AAW #196

The shortest month is loaded with rich cultural events. Let the days of February start with a western classical piano recital by pianist Shantanu Patel. The young musician will play the tunes of legendary musicians like Beethoven, Bach, Chopin and Brahms but also enlighten the audience on how to appreciate the western classical music. ‘Panchamrut’, a Gujarati Sugam Sangeet rendition featuring reputed singers like Prahar Vora, Dhruvish Shah, Dhruti Vachhrajani and Dr Savani Shah is also mentioned in the must go event list of our 196th Ahmedabad Art Weekly.

The upcoming Ahmedabad International Children Film Festival will showcase some of the best children films from around the world and will host workshops related to scriptwriting, acting, and technical processes. Filmmaking competitions for students and children will allow them to win exclusive prices during the festival. Natarani Amphitheatre has organised a tribute evening to pay homage to iconic Indian surbahar (bass sitar) player Guruma Annapurna Devi through ‘Annapurneshwari’ performance. The Padma Bhushan Hindustani classical musician was the daughter of guru Alauddin Khan, founder of the Senia Maihar Gharana. ‘Total Filmy’ a satirical drama, based on the bollywood films of 90s, is penned by Chinmay Mehta brimming with songs, drama, action, romance and everything that a typical masala Hindi movie possesses.

People looking for culture rich content should reach Project Otenga and listen to heritage activist and educationist Vikramjit Singh Rooprai. The Bahrain based Indian reformist who is here in the city to talk about history and heritage is the founder of India’s largest Heritage-Hobby club, the Heritage Photography Club and Youth for Heritage Foundation. Heritage activist and founder of H2Oasis Meghna Sheth Gandhi will be leading the heritage walk titled Sacred Route curated to give the participant a peek into the diversity of city.

YourQuote Open Mic Ahmedabad has kept its gates open for participation. Their 5th gathering is allowing poets, shayars, storytellers, stand-up comedians and slam poets to grace the event with their creations. When was the last time you were able to watch a sky full of stars with your naked eyes in Ahmedabad? Well, here’s the opportunity! Leave your phones and cameras at home to join the Winter Night Hike by Diving Deep, where professional hikers will take the participants to a wilderness experience at Khari, which is around 40 km away from Ahmedabad.

The 196th Ahmedabad Art Weekly is dedicated to the legendary theatre personality and ad filmmaker Alyque Padamsee. Sibling of the celebrated modern art painter Akbar Padamsee, the Kutch born recitalist is famous for portraying Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Sir Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. “The Advertising Man of the Century” who headed the Lintas Bombay created some iconic characters like Cherry Charlie for Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish, the MRF Muscle Man, the Liril girl in the waterfall, the Kamasutra couple, Hamara Bajaj, and the TV detective Karamchand.  Padamsee has been conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Theatre by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Padma Shri by the President of India. His famous English theatre productions namely Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tuglaq, and Broken Images are lovingly remembered by the connoisseurs.

Illustration : Nilesh Ramani