A Greek tragedy, a French film festival and tree walks to jazz up your weekend

Some cultural recommendations to enliven your weekend

DELHI

Music
A peek into the mind of the artist: To celebrate the birth centenary of Begum Akhtar, the celebrated Indian singer, Pran Nevile, the author and scholar, will be presenting his private collection of the Begum’s recordings. In these recordings, which have been digitised and restored, Begum Akhtar’s ghazals and dadra have been recorded. This will be followed by a tribute to her by Radhika Chopra.
Where: India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
When: February 11, 7 pm

Film
Oscar fever: PVR is set to host an Oscar Film Festival, where it will screen movies nominated for this year's Academy Awards. Movies like Big Hero 6, Mr. Turner, Guardians of Galaxy, Nightcrawler, Maleficent, The Imitation Game, American Sniper, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Interstellar, and Theory of Everything, etc. will be screened as part of the festival.
Where: PVR’s theatres in various venues, Delhi and Gurgaon
When: February 6-12
Info: Visit http://www.pvrcinemas.com/oscar for the complete schedule



Theatre
A play of defiance: Directed by Kuljeet Singh, Antigone is a Greek tragedy play written by Sophocles. Presented by the Atelier Repertory Company, this play is about a rebellious woman who wants to bury the body of her brother to honour him and is ready to go against the wish of the new ruler of Thebes, Creon. Eteocles, sacrifices his life in the name of freedom and the new ruler Creos declares that Eteocles’s body will be honored whereas Polynices, the brother of Antigone, is ordered to be made prey of wild animals as a means of public shame. However, Antigone wants to bury the body of Polynices and seeks help of her sister Ismene. But, Ismene refuses to help fearing the wrath of the new ruler. This play depicts defiance in the form of Antigone, a strong female character. In this process, the story explores ideas like justice, fate and the power of truth.
Where: Studio Safdar, Ranjit Nagar, New Delhi
When: February 6-7, pm
Info: For passes, contact 9891092386

A musical tragedy: Habitat Opera Series presents Donizetti's Italian tragedy, Lucia di Lammermoor that will be screened over two days. Day one will start with a special performance of select excerpts by India's leading tenor Anando Mukerjee, and will be followed by an introduction of the classic live recording by Sunit Tandon, before the screening of Act 1. Day two will see the screening of Acts 2 and 3. Lucia di Lammermoor is based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor. The doomed love story, set in Scotland in the 17th century, concerns the emotionally fragile Lucy Ashton who is caught in a feud between her own family and that of the Ravenswoods. She loves Edgardo from the Ravenswood clan, but is forced to marry Arturo, who is chosen for her by her brother, with fatal consequences. The opera is conducted by Richard Bonynge, and will be screened with English subtitles.
Where: India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
When: February 6-7, 7 pm onwards

Food
A farmers market in the concrete jungle: Gurgaon Farmers' Market is back with gourmet food and fine wines along with popular pop-up restaurants, wineries, patisseries and producers and distributors of organic and gourmet foods, all showcasing their artisan produce. Around 35 exhibitors will be selling everything from exotic, local or organic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, cold meats, non-perishable organic and natural groceries, bakery, patisserie, confectionery, gourmet foods, tableware, wine, natural beauty products, grains, oils, flowers & plants, natural beverages. The market will also host a cooking workshop for kids.
Where: Building 8, Phase 3, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon
When: February 6-7, 12.30-8 pm

MUMBAI

FILM
Identity theft: As part of My French Film Festival, Alliance Francais will screen Plein soleil by René Clément. In the film, Tom Ripley is sent to Europe by Mr. Greenleaf to bring his spoiled, playboy son Philippe back home to the States. In return, Tom will get $5,000. Philippe toys with Tom, pretending he will return but has no intentions of leaving his bride-to-be Marge. As time passes, Mr. Greenleaf considers the mission a failure and recalls Tom off. In desperation, Tom kills Philippe, assumes his identity, and lives like a rich playboy. But he will need all his conman abilities to keep Philippe’s friends and the police off the trail.
Where: Alliance Français, New Marine Lines, Mumbai
When: Feb 9, 6.30 pm
 
Pursuing a painter: Chaïm Soutine is a mysterious, shadowy figure. Directed by Valérie Firla and Mureille Levy, using a handful of clues they had including a few books, an old film, a tomb at Montparnasse cemetery, the film retrace the destiny of this fascinating painter. The filmmakers’ careful inquiry and evident fascination for the man, who was so tormented he destroyed the canvases that bespoke his anguish, offer subtle insights into his work. The artist is said to come across as both detestable and deeply engaging. The film will be screened by Alliance Francais in partnership with Sakshi Gallery and Institut Français Paris.
Where: Sakshi Gallery, Colaba, Mumbai
When: Feb 12, 6.30 pm
 

ART
The Ecstasy of Art: For its 15th anniversary, Tao Art Gallery will exhibit works by artists such as Paresh Maity, Akbar Padamsee, Anjolie Ela Menon, Baiju Parthan, Anju Dodiya, Atul Dodiya, Satish Gujral and B Prabha. Works of eminent artists such as M F Hussain and S H Raza are also part of this show.  The pieces are based on the theme ‘ecstasy of art’, which the gallery explains as “stepping out of one’s own creation and enjoying it with a different perspective.” It looks at ecstasy in every detail of the form, colours and textures that go into making art.
Where: Tao Art Gallery, Worli, Mumbai
When: Feb 4-28
 

World photography: The Goa International Photography Festival will showcase the works of established and emerging Indian and International photographers. The exhibition will showcase the World Press photo, an exhibition of 143 award-winning photographs as well as a collection of works by students of The One School. Additionally, it will feature prominent photography in the documentary, travel, fashion, fine art and commercial genres. The exhibition says it aims to bring together photographers, promote the art and propel Goa as a creative hub. The event will also include interactive sessions on glamour shoots, travel/lifestyle blogs, wildlife and camera workshops, and a carnival photo walk.
Where: The One School Goa, Bardez, Goa
When: Feb 10-21
 

THEATRE
Treasure Island: As part of its National Theatre Live screenings, NCPA will show a filmed version of Treasure Island. Bryony Lavery adapts Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale for the stage. The play opens with a dark, stormy night when Jim, the inn-keeper’s granddaughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the old sailor’s feet sits a huge sea chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in and her dangerous journey begins.
Where: Godrej Dance Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai
When: Feb 9-12, 6.30 pm

BANGALORE
Show some tree love: Neralu, the unique crowd-funded, festival dedicated to trees is back, with a host of events including tree walks, tree journalling, a curated photo exhibition, storytelling events and performances by musicians and folk artists . The second edition of the festival, named after the Kannada word for shade, will be focusing on trees in different localities and public spaces that are part of citizens' lives. There will also be a mega hug-a-tree campaign, so come out and show some love for your neighbourhood trees.
Where: Multiple venues across Bengaluru
When: February 7 & 8, and 14
Info: You need to register for the walks. Details and schedule available at www.neralu.in

V-Day with Vagina Monologues: Started in 1996 by Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues is the cornerstone of the V-Day movement, whose participants stage benefit performances of the show and host other related events in their communities. The play, in itself, is a series of monologues written after interviewing hundreds of women from all walks of life spanning across different ages, socioeconomic groups, professions and polarizing social conditions thereby bringing out their experiences. All the monologues are centered around a theme of female individuality and their unique (but secretly common) feminine experiences. The monologues touch upon the different aspects of these experiences with stories on love, sex, menstruation, sexuality, rape, birth, orgasms, female genital mutilation, masturbation and even the discovery of the vagina as more than just a physical part of their bodies, but the unraveling of a powerful tool for identity, empowerment and self-confidence.
Where: Alliance Francaise, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru
When: February 14 and 15, 2 pm

Music
An evening of EDM: German EDM experts DASO and Pawas (who were both born in India) share their music and experience in a workshop, followed by a party at The Warehouse this weekend. The workshop will share insights on the “intelligent dance music” (IDM) scene in Germany, to be followed by the party, where DASO will perform a live set and Pawas, a DJ set.
Where: Workshop at Max Mueller Bhawan, CMH Road and party at The Warehouse, 80 Feet Road, Indira Nagar
When: February 7 (Workshop at 6.30 pm, party at 8 pm)

Theatre
The men behind the math: “Partition”, a play by Ira Hauptman is inspired by the extraordinary partnership between the two brilliant mathematicians GH Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan, exploring the human side of the relationship. To tell the tale, the playwright introduces a ghost, a goddess and a friend. The play has been directed by Sridhar Ramanathan.
Where: Jagriti, Varthur Road, Whitefield
When: At 8 pm on Februar 6 &7 , at 3 pm & 6.30 pm on February 8