Art fests, Onam cuisine and a play on Partition to make your weekend

Some suggestions to enliven your weekend

DELHI

Theatre

Loss of memories and mementos: Alliance Francaise presents Pakistan aur Alzheimer’s, a comic play that takes a satirical and fresh look at the partition of India. The story unfolds through the narrative of a 90 year old man, Ghanzafar Hussain (played by Saleem Shah), who is seen recalling the partition and its immediate as well as long-term repercussions in a funny and factually incorrect manner, as he suffers from Alzheimer’s. However, in the process, the old man’s funny memoirs question a range of stereotypes about the tragic event – its genesis, its causes and its effects.
Where: Alliance Francaise de Delhi, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi
When: September 6, 7 pm
Info: Tickets priced at Rs. 300-500

Miyan Biwi Aur Manto: This play is a collection of four lesser-known short stories penned by renowned writer Saadat Hassan Manto.
Where: Amphitheatre, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
When: September 5, 7.30 pm

  Long Night of Theatre: The second edition of Long Night of Theater is back. Conceived as an intensive immersion into the process of performance-making, this collaborative process brings together 20 strangers with the goal of creating a performance from scratch in the space of 24 hours. The performance is opened to the public at the end of 24 hours. Led by Sukhesh Arora (Yellowcat Theater), the day-long event will comprise sessions with Mandeep Raikhy (Gati Dance) and Anurupa Roy (Katkatha) throughout the Long Night.
Where: Max Mueller Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi
When: September 5, 6 pm
Info: To register, write to mail@yellowcat.in with your name, age, contact number and present occupation.

Literature is my mistress: Saksham Theater presents Chekhov Ki Duniya, a play that is a collection of four different stories written by Anton Chekhov - The Avenger, A Work of Art, The Proposal and The Pianist.
Where: Amphitheater, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
When: September 7, 7.30 pm
Info: Tickets priced at Rs 200 available at BookMyShow

Film

Poetry in cinema: Instituto Cervantes will be screening Japón, an award winning Spanish film, as a part of their Mexican Film Festival. Released in 2002, the film follows a man going through an acute existential crisis. He leaves Mexico City to go out to the country and prepare for his death, staying with an old Indian widow in her home overlooking a desolate canyon. In the vastness of a wild and impressive nature, he confronts the infinite humanity of the widow and oscillates between cruelty and lyricism.
Where: Instituto Cervantes, Connaught Place, New Delhi
When: September 7, 4.30 pm
Info: Entry free

Festival

Onam Celebrations: The newest entrant in HKV getting rave reviews for its authentic Kerala cuisine, The Toddy Shop is curating a special menu in honour of Onam, including up to 20 dishes, all served on banana leaves.
Where: The Toddy Shop, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi
When: September 7

Music and Dance

Festival of Music and Dance: The annual confluence of the rich music and dance heritage of India culminates in the Parampara Series hosted by Natya Tarangini and Padmabhushans Raja Radha and Kaushalya Reddy. The stars of classical and contemporary music and dance of India, come together and perform under a distinct and interesting theme.
Where: Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi
When: September 3 to 5, 7 pm

Art

Myriad forms: Salt: The Great March II, is a solo show of artworks by Shelly Jyoti. The show will include site-specific textile installations, garments with ajrakhprinting, paintings and a spoken poetry video film.
Where: The Art Gallery, India International Centre, New Delhi
When: From September 3 to15, 2014, 11 am to 7 pm

The art in heart: Through his first show, Amour Fou, artist Deepjyoti Kalita wishes to confront the viewer with the prosaic reality of human relationships in this era of unapologetic individualism, reckless consumerism, and overbearing technology.
Where: Latitude 28, Lado Sarai, New Delhi
When: September 5 to October 5, 11 am to 7 pm

Diversity in art: Dhoomimal Contemporary Art Gallery presents The Collectibles, a group exhibition by prominent Indian artists. The exhibition will showcase works by numerous artists using different mediums like painting, sculptures, mix media and graphics. The participating artists include Akbar Padamsee, MF Hussain, Rameshwar Broota, Sakti Burman, Krishan Khanna and Jayashree Burman among others.
Where: Shridharani Art Gallery, Connaught Place, New Delhi
When: Till September 10

Elephants never forget: Ganpati to Gajah is an art show and fundraiser by artist Alpana Ahuja, proceeds from which will go to support the efforts of Wildlife SOS to protect elephants in India. seeks to raise awareness about Elephant Conservation using the creative and inspiring medium of art. Among the unique showcases includes footprints or padchinsof elephants created with the help of Wildlife SOS’s elephant Phoolkali.
Where: Art Spice Gallery, The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa, New Delhi
When: Till September 19

BANGALORE

Festival

Arts festival back with a bang: The Bengaluru International Arts Festival returns with a cornucopia of cultural events across genres to attend. This edition’s kicks off with a grand fusion concert featuring Suma Sudhindra on the veena, Ned McGowan on the western flute, Karthik Mani on the drums and NN Ganesh Kumar on the violin, among others. Other events,to be held at venues across the city over the  next few days, include a manganiyar concert by Firoz Khan and his troupe, a gotipua performance and folk dance performances by troupes from Rwanda, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.
Where: Multiple venues across the city
When: September 5 to 14
Info: The full schedule is available on http://www.biaf.co.in

Walk

A design walk for a cause: The National Martyrs’ Memorial was conceived as a place to pay homage to our countrymen who gave up their lives since independence and became an award-winning project for its architect, Soumitro Ghosh. Ghosh will be conducting a walk through its premises, highlighting its various features, such as the ceremonial path of commemoration. The walk has been conceived as a fundraiser for palliative cancer care and is being organised by RiverHope, an informal annual event in aid of the cause.
Where: National Martyrs’ Memorial, Bangalore
When: September 13, 3 pm onwards (Duration 2.5 hours)
Info: Participation by registration only, email name and mobile number to riverhope21@yahoo.com . Suggested minimum donation is Rs 500

Theatre

Playing with paper: Animals out of Paper, a comedy drama, explores the relationships between three characters: Ilana, a famous origamist who wants to be left alone after her divorce, Andy, a nervous enthusiastic maths teacher who counts his blessings, which include Ilana, and writes them in a diary, and Suresh, Andy's student, who loves hip hop and is brilliant at origami. The interactions between the characters, while amusing, are interrupted by the shadows of their respective pasts.
Where: Jagriti, Varthur Road (near Palm Meadows), Whitefield, Bangalore
When: At 8 pm on September 4 to 6, and 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm on September 7

Music

An evening with classical notes: Musici de Bangalore, an evening of classical music with soprano Tanisha Herbert, clarinetist Daniel Bircher, violinist Arun Rozario and pianist Natallia Kapylova. The evening will feature the works of Mozart, Schubert, Kreisler and others.
Where: Alliance Francaise, Vasanth Nagar, Millers Road, Bangalore
When: September 6, 7 pm

MUMBAI

Art

Black and White: The exhibition Noir/Blanc will pay a tribute to “the lure of the monochrome”, particularly that of black and white. It includes small format works by the masters as well as upcoming and mid-career artists. The exhibition also offers an opportunity to examine how different artists use a restricted palette to open up different ways of seeing. Some of the participating artists include Akbar Padamsee,  Anju Dodiya,  Atul Dodiya, Bose Krishnamachari, S H Raza, Somnath Hore, Sudhir Patwardhan, Sunil Gawde and Venus Sanghvi.
Where: The Loft, Lower Parel, Mumbai
When: Until September 30

Nandagopal’s narrative: The Metaphysical Edge is a solo exhibition by S. Nandagopal, who is considered one of the most important contemporary Indian sculptors. Born in Bangalore, the artist studied at the Government College of Art & Crafts in Chennai and went on to become a life member of Cholamandal Artists Village. While steeped in the traditions of India, his narrative sculptural work is said to have a sensibility that appeals to an international taste. The pieces are in brass, copper, enamel and silver.
Where: Art Musings, Colaba, Mumbai
When: Until October 31

Film

Kleindestine: Yves Klein, La Révolution Bleue, a film by François Levy-Kuentz, is about Klein, a leading light of contemporary art. The documented fiction film, made up of library footage, artwork and re-enactments, follows the artist's life in chronological order, showing the progress of his career and unravelling the mysterious correlations running through his work. The screening is in partnership with Alliance Francaise and Institut Français Paris.
Where: Sakshi Gallery, Colaba, Mumbai
When: Sept 11, 6.30 pm

Extra Cinema: The Alliance Francaise de Bombay, in partnership with Vikalp Film Archive will screen Vapsi, a 5-miute film by Srinivas Sunderrajan which will explore the journey of a struggling film actor in the city of Mumbai. Also to be screened is The Clap Trap by Jill Misquitta, a peek into the lives of the film extras, who fill the set on payment of a meagre daily wage. While easily replaceable and often exploited, the junior artist likes to keep up appearances by believing they have an indispensable job in the dream factory. The film follows two such artists on the set and their homes as they try to cope with the larger realities of living in Mumbai.
Where: Alliance Francaise, Theosophy Hall New Marine Lines, Mumbai
When: September 12, 6.30 pm

Theatre

Desire in drama: Club Desire, an NCPA Production in collaboration with Arpana, is an English play inspired by the French opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. The story is placed in the contemporary nightclub setting in Mumbai. The adaptation brings up universal questions about the nature of love, tradition, modernity, freedom, possession, order and anarchy. Written by Sapan Saran and directed by Sunil Shanbag, the play features Poulami Ghosh, Jaimini Pathak, Suhas Ahuja, Gagan Dev Riar.
Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai
When: September 6 & 7, 7 pm
Tickets: Rs 300-400

KOLKATA

Theatre

Monologues of oppression: GD Birla Sabhaghar presents Emotional Creature, a play by noted playwright Eve Ensler. It comprises original monologues about young girls from around the world. The play includes monologues on: a girl struggling with peer pressure from cliques in Mumbai’s elite schools; a sex trafficked girl in Bulgaria who only has thirty five minutes before her pimp comes looking for her; a young Indian girl who is tired of the pressures placed upon her by her parents and our society and decides to teach them all a lesson; and a young labourer in China creating Barbie dolls under slavery-like conditions. The play uses dance, music, song and projections to create an enthralling theatrical experience.
Where: GD Birla Sabhaghar, Ballygunge, Kolkata
When: September 6, 6 pm

Film

French crime thriller: Alliance Francais Du Benegale will be screeing L’Immortel, a French film directed by Richard Berry. The film revolves around former Mafia boss Charly Mattei, who leads a happy life with his wife and children. One morning, Mattei is shot 22 times by an eight-man death squad in an underground car park. Against all odds, he survives to take revenge on his killers. The film is based on a novel by Franz-Olivier Giesbert.
Where: Alliance Francais Du Benegale, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata
When: September 10, 6 pm

Art

Mahabharata on Oleographs: Gallery Gold presents  Oleographs of 19th centuryweb listings , an exhibition showcasing the works of eminent Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma. As many as 16 oleographs on paper by the legendary artist are on display at the exhibition. Varma is considered one of the greatest painters in Indian art history, who brought Indian painting to the attention of the larger world, providing a vital link between traditional Indian art and contemporary art. He is particularly noted for his paintings depicting episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, and Nala and Damayanti, from the Mahabharata.
Where: Gallery Gold, Kalighat, Kolkata
When: Till September 11