Bangalore
Around town
BSA Tour of Nilgiris
16 December
Watch 85 cyclists at the flag-off ceremony of the fifth edition of this tour. The participants will ride through the Nilgiris, for almost a 1,000km, across three cities. They will pass through the wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur in Karnataka, Wayanad in Kerala and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu.
6.30am. Sullivan Police Grounds, Magrath Road (entry from Brigade Road/ Residency Road junction). For details, call 9900158768.
Bengaluru Midnight Marathon
15 December
Professional runners, supporters, corporate groups and NGOs will be expected to run in this marathon, presented by Rotary Bangalore IT Corridor and YES Bank. The key events will include marathon and half marathon at midnight, target 10k run at 10pm, corporate relay and women’s
relay, apart from cultural shows throughout the night.
relay, apart from cultural shows throughout the night.
8pm. Rotary Bangalore IT Corridor, Charitable Trust, #14, White Acres, Channasandra Road (28457544). For registration and details, call 9739961733 or visit
www.midnightmarathon.in
Music
Rajasthan Roots featuring Kutle Khan
14 December
The folksy collective, Rajasthan Roots, will play folk music infused with contemporary influences. This is your chance to become acquainted with Rajasthani instruments like dotara, morchang, khurtal, bhapang, khamaicha and algoza. Rajasthani folk musician Kutle Khan has performed world over, including the recent televised series The Dewarists.
9pm. Opus, 4, 1st Main, Chakravarthy Layout, Palace Cross Road. For details, contact 9844030198. Tickets,
Rs.
330, including taxes, available at
in.bookmyshow.com
Theatre
Where Did I Leave My Purdah
15 and 16 December
Director Lillete Dubey and playwright Mahesh Dattani’s play is set in the milieu of the company theatres of the 1950s and follows the life and times of a popular theatre actor over several decades till the 1980s. With decades of performance, political upheavals and personal travails behind her, actor Nazia sees the world through her art, ignoring the sharp vicissitudes of the real world outside. A fascinating look into the world of drama and theatre, the play moves between the past and the Partition of India, to the musical productions of yesteryear, and back again to today’s contemporary world of cinema and stage. 1 hour, 30 minutes.
7.30pm and also at 3.30pm on Sunday. Ranga Shankara, 2nd Phase, JP Nagar. Tickets, Rs.200, available on www.indianstage.in
and at the venue.
Photography
The Upside Down World of Philippe Ramette
Till 20 December
The Alliance Française de Bangalore in association with the French Embassy in India and Gallery Sumukha is presenting a solo show by French conceptual artist Philippe Ramette. Between 2003 and 2006, Ramette created a series of photographs that show him in gravity-defying poses. These visual illusions—according to Ramette and his collaborator, photographer Marc Domage—were not created digitally.
10.30am-6pm (Closed on Sundays). Gallery Sumukha, 24/10 BTS Depot Road, Wilson Garden (22292230).
Breathing Light
Till 16 December
This is a solo show by photographer Prarthana Krishnamurthy, who gave up her legal career to pursue her passion for photography. Krishnamurthy, in her works, looks at photography as a standalone art form, not as a supporting medium for art forms like dance, painting and sculpture, etc. Her pictures in this collection mostly contain portraits of people, places and situations she has chanced upon and captures the interplay between lines and light.
11am-7pm. Atta Galatta Book House. 75, 2nd Main, 1st Block, Koramangala (30181626/ 9632510126).
Street Space
Cityscapes: Clare Arni’s photographs explore life on the streets of Bangalore.
This solo exhibition by Bangalore-based photographer Clare Arni explores the streets of Bangalore and brings a view of the avenue as a space for working, living and celebrating. The photographs portray images of street businesses and professions (in places you would least expect them to be), various manners of festivities that animate the city’s roads, as well as people going about their everyday routines and chores, set against the backdrop of murals on the city’s walls.
11am-6.30pm (Sundays by appointment). Five Forty Five. 545, 6th Main, 4th Cross, Indiranagar, 2nd Stage (9886050563). For details, call 9886117375, or visit www.fivefortyfive.in
TOP PICK
Music
Indian Metal Festival
15 December
The music festival features 9 hours of some of the loudest metal bands: Bloodshot Dawn, Flayed Disciple and Xerath from the UK; InnerGuilt from Lebanon; Scotland-based Cerebral Bore; Mumbai howlers Gutslit; and Guwahati-based banshees Agnostic. Headlining this saturnalia of noise will be the progressive metal band Gojira from France.
11am. Manpho Convention Center grounds, near Hebbal Flyover, next to Manyata Tech Park. Tickets, Rs.1,375 (regular) and with additional band meet-and-greet passes, Rs.14,850, at www.indianstage.in
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Chennai
Around town
Festival of Punjab
15 and 25 December
Bhangra beats: At DakshinaChitra.
10am–6pm. DakshinaChitra, East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Chingleput district. For details, call 24462435. Entry, Rs.75 and Rs.90.
Music
Christime 2012
18 December
Benny Prasad plays live on his signature Bongo guitar—the Bentar. Prasad designed this 20-string harp or Bongo guitar in October 2006. The opening performances will be by Davids Harp orchestra from Nigeria, TFH Band, MCC School Choir and Ms Samantha.
7pm.
Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, 7, Shenstone Park, #13/1 Harrington Road, Chetput. For details, call 28363921. Tickets, Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.500, Rs.1,000 and Rs.5,000, available at
www.indianstage.in
Photography
Pondicherry
Till 12 January
This exhibition by Tasveer Arts of Sebastian Cortés’ “Pondicherry” focuses on the photographer’s perception and visual interpretation of the city. Cortés goes beyond the walls and penetrates into the private sphere, homes, spaces and routines, which exemplify a certain culture or cultures, always searching for visual messages that compose the tapestry of perception, both of the past and present.
11am–8pm. Amethyst Cafe Pvt. Ltd, entrance, next to Corporation Bank, Whites Road, Royapettah. For details, call 28541623.
TOP PICK
Theatre
The Free Musketeers
14 -18 December
Directed by Krishnakumar Balasubramanian, this pantomime is a twist on the plot of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel ‘The Three Musketeers’. The three musketeers accidently stumble upon a mysterious map of destiny that has the ability to guide its owner to unimaginable evil power. They decide to bring it to the Kingdom of Paris, and what ensues is a series of comic incidents and adventure.
7pm; also 3pm on Saturday and Sunday; and 6.30pm on Tuesday. Theatre, Government Museum, Pantheon Road, Egmore. Tickets, Rs.200, available at www.indianstage.in
By Nandini Reddy
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Delhi
Dance
Protein—LOL (Lots of Love)
Till 15 December
Protein Dance Company from the UK presents LOL, a performance that combines video animation with performers who sing, dance and talk at the same time. A unique approach to the era of social networking and real-time relationships, LOL is about love, wanting and connectedness in the Internet age.
7.30pm. British Council. 17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg (42199000). For booking tickets and details, visit
www.britishcouncil.org.in/impulse/protein-event.html
Around town
Infected Mushroom
Ready to play: Israeli group Infected Mushroom performs at blueFROG.
The Israeli psy-trance/electronica group formed in 1997 is led by Erez Eizen and Amit Duvdevani (aka Duvdev). Having rocked the global electronic dance music (EDM) and groove scene, the group returns to India to showcase some of its favourites in the genre.
10.30pm-1.30am. blueFROG, The Kila, Seven Style Mile, opposite Qutub Minar, Mehrauli (30800300). Entry, Rs.1,500.
4 Culturas (II): India-México-Perú
15 December
The Instituto Cervantes has organized this programme series featuring dancer Carolina Prada and Mexican flautist Nathalie Ramírez in cultural performances from Colombia, Mexico, Peru and India. The events include “Danza y Música Prehispánica Mexicana”; music from Peru; “Son Jarocho”, a Mexican regional folk music; and Mayurbhanj chhau, a folk dance from Orissa.
7pm. Instituto Cervantes, 48, Hanuman Road, Connaught Place (43681900).
Music
Sunil Kant Gupta
14 December
Flute recital: Sunil Kant Gupta.f
7pm. Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road (43663333).
Adi-Suhail-Tarun featuring Sharik Hasan
19 December
The gig will be a performance by Balani brothers—Aditya on guitar and Tarun on drums. The brothers have their own jazz groups called Tarun Balani Collective and Aditya Balani Group. They will be joined by Suhail Yusuf Khan (of the Delhi band Advaita) on sarangi and vocals, and their friend and collaborator Sharik Hasan on the piano.
10-11.30pm. blueFROG, Mehrauli (30800300). Entry, Rs.350.
TOP PICK
Around town
Shadi Khampur Local History Project
20 December-20 January
Since the time they established Studio Safdar in the working-class neighbourhood of Shadi Khampur earlier this year, the Delhi-based radical theatre group Jana Natya Manch (Janam) has been interested in the local history of the area. They have put together a multimedia exhibition of audio-visual recordings, photographs and local artefacts from the area.
10am-7pm. Studio Safdar, 2253-E, Shadi Khampur, New Ranjit Nagar (25709456).
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Hyderabad
Around town
Christmas Party 2012
14 December
Usher in Christmas at Goethe-Zentrum. Celebrate with Gluehwein, carols and a special dinner. A play will be staged at the party apart from PechaKucha—a presentation format where 20 slides are shown for exactly 20 seconds each. Santa Claus greets all visitors. Stalls will offer breakfast, lunch and snacks.
6pm. Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, 20 Journalist Colony, Road No. 3, Banjara Hills
(23350443/0473/0040). Entry, Rs.50, per person.
Theatre
Samahaara Hyderabad Theatre Festival 2012
14-16 December
The festival will kick off with Noises Off—a play within a play by Michael Frayn. It is about a director and his troupe of actors who are trying to put together a sex comedy. On Day 2, see Rahul Varma’s Bhopal on the Bhopal gas tragedy. On Day 3, Swadesh Deepak’s Court Martial about a young recruit accused of killing his senior will be staged. 1 hour, 30 minutes, each.
7.30pm
. Auditorium, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, King Koti Road, Basheerbagh (23237825/0755). Tickets, Rs.100, Rs.250 and Rs.500, available at
www.indianstage.com
TOP PICK
Around town
Sushi and Dimsum Festival
Till 16 December
The food fest brings together authentic flavours of Japan and China at Mekong, the five-star hotel’s new Oriental restaurant. On offer from the live kitchen are five vegetarian and non-vegetarian dimsums and a variety of sushis along with unlimited chilled beer and mocktails.
7.30-11pm. Mekong, Marigold, Greenlands, Begumpet
(67363636). Price, Rs.800 plus taxes, per person.
By Yogendra Kalavalapalli
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Kolkata
Art
Kolkata’s Mother
14-16 December
This is an exhibition of paintings, sculptures and music which pays tribute to Mother Teresa, who became an Indian citizen on 14 December 1951. The exhibition will showcase paintings by Wasim Kapoor, Subrata Gangopadhyay, Ritu Singh, Debabrata Chakraborty, Jahar Dasgupta, Atin Basak, Samir Karmakar, among others. There will be sculptures by Ram Kumar Manna, Uma Roychowdhury and Traun Purkait. The evening will also feature songs by Sumit Ray.
12-8pm (inauguration at 5.30pm on Friday). Floatel, 9/10 Kolkata Jetty, opposite SBI Headquarters (eastern region), Strand Road. For details, visit www.facebook.com/events/451346001594713
Theatre
Dhrubatara
15 December
Theatre group Sayak will stage their latest production Dhrubatara. The story revolves around Ritwik Sen, an environmental scientist. He has kept secret a delicate episode in his life from his family. His mental stability is questioned, after he breaks down under pressure from all sides. Sen slowly withdraws from the world and gradually becomes silent. Finally the truth is revealed.
6.30pm. Girish Mancha, 76/1, Bagbazaar Street, Bagh Bazar. Tickets, Rs.100, available at the venue 5.30pm onwards. For details, call 9836067788.
Photography
Then It Was Moulded Anew
Photo installation: See Bani Abidi’s work at Experimenter.
Experimenter is presenting an exhibition of Bani Abidi’s works for the first time in India. This year her works have premiered at Documenta 13 in Kassel, Germany, and she was a DAAD Artist-in-Residence at the Berliner Künstlerprogramm. Karachi-born Abidi uses video and photography to comment upon politics and culture, often through humorous vignettes.
11am-7pm. Experimenter, 2/1, Hindusthan Road (24630465/40012289)
Music
Parampara
15 December
Bickram Ghosh, Siddha Group and Calcutta Classical Guitar Society will present “Parampara”, part of its Live in India concert series. The evening will feature sarod player Ayaan Ali Khan and tabla maestro Pandit Shankar Ghosh.
7-8.30pm. Indian Council for Cultural Relations, 9A, Ho Chi Minh Sarani. Tickets, Rs.100 and Rs.200, inclusive of taxes. For details, call 9903837056 or visit www.liveinseries.in/india/parampara/artists.asp
TOP PICK
Theatre
Nandikar’s 29th National Theatre Festival
16-25 December
Theatre fest: Romeo Juliet And Seven Clowns from Chandigarh.
Timings vary. Academy of Fine Arts. 2, Cathedral Road. For schedule, tickets and details, call 25554946, 9830503107, 9830254562, 94333 70500 and 8296133601.
By Indranil Bhoumik
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Mumbai
Theatre
Gasha
19 December
Set against the backdrop of conflict-torn Kashmir, the Abhishek Majumdar-directed play in Hindi, Kashmiri and Urdu, Gasha, is an account of the fractured friendship between two boys—a Kashmiri Pandit and a Kashmiri Muslim—and the need to affirm their story; how 20 years ago they tried to hold on to their friendship when the world around them was collapsing. 1 hour, 40 minutes.
9pm. Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle—west (26149546). For tickets, contact the venue.
Music
Yves V
14 December
Belgium’s rising star Yves V takes over the decks at F Lounge Diner Bar. The producer/DJ has played alongside David Guetta at electronica festivals like Tomorrowland and even created mixes for hip-hop artistes Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Expect an eclectic mix of the best electro, groove and progressive sounds.
10pm. F Lounge Diner Bar, One Indiabulls Centre, Third floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Elphinstone Road (66505820). For entry prices, call 9664444906.
Around town
Seafood festival at JW Marriott
Allegorical: A work of Michael Kunze.
The Lotus Café’s weekend spread promises plenty of fresh seafood. The interactive dinner set-up feature ice-beds displaying crabs, tiger prawns, scampi, squids, clams and cuts of bhetki, pomfret and basa. Customers can take their pick and get it cooked the way they like. The à la carte menu will have a choice of Goan, Malabari and spicy masala curries; fish stir-fries in hot garlic and black bean sauce; grilled and pan-seared shrimp with creamy mash, sautéed veggies and saffron velouté, etc. All orders will be accompanied by a bowl of seafood broth and a basket of bread.
7pm-midnight (Fridays and Saturdays). Lotus Café, JW Marriott, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu (66933000/3277). Prices, Rs.1,000-3,000, plus taxes.
Red Earth Design Mela
17-18 December
Delhi-based arts organization Red Earth is hosting a two-day festival that will retail accessories, textiles, home décor and contemporary art. Expect wall art by Anavila; home linen and textile accessories from Anek Designs; canvas and paper works by Debarchan Rout; funky jewellery by Baby Baniya; and limited edition art calendars for 2013 from Red Earth “Urban-Village” featuring photographs by Mumbai’s Aparna Jayakumar and Delhi’s Malini Kochupillai.
11am-8pm. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Colaba (22844484). For details, visit
www.redearthindia.com
Art
Michael Kunze—Studies on the Formation of Impatience
14 December-12 February
This exhibition of dreamy, allegorical paintings, in oil on canvas, by German artist Michael Kunze opens today at the gallery. The paintings are inspired by scenes from Italian film-maker Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1968 film Teorema and French writer and philosopher Albert Camus’ 1942 novel L’Étranger/The Stranger.
11am-6pm (Sundays closed and Mondays by appointment). Galerie Isa, 132, Great Western Building, First floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, opposite Lion Gate, Fort (66373432/33).
Dive in: Sculptural invocation.
Art
Rise of the BROWNationals
18 December-12 January
Artist Vishal K. Dar collaborates with historian Kaushik Bhaumik and design and media anthropologist Siddhartha Chatterjee for this “sculptural invocation” set in and around India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
11am-7pm (Sundays closed). Chemould Prescott Road, Queens Mansion, Third floor, near Cathedral and John Connon School, Ghanashyam Talwatkar Marg,
Fort (22000212).
Fort (22000212).
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