.30 pm

Famous Last Words English play

Sat. 11th 7.00 pm Chhandam - A JourneyKathak recital by Seema Mehta

Sun. 12th 7.00 pm Tumhari AmritaHindi Play

June 2011

DanceExhibitions – Art, PhotographyFilm ScreeningsIndian MusicTheatrePresentations & DiscussionsInternational Music

Day Date Time Programme Theatre

Thu. 16th 7.00 pm Devi Bharata Natyam recital by Priya Venkataraman

Fri., Sat. and Sun.

17th, 18th and 19th

7.00 pm 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm

The Class Act English play

Fri. and Sat. Sun.

17th and 18th 19th

7.00 pm 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm

Frankenstein Theatre broadcast

Fri 17th 6.30 pm Khargosh Hindi Film

Sat. 18th 6.30 pm Kalpana Short film screenings

Sat. 18th 10.00 am to 2.00 pm Little Leaders Children’s theatre workshop Sea View Room

Sun. 19th 6.30 pm History of India: VIRitten Stand-up comedy in English

Wed. 22nd 8.30 pmThe Child Prodigy

French film with English subtitles

Thu to Sat. Sun.

23rd to 25th 26th

7.30 pm 4.00 pm and 7.30 pm

The Sound of Music English musical

Fri. 24th 6.30 pm Nad Ninad Guided Listening session on Shobha Gurtu

Fri. 24th 6.30 pm Bed and Board French film with English subtitles

Sat. Sun.

25th 26th

7.00 pm 6.30 pm

Miss Beautiful Hindi play

Sat. and Sun. 25th and 26th 7.00 pm Past Forward English plays

Tue. 28th 7.00 pm The Dualities of Liszt - Saint or Sinner? A lecture-recital by Karl Lutchmayer

Wed. 29.6.2011 7.30 pm Pant on Fire Stand-up comedy

Thu. 30.6.2011 7.00 pm Vision of Forever Odissi recital by Ramli Ibrahim and troupe


Photo-exhibition by Sham ManchekarPiramal Art GallerySunday, 5th to Tuesday, 14th -- 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm

Tree’ppreciation, the forthcoming exhibi-tion of internationally renowned photog-rapher Sham Manchekar, is a celebration of the beauty of trees around us. The tree, which is an integral part of our life, is often neglected by mankind. Manchekar takes us through different places and sights, such as the branching of a coconut tree on the Sindhudurg Fort, to the oldest ficus

tree in India – located in the botanical

garden at Kolkata. These photographs are

not about scientific shooting, but rather

the revelation of beauty. He appreciates

the aesthetics of a tree through his lens.

The exhibition is not the first of its kind to

be organised. Manchekar has many to

his credit, such as Moss-scapes, Ladakhs-

capes, Land and Water and Auto-graphs.

His love for the abstract is clear in his

latest exhibition.

‘Tree’ppreciation!

Traditional Goan music and dancesTata TheatreThursday, 9th – 7.00 pm

In collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Casa de Goa’s Ekvat Group of Traditional Goan Music and Dances founded in 1989, in Lisbon (Portugal), has the objective of making the traditional music and dances of Goa known to a wider audience.

In the concert tour to be held in India in June 2011, covering Goa, Bengaluru,

Mumbai and New Delhi, Ekvat will be pre-senting in each concert a programme of

around one hour, with traditional harvest

dances, Deknnis and Mandos and also

songs and dances of Ekvat s own creation

inspired on the traditional ones. A Bharata

Natyam dance is also included, from whi-

ch some of the Goan dances originated.

A limited number of admission passes can be

collected by Members from the Box Office

from June 6 onwards.

Casa de Goa’s Ekvat Group from Portugal

Film screeningsLittle TheatreMonday, 6th to Wednesday, 8th – 7.00 pm

June 6The King At The Movies – Jailhouse Rock Filmed in black-and-white, it’s the first movie that comes to mind when “Elvis” and “movies” are mentioned in the same sentence. Elvis plays bad boy Vince Ev-erett who’s in jail and turns his life over to become a rock ‘n’ roll superstar. This 1957 flick became one of the most suc-cessful films of The King’s career – thanks to classic songs like Jailhouse Rock, Treat Me Nice and (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care. June 7 The King In Concert – This Is Elvis Fantastic and dazzling – this biography concert movie and rare behind-the-

scenes footage finds Elvis at the peak of his powers. The highlights: Elvis’ first TV ap-pearances in 1956, scenes from his most popular movies, Love Me Tender, Loving You and Jailhouse Rock, plus concert scenes from his 1968 show, That's the way it is, Aloha from Hawaii, and from his last filmed show in 1977 are here as well. Fans get to see him perform live all the essential hits – from the early rock ‘n’ roll (Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel) to the bal-lads (Love Me Tender, Can’t Help Falling In Love) to his personal favourites (Heart-break Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes). June 8The King Revealed! – Elvis By The Presleys

For the first time, The King’s wife Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie offer an inti-mate look at Elvis’ life in this riveting doc-umentary. Different aspects of Elvis’s life, including his tours, his time in Hollywood and his home life, are depicted with the

insight that only his family can bring. His career ups and downs, his kindness and generosity and his human frailties are all brought to light as well as a reflection on his place in entertainment history and his enduring legacy as the world’s greatest entertainer. Admission on a first-come-first-served basis(NCPA members will get preferential seating)

The King in Cinemascope

On Stage June 2011

21

Hindustani vocal music recitalSubhra GuhaDance Theatre GodrejThursday, 9th – 6.30 pm

In collaboration with ITC-Sangeet Research Academy (Western Region)

Subhra Guha is regarded as one of thefinest female exponents of the Agra gha-rana. Hailing from a music loving family,she received her early training from the Late Satish Bhowmick and subsequently trained under Pandit Sunil Bose, a vet-eran of the Agra gharana.

Today, Guha has gained recognition for her exemplary gayaki with her open-throated akar, her taans, her bol-bants

and especially her thumri renditions in the Poorab Ang.

The Benares Poorab Ang style shefollows is that of Siddheshwari Devi, Ra-soolan Bai, Badi Motibai and Girija Devi.

Her collection of rare thumris, dadras, kajris and chaitis in pure Benares tradition is impressive, as is her exhaustive collec-tion of rare ragas and compositions.

A regular artiste on AIR and Doordarshan, Guha has been performing regularly atprestigious events and festivals both in India and abroad.

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis(NCPA Members will get preferential seating)

Odissi DuetLeena and Leesa MohantyLittle TheatreThursday, 9th – 7.00 p.m.

The Mohanty sisters, Leena and Leesa, are internationally acclaimed artistes and disciples of the late Deba Prasad Das and Durga Charan Ranbir. Together, they run Bansi Bilas, an NGO dedicated to the development and dissemination of Oriya Culture.

Leena, the Artistic Director of Bansi Bilas, is a dancer with an impeccable command of technique; her greatest asset is her joy which she transmits to her art. A versatile dancer with a vision, she is known for the graceful intricacy of her gestures and eloquent expressions. Leesa is a multi-faceted personality. She has worked as an actor and a dancer, and today juggles her time as a choreographer, a manage-ment consultant, a writer and an entrepre-neur. She is known for her footwork of clar-ity and precision.

Programme:Mangalacharan – An invocation to Goddess KaliMangalacharan is an invocatory item paying salutations to a diety and finally concluding with three salutations – to the Mother Earth, to the Guru and to the au-gust audience.

Pallavi – Raag Basanta“Pallavi” means “blossoming”. It begins with a slow pace and gradually gains momentum. Based on raag Kedar Ka-modi, this is a pure dance piece that ex-plores the softer side of Shakti. It gives us a glimpse of the secular and sacred im-ages of the female energy.

Abhinaya – Bibasaa KuntiThis piece captures the state of mind of Kunti, widely known for her beauty and dy-namism. Saint Durbasa, pleased with her devotion, blessed her with the boon that she could invoke any god and would be blessed with his child.

On seeing the Sun God, Kunti is attracted to him, invokes him and conceives Karna. The virgin mother, afraid of society, wants to hide the child and secretly sets him afloat in the Ganges.

Abhinaya – Dasa MahavidyaDasa Mahavidya are the ten forms of the primordial creative female energy, also

called the Divine Mother. The Mahavidyas reveal a tantric world that is different, awakening in us the understanding of the world as it really is. The Dasa Mahavidya are Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhuvaneswari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Ba-gala, Maatangi and Kamala.

MokshaThis is a pure dance, one of joyful release, with a verse dedicated to Shakti, the fe-male creative energy.Admission on a first-come-first-served basis(NCPA Members will get preferential seating)

Rain Raga

Ambaa – The Feminine Force


English play (105 mins)Experimental TheatreSaturday, 11th – 7.30 pm and Sunday, 12th – 4.00 pm and 7.30 pm


A new comedy from the creators of Still Single and One Small Day

Anil Shah is a critically acclaimed writer.

The problem is, he hasn’t written a word

in five years. Instead, living off his fading

fame, he’s cutting a swathe through so-

ciety with a glass in one hand and a girl

on each arm. Faced with an unexpect-

ed turn of events, he finds his only help

comes from his ex-wife, Sandy. But the

help comes with a catch: to clean up his

act and finish the novel he promised his

publishers five years ago.

Shah does write, finding along the way

that it’s true about the path to hell, since

he’s unlikely to go to heaven, being paved

with good intentions. The people who say

they care about him might just be the

ones who lead him to his doom. Which

leaves him wondering just who will be the

one to stab him in the back? Literally.

Written by Anish Trivedi

Story and direction by Dipika Roy

Cast: Anish Trivedi, Sahil Jaffrey, Amrita

Puri/ Nandita Dubey and Dipika Roy

A Banyan Tree Production

Tickets: `300, 250 & 200/- Box Office: May 26 for Members and the Public

Bharata Natyam recitalHorizon SeriesLittle TheatreFriday, 10th – 6.30 pm

In collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Nilesh Singha, an accomplished Bharata Natyam dancer from Mumbai, has been currently undergoing advance training in dance and also studying the intricacies of Nattuvangam under Padmini Radhakrish-nan. He has been awarded the National Cultural Scholarship by the Government of India in the field of Bharata Natyam and

is also the recipient of the Vishnu Digam-bar Paluskar award, for the best dancer by Sharda Sangeet Vidyalaya. He is an empanelled artiste of the I.C.C.R. He has

also been titled Nritya Shivali by the Shivali Cultural Society of India.

He is the recipient of the SRI Saurabha award for his outstanding contribution in the field of art and culture. He has present-ed several duets as well as group perfor-mances at festivals like Natyanjali, Maha Shivaratri Mahotsav, Shri Durga Parmesh-wari music and dance festival at Kateel, Mangalore. He has also produced several dance ballets like KrishnaLeela, Dashava-taram, Ramayanam, etc.


Western music concertNCPA Legends – A tribute to the king of rock ‘n’ roll by Gary LawyerTata TheatreSaturday, 11th – 7.00 p.m.

In collaboration with the Bombay So-ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) and supported by Tata Sons Limited

Gary Lawyer needs no introduction. Often called the ‘man with the golden voice’, he is regarded as the finest In-dian artiste in the field of Western popu-

lar music. A bass baritone, who sings just as easily in the tenor range, Gary is equally comfortable across Western mu-sic genres – be it rock, pop, jazz, country or folk.

With his varied musical influences and classically trained voice, Gary began his singing career in New York in the 80's, and is now one of India's finest musi-cians.

Tickets: `1000, 750 & 550/-Box office: May 26 for Members and May 29 for the Public

Nilesh Singha

NCPA Legends - A Tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll by Gary Lawyer

Famous Last Words

On Stage June 2011

23

Kathak recitalSeema MehtaNCPA Umang seriesLittle TheatreSaturday, 11th – 7.00 pm

Supported by the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation

A student of Chitresh Das of the Chhan-dam School of Kathak, Seema Mehta has trained intensively for eleven years. While

she continues her training, she has also opened a Chhandam branch in Mumbai.

Programme: Seema Mehta is intrigued with the phi-losophy behind Sanatana Dharma. She shares, through her dance, the idea that beauty is not found in destinations, but it lies in the journey itself. In Kathak, the jour-ney of playing with rhythm is eternal. Her guru, Chitresh Das’ unique innovation of Kathak yoga will be featured, where the

dancer will be singing a rhythmic cycle of seven beats; taal roopak, and perform-ing various tihaais and chhands with her feet. In this traditional Kathak solo, Mehta will share her journey as a kathaka and her experience in developing the four ele-ments; tayaari, layakaari, khoobsoorti and nazakat.


Hindi play (90 mins)Tata TheatreSunday, 12th – 7.00 pm

Inspired by A. R. Gurney’s English play, Love Letters, Tumhari Amrita is a funny, poignant, melancholic chronicle of two people would not come together and could not stay apart.

Theatre veterans Shabana Azmi and Fa-rooque Shaikh read the love letters written by their characters to each other, over a span of 35 years. The two thespians man-age, with consummate ease, to convey friendship, love and heartbreak with mere inflections of voice, tone and expression.

Written by Javed Siddiqui

Directed by Feroz Khan

Cast: Shabana Azmi and

Farooque Shaikh

A Platform Production

FOR ADULTS ONLY

Tickets: 750, 570, 375, 300, 240 &

150/- (for Members)

1,000, 760, 500, 320 & 200/-

(for the Public)

Box Office: May 26 for Members and

May 29 for the Public

Bharata Natyam performancePriya VenkataramanExperimental TheatreThursday, 16th – 7.00 pm

Priya Venkataraman, currently training with A. Lakshman and Bragha Bassell of Chennai, has intensively trained in Bharata Natyam from the age of five and has been performing for the last two decades. While based in Illinois, she trav-elled all over the United States and per-formed and was also actively engaged in teaching students and training them in the Bharata Natyam Margam repertoire.

Now settled in Delhi, she continues to perform, choreograph, teach and takes time out to travel to Chennai for her own training. She has performed at many prestigious venues all over the world and has won several coveted accolades for

her contribution to the field of dance.

For her upcoming performance, Devi,

Venkataraman has specially choreo-

graphed selected verses from the

Ananda Lahiri by Adishankara, which is

in praise of Shakti, the consort of Shiva.

She will commence the evening’s recital

with an invocatory item followed by a

Swarajati which is the central piece of

her performance. Selected verses from

the Kumarasambhavam by Kalidasa to

highlight the Shiva and Shakti elements,

are also part of her repertoire this eve-

ning. The performance will conclude with

a thillana composed by Karaikudi Krish-

namurthy in raga Nalinakanti.

Tickets: `180 & 90/- (for Members) `200 & 100/- (for the Public)Box Office: May 26 for Members and May 29 for the Public

Chhandam – A Journey

Tumhari Amrita

Devi


Theatre Broadcast (120 mins)Dance Theatre Godrej Friday, 17th and Saturday, 18th – 7.00 pm Sunday, 19th – 4.00 and 7.00 pm For the first time in India, National Theatre Live will broadcast the perfor-mance of the production Frankenstein at the NCPA. Written by Nick Dear and based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the play is directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Mil-lionaire) and is a visionary new produc-tion, with actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the grotesque being he creates.

Childlike in his innocence but monstrous in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered crea-ture is cast out into a hostile universe by his maker. Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless creature, increas-ingly desperate and vengeful, deter-

mines to track down his creator and strike

a terrifying deal.

Urgent concerns of scientific responsibil-

ity, parental neglect, cognitive develop-

ment and the nature of good and evil

are embedded within this thrilling and

deeply disturbing classic Gothic tale.

Directed by Danny BoyleCast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller and others Suitable only for 15 years and above

Tickets: `300/-Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

Frankenstein

English play (110 mins)Experimental TheatreFriday, 17th and Saturday, 18th- 7.00 pm and Sunday, 19th – 4.00 and 7.00 pm This play is based in an acting class conducted by Mr William. The students come from different religious, caste and class backgrounds and have con-flicting views on almost everything. Through these “actors”, the play hopes to depict the pitiful situation of how we still don't know how to co-exist peacefully.

Original Script Written by Meherzad Patel

Directed by Meherzad Patel

Cast: Sajeel Parakh, Danesh Irani, Me-

herzad Patel, Danesh Khambata, Lucky Vakharia and Max Fernandes A Silly Point Production Tickets (on weekdays): `225, 180 & 150/- (for Members)`250, 200 & 150/- (for the Public)Tickets (on weekends): `270, 225 & 200/- (for Members)`300, 250 & 200/- (for the Public)Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

The Class Act

Hindi film - Fresh Pix Series(Col – 90 mins – 2009) Little Theatre Friday, 17th – 6.30 pm

An NCPA Presentation This film screening is a part of the NCPA Fresh Pix Series, started to create an audience for regional and indie cinema that does not reach the lay audience, outside of film festivals. In a listless town, ten-year-old Bantu goes through the routine of cajoling his friend, Avneesh to fly a kite with him. Instead, Avneesh takes him to the bazaar where they sit day after day. While Bantu savours ice candy, Avneesh restlessly awaits his ‘mrityu’ (death). When Bantu realises that

this new routine is for Avneesh to catch a glimpse of a girl, he is dismayed. Bantu plays cupid for Avneesh and Mrityu but soon tires of the candy that Mrityu rewards him with. Something strange is afoot; he begins to frequent the forest trying to out-wit an unforeseen pursuer.

Directed by Paresh KamdarCast: Arhan Wilson, Gauri, Sumit Sharma, Garima Shrivastav and Chittaranjan Giri Admission on a first-come-first-served basis (NCPA members will get preferential seating)

Khargosh

On Stage June 2011

25

Short film screening (120 mins)Little Theatre Saturday, 18th – 6.30 pm In collaboration with Friends of Cinema

Friends of Cinema (FoC) is a network of people who like and love short and small budget cinema. Kalpana, the brain-child of Friends of Cinema is a venture

to provide exposure to short and small budget filmmakers. Many of us might have dreamt of making a movie that would force the world stand up and take notice. Few of us went one step ahead and made it but due to sev-eral constraints could not show it to an au-dience. Kalpana, is for these filmmakers. The objective of the group is simple – to

screen little-known movies to a wider audi-

ence and initiate constructive discussions.

Everyone is invited irrespective of whether

you are a filmmaker or not. All you require

is a zest for cinema.

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis

(NCPA Members will get preferential seating)

Children’s theatre workshopSea View RoomSaturday, 18th – 10.00 am to 2.00 pm

As existing structures of leadership come tumbling down around the world, and new systems are set up in their place, the world is redefining what it needs, wants and ex-pects in a leader. This workshop seeks to imbibe lasting leadership values in chil-dren that will mould them into tomorrow’s

leaders. Drawing on examples from fa-mous personalities like Gautam Buddha, Kabir, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Ambedkar, Nelson Mandela, Rabindranath Tagore, William Shakespeare, Helen Keller, Joan of Arc and Anne Frank among others, the work-shop will introduce children to the chal-lenges of being leaders in all contexts, through a series of role-play and various theatre games.

Children from 6-12 years of age are eligible for participation.Registration Fees: `2,500/- per child (inclusive of lunch and materials)Entry on Registration. Please contact Shivani Tibrewala on 98201 27247 / 93202 91157Or e mail: [email protected]. For online registrations, log onto http://www.nolicenseyet.com

Kalpana

Little Leaders

Stand-up comedy in English (105 mins)Tata Theatre Sunday, 19th – 6.30 pm

Ashvin Gidwani’s History of India promises to be the funniest, wittiest and most sen-sational relook at India’s history. History is hugely funny; we just haven’t read it right. But this history so twisted, so funny, so out-of-the-box, so completely unbelievable, you can’t be sure it actually happened.

This delightful mix of fact, fiction, humour and some good old patriotism, delivered

with impeccable comic timing, makes for a hilarious evening that warms your heart as it gently pulls your leg.

Directed by Vir DasCast: Vir Das and Kavi ShastriAn Ashvin Gidwani Production Tickets: 1,125, 750, 570, 375 & 225/-

(for Members) 1,500, 1000, 760, 500 & 300/-

(for the Public)Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

French film with English subtitles(Col – 99 mins – 2010)Experimental Theatre Wednesday, 22nd – 8:30 pm In collaboration with Bureau du Québec (Québec Office), Mumbai

Marking the occasion of the Fête Na-tionale du Québec (Québec National Day), The Child Prodigy (L’Enfant Prodige), is one of Québec’s most celebrated movies, based on the passionate and tragic life and career of composer An-dré Mathieu, who has been described as the little Mozart of the 20th century. The movie is based on his fantastic origi-nal music compositions and is produced

by Academy Award-winning produc-ers, Denise Robert and Daniel Louis. Young hands fly rapidly over a keyboard creating hauntingly beautiful melodies. These hands belong to six-year-old Andre Mathieu who won his audiences and fired up concert halls in London, New York, Paris and around the world. Adulated, hailed, praised, the child prodigy seemed to have every ingredient to succeed. But an-other destiny was awaiting him. Directed by Luc DionneCast: Patrick Drolet, Marc Labreche, Macha Grenon, Karine Vanasse, Guil-laume Lebon and Lothaire Bluteau

Admission starts at 8.15 pm on a first-come-first-served basis. (NCPA members and Consulate invitees will get preferential seating)

History of India: VIRitten

The Child Prodigy


English musicalTata Theatre Thursday, 23rd to Saturday, 25th – 7.30 pm and Sunday, 26th – 4.00 p.m. and 7.30 pm


The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain. Her growing rap-port with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the captain’s im-mediate service in the navy. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrill-ing and inspirational finales ever present-ed in theatre. Starring: Dalip Tahil, Delna Mody, Lucky Morani, Darius Shroff, Marianne D’Cruz Aimanand an integrated cast of children from

mainstream schools, Raell Padamsee’s Academy for Creative Expression (ACE) and eight NGO’s: Happy Home and School for the Blind, Central Society for the Education of the Deaf, Society for the Education of the Crippled, Asee-ma, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Seva Sadan, Muktangan and ADAPT. Producer: Raell PadamseeTechnical Director: Alyque PadamseeDirector: Advait HazaratAssociate Director: Karla SinghMusic Director: Merlyn D’Souza

Choreography: Karla Singh and Sandeep SoparrkarSet Design: Fali UnwallaVocals Director: Marianne D’Cruz Aiman An Ace Production in aid of THE CREATE Foundation

Tickets: `1,000, 760, 500 & 260/- Children below the age of 3 not permitted.Box Office: June 9 for Members and June12 for the Public

The Sound of Music

Guided Listening Session on Shobha GurtuDance Theatre GodrejFriday, 24th – 6.30 pm In collaboration with the Indian Musicological Society This is a programme that makes available to lovers of Hin-dustani classical music, some of NCPA's archival record-ings. This month, it's the music of the late Thumri Queen Shobha Gurtu. With equal command over pure classical and light classicalidiom, Shobha Gurtu created a new style of renderingsemi classical forms such as thumri, dadra, kajri and hori.Influenced by the music of stalwarts like Begum Akhtar and Bade Ghulam Ali, she created a niche for herself with her full-throated effortless renditions in abhinaya ang. This audio-visual session will be conducted by Tushar Bha-tia, a senior disciple of Arvind Parikh, Dinkar Kaikini and Y. M. Mahale. The session will also include live demonstrations by Sraboni Chaudhuri and Aditi Bannerjee, senior disciples of Shobha Gurtu.

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis.(NCPA members will get preferential seating)

Nad Ninad: From Our Archives

On Stage June 2011

27

French film with English subtitles(Col -100 mins -1970)Little TheatreFriday, 24th – 6.30 pm

In collaboration with Taj Enlighten Film Society

The fourth part of Truffaut’s Antoine Doinel cycle is a curious entry in Truffaut’s oeuvre and a masterful study of Doinel’s entry into adulthood. Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud in one of his best performances) and Christine Darbon (Claude Jade) are married and Antoine dyes flowers for a liv-ing, while Christine is pregnant and gives private violin classes. With Christine in the family way, Antoine decides to find a new job, and he succeeds due to his em-ployer's misunderstanding. In a business

meeting, he meets a beautiful Japanese woman named Kyoko (Mademoiselle Hi-roko) and they have an affair. When Chris-tine accidentally discovers that Antoine has a lover, they separate. Once sepa-rated, they begin to miss each other and realise that their love still exists. Directed by Francois TruffautCast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claude Jade and Hiroko Berghauer Admission on a first-come-first-served basis(NCPA and Taj Enlighten Film Society members will get preferential seating)

Hindi Play (135 mins)Experimental TheatreSaturday, 25th - 7.00 pm, Sunday, 26th - 6.30 pm

An ailing mother and father ask their son to find himself a beautiful girl. The son, wanting his parents to die peacefully, brings home Miss Beautiful.

With a theme that centres on ideas of fam-ily, loyalty and identity, this play promises to be a charming and thought-provoking experience.

Directed by Makrand Deshpande

Cast: Nagesh Bhosle, Divya Jagdale, Makrand Deshpande, Ahlam Khan, San-jay Dadhich, Ananda Karak and Vineet Sharma.

An Ansh Theatre Production

Tickets: 270, 225 & 200/- ( for Members) 300, 250 & 200/- (for the Public)Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

Two plays in EnglishDance Theatre GodrejSaturday, 25th and Sunday, 26th – 7.00 p.m.


Scarborough FairEnglish Play (50 mins)

A young man has to choose between his two first loves – his girl and his writ-ing. Helping him make the choices are his constant companions – the three voices in his head. Set to the music of Simon and Garfunkel, this play explores the coming of age of a confused young man as he discovers inspiration, happi-ness and meaning in life.

Written and directed by Yudhisthir AgrawalCast: Yudhisthir Agrawal, Rahul Prakash, Rashi Mal, Preeti Vangani, Ashtiaq Dal-ton and Biswamitra Ray

INTERVAL

RouletteEnglish Play (60 mins)

An Indian adaptation of Douglas Hill's supernatural comedy, Roulette is the bizarre story of a young couple who are stuck in a never-ending road trip from Tuscon to Vegas. Adapted and directed by Spandan MishraCast: Spandan Mishra and Sohini Das

Last Minute Productions

Tickets: `150/- (for Members) `200/- (for the Public)Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

Bed and Board

Miss Beautiful

Past Forward


Stand-up comedy in English (105 mins)Dance Theatre GodrejWednesday, 29th – 7.30 pm


Stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant has travelled across the country with his show

Pant on Fire, which mixes stand-up com-edy with one of a kind characters like Pantjot Singh Sidhu and Sorabh Pun. The show invites you to watch as Pant goes through the challenges of being an Indian Obama, why women need batteries and how he would die happy if he could just burn his girlfriend’s large purse.

Written and directed by Sorabh Pant and Kunal RaoStarring: Sorabh Pant and Kunal Rao

Tickets: 250/- (for Members) `300/- (for the Public)Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

Odissi recital Ramli Ibrahim and Sutra Dance Theatre Tata TheatreThursday, 30th – 7.00 pm In collaboration with VIDYA NCPA in collaboration with VIDYA pres-ents a spectacular evening to light up the lives of many. In a show of both warmth and fervour, watch Malaysia-based Odissi exponent Ramli Ibrahim perform his breathtaking production Vi-sion of Forever, to raise funds for the edu-cation and empowerment of less privi-leged children across the country.

26 years ago, VIDYA was created on a verandah at IIT Delhi with six children from the nearby slums. Since then, it has transformed the lives of over 2,00,000 families through its programmes.

The performance exemplifies the works of the late Odissi pioneer Deba Prasad Das. It unleashes powerful images from the Shaivite and Tantric traditions, bring-ing out the terrifying beauty associated with the repertoire of Ramli’s late guru. The work focuses on the spiritual awak-enings of an acolyte who eventually en-counters the vision of glory of the univer-sal spirit through dance. In Vision of Forever, Ibrahim has chosen an Odissi repertoire from three major gu-rus of this tradition: Durga Charan Ran-bir, Gajendra Kumar Panda and Deba Prasad Das.

Most of the works were commissioned by Sutra over the past 25 years and will fea-ture Sutra’s principal dancers: Rathima-lar, Geethika Sree, Nishah Devi, Michelle Chang, Thrisherna and Guna. The focal

point of Vision of Forever will be the Ar-dhanariswara performed by Ramli and Rathimalar.

Tickets: 1,000, 800, 600 and 400/- Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public. All proceeds will go to VIDYA.

A lecture-recital by Karl LutchmayerExperimental TheatreTuesday, 28th – 7.00 pm

An NCPA Presentation

Even in his own lifetime both friends and critics debated the apparent dualities of Liszt’s life and work – artiste or showman, saint or sinner, prophet or charla tan, friend or rival – and two hundred years after his birth the arguments still continue. Karl Lutchmayer invites you to join the debate, as he plays and talks his audi-ence through the arguments in an exciting lecture-recital. Mix-ing the well-known with a gen-erous helping of Lisztian rarities almost never heard in concert, and juxtaposing late and early works and original conceptions with stunning transcriptions, this promises to be a fascinating journey of discovery showing how the young firebrand con-quering all before him turned into the gentle priest and musi-cal visionary.

Karl Lutchmayer enjoys an international career as both a pianist and lecturer. He has studied at the Royal College of Mu-sic where he won numerous prizes and scholarships, and later held the presti-gious Constant & Kit Lambert Fellowship awarded by the Worshipful Company of Musicians – the first time in its history that it was awarded to an instrumental-ist. Karl has given recitals and played concertos across the world, working with

conductors that include Lorin Maazel and Andrew Davis, and performed at all the major London concert halls. He has broadcast on BBC Radio3 and Clas-sic FM, and his regular recital series at the Warehouse has been received with critical acclaim. A regular chamber per-former, particularly with his own ensem-ble, Dialogos, he is also a passionate advocate of contemporary music, and has given numerous premieres and had

many works written for him.

Programme:

Liszt: Totentanz (Liszt’s own ar-rangement for solo piano)Liszt: Cypress aux Villa D’Este I Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Berlioz-Liszt: March to the Scaf-fold from Symphonie FantastiqueLiszt: Jeux D’eaux aux Villa D’Este Mozart-Liszt: Fantasy on Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro

Tickets: 500 & 300/-Box Office: June 9 for Members and June 12 for the Public

Pant on Fire

Vision of Forever

The Dualities of Liszt – Saint or Sinner?

On Stage June 2011

29

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April 11 and 12: The Kodaly Quartet giving a western music recital at the Experimental Theatre.

April 12: Anupam Kher performed his autobiographical one-act play Kuch bhi Ho Sakta Hai at the Tata Theatre NCPA.

April 22: Pandit Jasraj enthralled the audience during his Haveli Sangit performance at the Tata Theatre.

April 17: Classic Milds revisited famous English playwrights, at the Experimental Theatre.

May 2: Young participants at the NCPA Summer Fiesta dance work-shop at the West Room, Jamshed Bhabha Theatre.

Glimpsesof April and May 2011


July 2011 highlights

The Real Inspector HoundJuly 30th and 31stExperimental Theatre

A Quaff Theatre production Kalki Koechlin, whose film The Skeleton Woman won rave reviews a while back, returns to the stage with a production of

Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound. Nayantara Kotian directs the delightful comedy that twists, turns and somersaults its way through all the conventions of a murder mystery. The play is about the police searching for a madman at large. Inspector Hound, who is masterminding the operation, has a secret plan... Starring: Neil Bhoopalam, Ali Fazal, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Tariq Vasudeva, Suhaas Ahuja, Prerna Chawla and Gulshan Devaiah.

Festival of Indian MusicTata TheatreThursday, 7th to Saturday, 9th – 7.00 pm

Indian music, be it art, semi-classical, light, folk, devotional or popular music, centers around well structured melodic compositions known as bandish. A com-poser (vaggeykar, nayak, rachnakar) as the creator of both lyrics (sahitya) and melodic or rhythmic content is a much re-vered figure in the Indian tradition. The second edition of this festival will show-case some of the most treasured works of the great composers, presented by emi-nent artistes. Programme:Thursday, July 7, 7.00 pmComposers: Faiyaz Khan, Inayat Hussain KhanArtistes: Ghulam Hussain Khan (Raja Miyan), Rashid KhanGenres: Bada & Chhota Khayal, Tarana

Friday, July 8, 7.00 pmComposers: Kabir, Surdas, TulsidasArtistes: Shubha Mudgal, Anup JalotaGenres: Doha, Pad, Bhajan

Saturday, July 9, 7.00 pmComposers: Alladiya Khan, Kumar GandharvaArtistes: Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Vasundhara KomkaliGenres: Bada & Chhota Khayal, Pad

Daily Tickets: Rs.760, 500, 300 & 120/- (Public); Rs.570, 375, 225 & 90/- (Members) Box Office: June 9 (Members) and June 12 (Public)

NCPA Tata Capital Bandish: Festival of Legendary Composers

(Clockwise from top left: Faiyaz Khan, Inayat Husain Khan, Kumar Gandharva, Alladiya Khan)

On Stage June 2011

31

• Marvels of sculptured sound: Jaijaiwanti & Shudh Kedara Dum Dum, Gramophone Company of India, 1980

• Himalayachi Sawli (Marathi play) Mumbai, Rudra Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

• Surya Pahilela Manus (Marathi play) Mumbai, Rudra Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

• Samarpan: Tribute to Jaipur- Atrauli Gharana Mumbai, Wamani, 2007

• Chit Anand: Pt. Chidanand Nagarkar Ragas: Todi, Miyan Malhar, Kafi, Thumri, Bhairavi- Bhajan and TaranaMumbai, Meera Music

• Chit Anand: Pt. Chidanand Nagarkar Ragas: Bhairav, Bairagi, RamkaliMumbai, Meera Music

• Live Vocal Concert: Pt. Yashwantbuva Joshi: Ragas: Shivmat Bhairav, Bibhas, Komal Rishabh Aasavari, Shuddha Sarang, Gavati Mumbai, Meera Music

• Vocal: Pt. Balasaheb Poonchwale Ragas: Devranjani, Kalingada, Shankara BhairaviMumbai, Meera Music

• Vocal: Tappa: Pt. Balasaheb Poonchwale Ragas: Khamaj (5 Tappas), Jhinjhoti, Kafi (3 Tappas), Sindhu Kafi, Bhairavi (4 Tappas)

• Vocal: Shruti Sadolikar Katkar Ragas: Marwa, Jayant Malhar, Shudh Nat Mumbai, Meera Music

• Flute: Pt. Devendra Murdeshwar Raga: Puriya Kalyan, Jhinjhoti, Pilu Thumri Mumbai, Meera Music,

(The listed books and CDs are available at the NCPA Library. For membership details call 66223715)

• Natya-mitra

By Dr. V.B.Deshpande

Pune, Continental Prakashan, 2010

• Ganucha Sadra

By Dr. Shriram Lagu

Kankavali, Pandit Pub. 2003

• Char Ekankika

By Vasantrao Acharekar Pratishthan


• Natarang

By Manoj Kolhatkar


• Kalagi-Tura

By Dr. Dhondiram Wadkar

Pune, Padmagandha Prakashan,

2010

• Natak: Swarup Va Sameeksha

By D. B. Kulkarni

Pune, Padmagandha Prakashan,

2010

• Vedh Marathi Natya Sangeetacha

By Jayram Potdar

Pune, Diamond Pub. 2010

• Sarjanshil Shataki Pravas

By Leni Rifenshtal

Thane, Param Mitra Pub., 2010

• Wah Pahala Aadami

By Albert Camus

New Delhi, Wani Prakashan, 2009

• Awara Masiha

By Vishnu Prabhakar

Delhi, Rajpal & Sons, 2010

List of CDs

List of Books:NewArrivals


Membership queriesWe sincerely hope that you avail and enjoy all your benefits as an NCPA member and be assured that we will work towards providing you with the best facilities. We would be happy to assist you in case you require clarifications. To get in touch, please contact us at – [email protected] ( e-mail) or 022–66223719 (tel)

NCPA News

Contacts at the NCPA

Advertising and Editorial in Lily Shroff 66223827 10am to 6pm On Stage (Mon to Fri)

Box Office Chandrakant Jadhav 66548135 9am to 7pm Yogesh Salvi 66223724 (Mon to Sun)

Administration Molly Chacko 66223737 10am to 6pm Switchboard Shridhar Marathe (Mon to Fri)

Membership Deepti Bellad 22834500 10am to 6pmDepartment Nitin Sawant 66223719 (Mon to Fri)

Venue Bookings Farah Ghadiali 66223731 10am to 6pm Nooshin Kotwal 66223723 (Mon to Fri)

Sponsorship Sriram Emani 66223741 10am to 6pm & Partnerships Supriya Gokarn 66223744 (Mon to Fri)

Letters to EditorYour feedback is important to us, please feel free to write in with your comments on On Stage and events at the NCPA to me,

Lily Shroff at [email protected]. Alternatively, if you’d like to advertise with us, you may email me at the same address

or contact me on 66223827. We look forward to your views to make this magazine more enjoyable and helpful.

Online booking for membersOnline booking for members will be starting soon. Kindly look out for the step-by-step process from next issue onwards. We are confident that this will facilitate greater ease and accessibility of ticket bookings.

New Library timingsThe NCPA Library timings have been changed w.e.f. May 1, 2011. New timings are – 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

NCPA – CITI Scholarship Applications are invited from students in the age group of 18 to 28 years, for a scholarship to pursue advance training in Hindustani Music (Vocal). The selected candidates will appear for audition at the NCPA, Mumbai, at their own expense. The value of the scholarship is `2,000/- per month for one year (2011-2012). With an application, sent in an envelope marked NCPA – CITI’s Scholarship for Indian Music, containing details of training, background and other particulars should reach the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 or mailed to [email protected] on or before July 30, 2011.

On Stage May 2011

33

We would like to inform you of a few changes which have been implemented in the Membership rates, w.e.f May 15, 2011.

Please find below the revisions in rates:

Life Membership:

Life Membership will be converted from the current ‘life term’ to a period of 25 years. This will be effective for fresh applicants from

May 15, 2011 onwards. Kindly note, members who are already registered with the NCPA as Life Members, continue to enjoy the

same benefits and the ‘life term’.

Limited period Life Membership offer:

With reference to the above point, those wishing to avail of Life Membership for more than 25 years could do so before

May 15, 2011. Post this date, the Life Membership Conversion regulation will apply.

Revised fee Structure from May 15, 2011:

Category: Fee (`)

Individual 5000

Couple 8000

Student (6 – 25 yrs) 2000

Senior Citizen (60 yrs & above) 2000

Couple Senior Citizen 2500

Handicapped 500

Life Member (for 25 yrs) – Individual 125000

Life Members (for 25 yrs) – Couple 200000

Defence and armed forces personnel membership:

We have introduced a new package for the Indian armed forces – Army, Navy, Air Force and Police. Therefore we would urge

you to spread the word and avail of these special rates if you meet the relevant criteria.

Category: Fee (`)

Individual 2500

Couple 4000

Student (6 – 25 yrs) 1000

Senior Citizen (60 yrs & above) 1000

Couple Senior Citizen 1300

Handicapped 250

You may call us on 66223719 or email us at [email protected] if you need any further clarifications.

Changes in NCPA Membership rates

Way to NCPAWe are at the southernmost tip of Marine Drive, adjacent to Hotel Oberoi. The NCPA is easily accessible by bus or taxi. Share-a-taxi rides are available

from C.S.T. and Churchgate stations to Nariman Point, next to NCPA.

MAIN OFFICE

NCPAMAIN OFFICE

PRIVATE &STAFF AREAS

BOXOFFICE

PARKING

BOXOFFICE PARKING PRIVATE &

STAFF AREASNCPAMAIN OFFICE

Theatre seating & floorplan


Be a FriendOne of the great pleasures of music is sharing the experience with friends. Become a Friend of the Symphony Orchestra of India and join the NCPA on this exciting musical journey of developing the SOI as an outstanding cultural resource for Mumbai.

Primary member name: ______________________________________________

Joint member name: __________________________ (in case of couple membership)

Membership No. (in case of renewal): _________________________________

Referred by: __________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

___________________________________ Zip Code: _______________________

Tel: _______________________________ Mobile: _________________________

E-mail: ____________________________ Date of Birth: ____________________

Occupation: _______________________ Company:_______________________

Date: ______________________________ Signature: _______________________

Membership to ‘The Friends of the Symphony Orchestra of India’

Dear Sir,

I wish to become a friend of the Symphony Orchestra of India

Name: _______________________________________________________________

Membership No. (in case of renewal): _________________________________

Referred by: __________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

___________________________________ Zip Code: _______________________

Occupation: _______________________ Company: ______________________

Tel: _______________________________ Mobile: _________________________

E-mail: ____________________________ Date of Birth: ____________________

Cheaue No.: _______________________ Date: ___________________________

Drawn On: _____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________________ Signature: _______________________

Membership to the NCPA opens a window to an exciting world of modern theatres, art galleries and attractive open spaces. The performing and visual arts can be a creative, enjoyable and fun learning experience.

MEMBERSHIPAPPLICATION FORM

Your contribution of `10,000/- will be eligible for income tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Each friend of the SOI is also entitled to the following benefits:

• Acknowledgment in the brochure of SOI Season concerts

• Two complimentary tickets to any one performance each Season

• Priority booking advantages (6 days before the general public, 3 days before NCPA Members)

• Invitation to at least one private reception

• Opportunities to meet artistes after concerts

• A copy of our monthly arts magazine, On Stage

• Free access to the NCPA Library

• Exclusive offers on select brands

Membership Categories:

Category: Fees:(`)TT *Individual 5000TT *Couple 8000TT *Student 2000

(6 yrs – 25 yrs) TT *Senior Citizen 2000

(60 yrs and above) TT *Couple Senior Citizen 2500TT *Differently Abled 500TT Individual

Life Member (25 yrs) 125000•T Couple Life Member 200000 Call 66223719 for: • Special rates for defence

personnel (Army/Navy/Air Force)• Corporate Membership packages Membership Benefits:• Generous discounts on all tickets

for NCPA productions• A copy of our monthly arts

magazine, On Stage• Priority booking up to 3 days in

advance • Access to exclusive members’

only events• Free use of NCPA library facilities• Exclusive offers on select brands*Annual membership from 1st April - 31st March

Cheques for both NCPA and SOI should be drawn in favour of ‘National Centre for the Performing Arts’ and submitted along with a stamp sized photograph to: The Membership Department, Tata Theatre, NCPA, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021.

E-mail: [email protected]: 022 - 66223719


With a prime location in the

heart of Mumbai's downtown

business district, Nariman Point,

the NCPA houses an impressive

complex of structures, modern

facilities and outside spaces

suitable for all occasions.

For further details contact:The National Centre for the Performing Arts Marketing Department, NCPA Marg,Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021.Tel: +91 (0)22 66223737Email: [email protected]

South Asia'sfinest multi-arts and entertainment venue

South Asia'sfinest multi-arts and entertainment venue

NCPA Mumbai Events Calendar - June 2011

Documents

Transcript of NCPA Mumbai Events Calendar - June 2011