By IANSlife

April 2, 2024 (IANSlife) It's an exciting time of the year owing to the ongoing festivities and the stage is abuzz with a fantastic line-up of presentations. Here are some upcoming shows to immerse yourselves in over the month.

Short Film Corner | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with White Wall Screenings

Scenes from a Pandemic: A young ambitious woman moves to Mumbai for her first job right out of college. Three months after her move is the onset of the pandemic and her life changes forever. Spanning two years, Scenes from a Pandemic is the story of a young woman's relationships with her mother, her best friend, and her career during a tumultuous phase of life.

Guddi Maasi: Guddi Maasi, A matchmaker from Varanasi arranges child marriages with older men and is a part of shady money deals. Is she?

• What: Short Film Screenings  
• When: Little Theatre  
• Where: April 3, 6:30 pm
• Entry: On a first-come-first-served basis

 

 

Purane Chawal - पुराने चावल | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with D For Drama production

Set in contemporary Mumbai, this Hindi adaptation of Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys delves into the world of two retired comedy geniuses who are brought together to reprise their iconic comedy act after 12 years for the biggest festival of comedy in the country. The only problem is they can’t stand each other. Will they be able to put aside their differences and create the same magic?

• What: Play
• Where: Tata Theatre
• When: Sunday, 7th April – 7.00 pm
• Language: Hindi
• Duration: 1 Hr 40 mins
• Adaptation of The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon, Directed by Sumeet Vyas
• Adapted by Farrukh Seyer and Avinash Gautam
• Cast: Kumud Mishra, Shubhrajyoti Barat, Ghanshyam Lalsa/Ishar Sunya, Ayesha Raza, Kirti V.A., Divyendu Saurav, Prashant Pandey

 

 

All Stars Comedy | An NCPA Off-Stage Presentation in collaboration with The Habitat

A star-studded comedy line-up from The Habitat’s daily All Star Stand-up Comedy show is now at an auditorium near you. Here is the perfect opportunity to experience laughter like never before.

• What: Stand-up Comedy 
• Where: Godrej Dance Theatre
• When: Sunday, 7th April – 5.00 pm & 7.30 pm
• Duration: 90 mins
• Language: English/Hindi
• Age Suitability: 18+
• Performed by: Shreeja Chaturvedi, Mohd Hussain, Shashwat Maheshwari, Sumit Sourav, Siddharth Dudeja

 

Reality Check - Ayena Mirror | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Cinema Collective   

NCPA has revived the Reality Check film series, which was started in 2014, to promote and encourage documentary filmmakers in India, whose work reflects life and culture in the country today in a provocative blend of creativity and integrity.

A momentary act of revenge transformed the lives of two young Indian women forever. After surviving an acid attack while carrying the scars of human brutality on their face, both Ritu and Faraha now have to navigate a sea of odd currents daily.
Strangely enough, Ritu’s scars also brought her fame. She occasionally finds herself talking on television, modelling at fashion events, or even featuring in a Bollywood film. Still, she often feels lonely. She wants to be loved and embraces an ambiguous relationship with a fellow female acid attack survivor. Faraha, on the other hand, has come to terms with her post-attack singlehood and her new lease of life. As she begins to enjoy freedom and independence, a desire to become a mother slowly brews inside her.

• What: Documentary Film Screening  
• Where: Little Theatre
• When: April 11, 6.30 pm
• Language: Hindi/Urdu with English subtitles 
• Duration: 1 Hr 10 mins 
• Entry: on a first-come-first-served basis

 

The Siddhus of Upper Juhu | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Rage Productions

Balvinder Siddhu, also known as Bubbles, a 50-year-old well-paid financial executive, and his loyal Parsi wife, Behroze, live on the 14th floor of a typical modern Upper Juhu high-rise called Sea View Towers. Despite having poured their life savings into this 2.5 BHK flat in Mumbai, everything civil and civic seems to go wrong.

• What: Play 
• When: April 13, 7.00 pm
• Where: Tata Theatre
• Language: English
• Duration: 90 mins
• Directed by Rahul da Cunha
• Cast: Rajit Kapur, Shernaz Patel, Meera Khurana, Kajli Sharma & Shishir Sharma

 

 

Qisse aur Kavitaayein | An NCPA Off-Stage Presentation

We bring to you a unique amalgamation of poetry infused with music. Stories about life, love and laughter are sure to move you and bring you an experience to remember amidst nature at the beautiful Tata Gardens at the NCPA. 

Boasting of a line-up that includes the country’s most popular poets and storytellers such as Helly Shah, Mehak Mirza Prabhu, Rakesh Tiwari, Ishpreet Balbir and the newest voice on the circuit Aanchal Anita Dhara, we bring to you an eclectic mix of your all-time favourites and fresh voices. 

• Where: Tata Gardens 
• When: Saturday, 13th April - 7 pm
• Language: Hindi
• Duration: 1 Hr 30 mins 
• Age Suitability:  15+
• Curated by Priya Malik

 

 

Chanakya | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Dharmajam Production

Chanakya was the greatest statesman, a visionary and arguably the first patriot of the country, who single-handedly carved India (as we know it today) out of the chaos of infighting and exploitation by the regional kings of the time. Love for one’s society and nation is the greatest virtue, nationalism elevates an individual from his mundane existence and improves his quality of life. Patriotism binds an individual to his society and inspires the strong to work towards the betterment of the weak. The play Chanakya brings the man who advocated these sayings to live once again but in the modern context.

• What: Play
• Where: Tata Theatre
• When: April 14, 7.00 pm
• Language: Hindi
• Duration: 2 hrs 30 Mins
• Written by Mihir Bhuta
• Directed by Manoj Joshi
• Cast: Manoj Joshi, Sanjay Bhatia, Bhuvanesh Shetty, Kavita Rathod Rana and others

 

Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with The Hoshruba Repertory & Art for Causes

The play is based on the life of Sahir Ludhianvi. Sahir Ludhianvi was one of the iconic poets & lyricists of Urdu literature and Hindi cinema respectively in the 20th century. Hoshruba Repertory in collaboration with the Art for Causes brings alive his life in a semi-autobiographical theatrical presentation. The play attempts to bring a 360-degree perspective on his life interspersed with some of his iconic songs and poems. Co-written by Ali Husain Mir (Writer of the film Mee Raqsam, and Himanshu Bajpai, the well-known.
“Aao Ke Koi Khwaab Bunein” Composed by Aneesh Pradhan and First Sung by Shubha Mudgal

• What: Hindustani Play 
• Where: Tata Theatre
• When: April 20, 7.00 pm
• Duration: 2 Hrs
• Writers: Mir Ali Husain & Himanshu Bajpai
• Director: Danish Husain
• Actors: Danish Husain, Vrinda Vaid ‘Hayat’, Shantanu Herlekar, Srijonee Bhattacharjee, Siddarth N. Padiyar & Donald Krist

 

Dekh Behen Part Two | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Akvarious Productions

Five years have passed since the events of the first play, and Kanupriya aka Kannu is getting married in Jaipur. It is a vegetarian, alcohol-free wedding, filled with orthodox in-laws and judgmental guests. But the gang of girls is back and committed to having a good time. They're older, but probably not wiser. Retaining all the fun of the first, and dealing with new and pertinent issues, this sequel to the Akvarious superhit is another crazy celebration of female friendship.

• What: Play 
• Where: Experimental Theatre
• When: April 20, 5 pm & 7.30 pm
• Duration: 1 Hr 20 Mins
• Language: English/Hindi
• Age Suitability: 18+
• Featuring Astha Arora, Dilshad Edibam, Garima Yajnik, Lisha Bajaj, Prerna Chawla, Shikha Talsania, Tahira Nath, and others
• Written by Dilshad Edibam and Tahira Nath
• Directed by Prerna Chawla and Shikha Talsania

 

 

Stand up with D Girls | An NCPA Off-Stage Presentation in collaboration with Being Association.

In today’s time, when standing up for an issue and even doing stand-up comedy is difficult, this solo is a satirical take on both situations. We have always been told that our behaviour decides what type of girl we are. It's very important to know the type because that decides our fate. Everything is already decided for us, yet you get to watch shocking news about us every day! Why! How!
This solo is a journey through those types, exploring great literature and poems in between, which tell us a tale of "D’ girls. By intertwining the shadows and lights, hope and hopelessness in Ritu and Faraha’s life, Ayena becomes a mirror where we can also see our reflections.

• Where: Godrej Dance Theatre  
• When: April 20, 7.30 pm
• Langauge: Hindi and English
• Duration: 1 Hr 25 min 
• Written, directed & performed by Rasika Agashe
• Producer & Director: Siddhant Sarin (The Films)
• The film screenings will be followed by a post-film discussion. 

 

 

Cast Off All Shame | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Story Circus

Cast Off All Shame begins with the spirit of a Bhakti poet Janabai coming alive and taking over a radio show as an RJ. She then talks to various women callers who reach out to her with their everyday issues of gender and patriarchy. Thus the solo theatre piece consists of a series of vignettes - some hilarious, some gut-wrenching about Indian women from a variety of classes and settings. Their situations are illuminated by women Bhakti poets- Janabai, Lal Ded, Akka Mahadevi, Avvaiyyar, Soyarabai- whose poems appear as 'characters' in this show. Punctuated with soulful poetry and stories, Cast Off All Shame remains an entertaining, engaging and empowering experience for everyone.

• What: Play
• Where: Godrej Dance Theatre
• When: April 21, 6.00 pm
• Language: English & Hindi
• Duration: 80 mins
• Written, directed, and performed by Ulka Mayur

 

 

Red | An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Water Lily

In RED, we witness the renowned painter Mark Rothko at the pinnacle of his creativity but struggling through the creation of a series of large paintings, commissioned to feature in New York’s brand-new Four Seasons Restaurant. 
Set in the late 1950’s, and based on a series of real events, Red takes a compelling look at the ever-changing relationship between an artist and his creations.

• What: Play
• Where: Experimental Theatre
• When: April 21, 4.30 pm & 7 pm
• Language: English 
• Duration: 90 mins
• Age Suitability: 12+
• Writer: John Logan
• Director: Daniel Owen Dsouza
• Cast: Vikram Kapadia & Daniel Owen Dsouza

 

 

Love and Information | An NCPA production in association with Aasakta Kalamanch

How do we look at ourselves and others, how do we make connections, and how do we love? These are some of the questions that are thrown up by Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information, which challenges traditional theatrical norms with its unconventional structure. Comprising over fifty scenes in seven sections, the play follows a non-linear narrative and is devoid of central characters, emphasizing the cumulative impact of diverse, brief scenes ranging from seconds to minutes.

The vignettes mirror the rapid pace of channel-hopping or scrolling through social media, highlighting potential implications for relationships in an era dominated by instant gratification and short attention spans. The play's kaleidoscopic structure touches on an array of themes such as memory atrophy, privacy erosion, alienation from the self and the decay of genuine emotion. Through its experimental form and astute observations, written in 2012, "Love and Information" the play speaks directly to the way we make meaning of our lives and existence when there is an over-exposure and saturation of different kinds of information

• Where: Experimental Theatre
• When: April 25 - 28
• Language: English Hindi Marathi, Haryanvi, Gujarati
• Duration: 120 min
• Age Suitability: 18+
• Playwright: Caryl Churchill
• Director: Mohit Takalkar
• Cast: Ashish Mehta, Dusha Madhav, Kashish Saluja, Lovleen Misra, Mahesh Saini, Mallika Singh Hanspal, Mrinmayee Godbole, Prajesh Kashyap, Rachel D’souza, Rytasha Rathore, Siddhesh Dhuri

 

 

 

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