AAW #186

One of the year’s most eventful time has begun, and Ahmedabad is hosting tons of events each evening. The busiest weekend starts with a dose of happiness as sculptor Nayana Soparkar opens her solo show with more than 100 clay sculptures titled in her solo show ‘Echoes of Innocence’. The artist has opened her art for the public after almost a decade and each penny incurred from the sale of the artworks will be donated for charity. If you are looking for design inspiration from maestros, then the 3-day India Design Confluence shouldn’t be missed out. Design leaders and creative minds from across the globe, nearly a score of them will be a part of the discourses at IDC. Producer Cyrus Dastur brings back Asia’s biggest Short Film Festival, ‘Shamiana’ to Natarani yet again. The screening would showcase two films – a musical classic with choir singing titled ‘Sing’ and a Hindi film centred around the life of a Housewife titled ‘Sab Theek Hai’.

The UNESCO World Heritage City of Ahmedabad is also celebrating the World Heritage Week with utmost enthusiasm until November 25. As a part of it, citizens can visit the 600-year-old walled city of Ahmedabad to participate in the Dhal ni Pol Heritage Festival. There’s children theatre after long as ‘The Day The Crayons Quit’ will be performed at 079 Stories.  The one’s searching for invigorating experiences can head to ‘Cultures of Peace’ festival at Natarani or reach The Project Cafe to discuss on the topic of ‘Single, Not Despo!’ with author Kusum Choppra and academician Gauri Wagenaar.

Give yourself a recharge of Indian classical music before the festival of Saptak begins in January with a concert of Grammy-nominated sitarist and musician Ustad Shujaat Khan. The lit-fest season too begins this week with Ahmedabad International Literature Festival. Bibliophile looking for a good deal on used and new books can reach the 7th Amdavad National Bookfair and pick the written work of their favourite authors at discounted rates.

Indian actress Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara alias Nirupa Roy, who is recalled as the greatest Mother of all time in Bollywood is the inspiration for our 186th AAW. Born in Valsad in 1931, the Gujarati actress has spent almost half a century while enacting in more than 275 films. Dotingly referred as the ‘Queen of Misery’, Roy who was usually portrayed in mythological roles, got highest offers of playing the role of a mother in various films during the period of the 1970s and 1980s. Roy had no background in cinema, but still, she managed to achieve several accolades in her long-spanning film career. Her best films are considered to be Munimji, Chhaya, Shehnaai, and Deewar.

Illustration : Nilesh Ramani