9 Things To Look Forward To At The 2017 Edition Of The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
Every year, Mumbaikars wait for February to arrive and no, it is not because of Valentine’s day, but rather because of one of the most renowned arts festivals of our country, The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. South Mumbai is at its colourful best and if you have to be anywhere between February 4-12, it is here. The 18th edition of the #HTKGAF2017 is starting tomorrow and will be inaugurated by actor Shahid Kapoor.
There is something here for everyone — if you’re a music lover, the line-up will surely bowl you over; if dance is your calling, there are some spectacular artists who are all set to entertain; and if food is what you live for, then the stalls and workshops will keep you busy. In short, if you are in town these 9 days, make no other plans.
We pick out the events that we are most eager for from a lot of many. Scroll down and make a note of them!
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1. The Culinary Foodwalk And More
Food blogger Roxanne Bamboat is conducting a food walk around Kala Ghoda and will share the culinary secrets behind each dish she creates. Make sure you reach the venue on time as it’s on a first-come-first-serve basis, and there are only 20 seats! Other than that, maestros like Ranveer Brar, Pooja Dhingra, and Ripu Daman Handa will be at the fest teaching you a thing or two about cooking.
What: The Culinary Foodwalk With Tiny Taster
Where: All through Kala Ghoda (starting point: Westside)
When: Feb 4 and 11, 10:30 am.
2. Explore A Sailor’s Home
This is the story of how a cemetery turned into a sailor’s home and then into the council hall, and now into the police headquarters! This building has many stories and if you are one who fancies a good mystery, and that too a true one, be there. Limited to 30 people, the talk will be conducted by Kruti Garg and Sanaeya Vandrewala.
What: Royal Alfred Sailor’s Home Tour
Where: Starting point: Gate No. 4 of CSMVS Museum/Bus Depot outside CSMVS Museum.
When: Feb 11, 3:00 pm.
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3. Catch On Some New Talent
If you are bored of the regular comedians, then watch newbies like Abhishek Upmanyu who cracks some killer jokes on the whole Delhi VS Mumbai situation — you’ll be ROFLing for sure.
What: Stand-up comedy
Where: Irish House
When: Feb 7, 4:50 pm
4. Watch Kathak On Skates
From the many acts taking place at the fest, the one that clearly caught my attention is where Kathak dancer Juhi Trivedi will put up a kathak show, but with a twist — she will perform on skates. Won’t that be amazing to watch?
What: Kathak On Skates
Where: Cross Maidan
When: Feb 9, 5:30 pm
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5. Movies You Wouldn’t Watch Otherwise
Taking a break from mainstream cinema, as art festivals showcase movies that are beautiful yet underrated. One such movie is Waiting, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Kalki Koechlin. There will be a discussion about the movie after the screening with Dr Anu Menon.
What: Waiting
Where: Coomaraswamy Hall
When: Feb 4, 2:00 pm
6. A Treat For Book Lovers
Kicking off the literary section is the interactive session with model-turned-author Padmalakshmi and food critic Rashmi Uday Singh. They are going to discuss Lakshmi’s memoir Love, Loss and What We Ate.
There will also be a book installation-cum-art show that you can be a part of. Just go submit your old books at the David Sassoon Library by Monday and, a week later, the students of J.J School Of Arts will convert them into a literary installations.
What: Love, Loss and What We Ate
Where: DSL Gardens
When: Feb 4, 5:00 pm
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7. The Mindblowing Décor And Installations
The centre of attraction and often the biggest crowd pullers at this fest are the amazing showcases outside the Irish House lane. Once the sun sets, the place lights up and looks oh-so pretty.
What: The Visual Arts
Where: Kala Ghoda Lane
When: All the 9 days
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8. Lose Yourself In Sufi Tunes
I am a person who would choose soft, melodious music over rock any day. And Sonam Kalra, along with her gang, is going to be performing to put us in a trance and basically, the wait is making me impatient!
What: The Sufi Gospel Project
Where: Cross Maidan
When: Feb 6, 6:00 pm
9. Learn New Stuff At The Various Workshops
You won’t believe the number of workshops being conducted this time and there is literally something that will suit everyone’s taste. What I am looking forward to is the Playback Theater Workshop, which is essentially an original form of improvisational theater, in which the audience or group members tell stories from their lives and watch them be enacted on the spot.
What: The Playback Theater Workshop
Where: Gallery Beyond
When: Feb 10, 6:00 pm
