Category: Event

Categories
Event

Play-acting with life

College drama fest draws theme ideas from real-life incidents, political ideologies, living by adjustment and even incest. A pitch report.
by Krishnaraj Rao

Rape and violence continue to dominate the mindscape of young Mumbaikars, it seems. At the ‘Let’s Act’ drama festival held yesterday at Ravindra Natya Mandir Mini Theatre, the students of RD National College elaborately re-enacted the recent Delhi bus-rape incident, in a play titled Is This Humanity? This was one of the five plays that was selected for re-enactment in the finals of the drama festival, to be held at Sophia Auditorium on January 5, 2013.

The other teams selected for the finals were Pragati College, which enacted a humourous play Adjustment (about how one needs to make an adjustment in all spheres of life), KC College (with a play on communalism based on the Panchatantra), Mumbai University’s Department of Journalism and Communication (with The Darkest Desire, a play about incest) and Swami Vivekanand College (Wakt Nahin Hai, a balletic satire about modern living.)

St. Andrew’s Chorus, which re-enacted the Mumbai 7/11 serial train blasts, and St. Xavier’s College, which enacted the Greek tragedy of Achilles, provided some extremely kinetic and memorable scenes.

The entire approach was minimalistic, with emphasis on creativity and powerful acting rather than lavish sets. The only stage sets available were two 1.5 feet levels, two nine inch levels, and some tables and chairs. All the work was done by the students themselves, without help from professionals.

This drama competition is organised by Helen O’Grady International, in benefit of ADAPT (formerly, the Spastic Society of India). Helen O’Grady’s Youth Theater workshops are enabling students to express themselves creatively.

 

Categories
Event

Ghashiram Kotwal is 41 years old

A response to the rise of the Shiv Sena in the ’60s, controversial play celebrates 41 years of stage time.

The Marathi theatre scene of the 1960s and ’70s was known for its bold, contemporary and often brutal analyses of dominant social themes of the time. And one of the foremost writers and playwrights of the time was the late Vijay Tendulkar, who penned some of his masterpieces during this time, such as Shantata! Court Chalu Ahe, Gidhade and Ghashiram Kotwal.

This last celebrated 41 years of being on the Marathi stage on Sunday, December 16. Originally directed by Jabbar Patel, the play boasted some truly excellent music by the late Pandit Bhaskar Chandavarkar and choreography by Krishnadev Mulgund. The play is based on the life of Nana Phadnavis, who was a prominent minister in the court of Peshwas of Pune, and it talks about  men in power who give rise to certain ideologies to serve their purposes, and later destroy those ideologies when they become useless.

Reproduced below are late music director Bhaskar Chandavarkar’s thoughts on the play:

‘Ghashiram Kotwal was first staged in December 1972. Within a span of ten shows (a short period of some weeks) it became a controversial play. Vijay Tendulkar, the playwright, has already faced severe, some times violent opposition to his earlier plays. He was subjected to a humiliating  ‘manhunt’ because of Ghashiram. The controversy revolved around two points. The first was that he has misrepresented history and the other was that he had trivialised and defamed Nana Phadnavis.

Actually, the points were political. The play has, to this day, remained extremely relevant because of the measured political statement it makes about fascism. The a-historic legend or myth, around which the playwright weaves his plot, seems to surface in many parts of the world. Violence, political manipulations, and the nexus between crime, sex and power is what Vijay Tendulkar explores. The historians may not agree with the interpretation of history that the playwright visualises. But the
playwright asks if there is any objectively ‘true’ history? And do we learn from history at all?

Ghashiram Kotwal became a path breaker because of the form of presentation. ‘Dashavtari Khele’ a folk theatre form like the Tamasha, Lavani, Gavlan etc. that have found their way into the presentation. The play therefore becomes a musical. It is not a musical comedy that has been modeled on the American Broadway type. In an innovative way, the folk sensibilities and basic
political awareness have been woven together in a typically Indian setting.

Songs, dance and music have to shoulder responsibilities other than that of being merely entertaining numbers. They are here to bring out the strong feelings, the undercurrent of the social protest. If the establishment uses the established music as its political tool to perpetuate power, artists must use non-established forms of art to rebel and revolt. Ghashiram Kotwal thus becomes a political statement.

The presentation and staging will hopefully transcend the language barrier because, tragically, we still have Ghashiram-like situations happening all over the world.’

(Pictures courtesy Yaashee Entertainment)

 

Categories
Event

Tickets still available for Ind-Eng T20 match

The India-England T20 match is scheduled for December 22. The State Government has allowed the MCA to sell tickets online.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The Maharashtra State Government decided on December 13, after a request from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), that tickets for the T20 match between India and England on Saturday, December 22, would be allowed online, provided certain conditions were followed. Tickets for the match are currently being sold through bookmyshow.com. The match is to be held at 7 pm.

While tickets in Block T L1, U L1 and V L1 in the Sachin Tendulkar stand have been sold out, as have tickets in the I L3, M L2, L L2, W L1, X L1, Y L1 (tickets priced at Rs 1,500 each) and L L1, K L1 and J L1 (tickets priced at Rs 300 each) from the North and Sunil Gavaskar stands have also been sold out. As per the booking site, tickets are still up for grabs in the Grand Stand, Block L4 (Rs 7,500) and in the Gavaskar Stand A L2, B L2, C L2, D L2, E L2 and F L2. Each person will get a maximum of two tickets only.

Online booking okay, but with riders

If you’re buying tickets online, remember these Government stipulations on online sale of tickets and check the ticket you purchase for these:

– The tickets must be printed in rolls serialised from A to Z, and starting from the number 1.

– All those booking tickets online must be notified of the ticket sale confirmation before the match.

– Each ticket must bear a unique bar code that will serve as a security check while entering Wankhede Stadium and passing through a metal detector.

– You are not allowed to make multiple purchases of tickets at different times. Even if you do, you will be given a maximum of two tickets at the venue on showing valid proofs.

(Picture courtesy cricket.yahoo.com. File picture, used for representational purpose only)

 

Categories
Event

Join the Army. Or at least, go cheer

Indian Army concludes ‘Vijay Diwas’ celebrations at Shivaji Park today. The three-day event commemorated Indian Army’s 1971 win over Pakistan.

If you’re looking for some inspiration and a big dose of patriotism, head to Shivaji Park today. At 11 am this morning, the Governor of Maharashtra, K Sankaranarayan, will inaugurate the Army Mela at Shivaji Park. The Mela is part of the Indian Army’s ‘Vijay Diwas’ celebration to commemorate India’s military victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Around 1,500 Army personnel from across the State will participate in the Mela.

Lt General AK Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Major-General Rajesh Bawa, General Officer commanding, Mumbai Sub area and other eminent persons will be there at the Mela, too.

The Mela showcases the Army’s equipment and has leaflets and brochures to exhort the youth to join the Indian Army. Once you’ve had your fill of the Mela, you can head to the Gateway of India, Chowpatty and Radium Mall where military bands will be displayed. Plus, there’s going to be a motorcycle display, sky-diving, mallakhamb and aero-modelling display by NCC Cadets.

(Image used is a file picture)    

 

Categories
Event

Schools play rugby at Bombay Gymkhana

Colaba Municipal School, Yashodham High School win in the U-17 Boys and Girls category. A pitch report of the event.

Rugby is still not played as often and as intensely as it should in the country, but Mumbai is taking things to the next level – its schools are competing and winning big.

Yesterday, the Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM) hosted the seventh edition of the Mumbai Inter-School Touch Rugby Championship 2012 at the Bombay Gymkhana Ground, under the auspices of the Western Indian Rugby Football Union (WIRFU). Over 50 teams participated from across Mumbai city and suburb schools. Both boys and girls in the Under-12, Under-14 & Under-17 age categories participated. Actor and rugby player Rahul Bose was the chief guest for the event.

The U-17 winners were Colaba Municipal School (boys) and Yashodham High School, Goregaon (girls), while the U-14 winners were Lokhandwala Foundation School, Kandivali (boys) and St Mary’s Convent High School, Mulund (girls). The U-12 boys winners’ cup was lifted by NM Joshi Municipal School.

Speaking on the occasion, Nasser Hussain, Secretary, Rugby Association of Maharashtra said, “We were pleased to see the enthusiasm, participation and eagerness in representatives from schools across Mumbai, suburban and Thane district to adopt and support the game. There is no dearth of talent in these areas, and today’s Championship asserted that the next breed of national players will come from here. As flag bearers of the sport, we are committed to nurture new talent and simultaneously increase awareness about Rugby as a noble sport.”

The first Mumbai Schools Touch Rugby Tournament was organised in 2006 at the Bombay Gymkhana grounds for Under-14 Boys and Under-16 Boys age categories. The main purpose of the school programme was the grassroots development of the sport and to target the youth. In 2010, with growing interest, popularity and enthusiasm for rugby, the tournament was sub-divided into the Mumbai City Schools, Mumbai Suburb Schools and Thane district categories.

Categories
Event

Archeology Day and a long-term demand

The CEMS celebrated Archeology Day and is now pushing for an Archeology Department at the University of Mumbai. A report.
by Shubha Khandekar

Lay enthusiasts, school and college students, curious onlookers and history and archaeology scholars alike, numbering close to 3,000, thronged throughout the day at the Archaeology Day celebrations organised by the Centre for Extra Mural Studies (CEMS) yesterday at the CEMS premises in Vidyanagari, Kalina, to coincide with the birth anniversary of the late Professor HD Sankalia, whose name is synonymous with Archaeology.

The celebrations were inaugurated by Dr DB Deglurkar, President of Deccan College, a premier institution for Archaeology in India, and Rajan Welukar, Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai, who spent close to two hours examining all the exhibits.

Making a strong recommendation for the University of Mumbai for setting up a full-fledged Archaeology department in its fold, Dr Deglurkar pointed out that being one of the three oldest universities of Mumbai, it was appropriate that academic study of the past, a huge part of which is accessible only through Archaeology, must have pride of place in the University.  “CEMS has taken a commendable step by being the first institution in India to commemorate Prof Sankalia’s birth anniversary in such a memorable and constructive manner,” said Dr Deglurkar.

“The range of activities shown at the Archaeology Day celebrations and the energy of enthusiastic volunteers promises to carry forward the work that Prof Sankalia had begun more than 50 years ago. I wish every success to this venture by CEMS and assure you of every support and help from Deccan College,” he added.

Promising every effort in setting up an archaeology department at the University, Welukar said, “The progress made in Archaeological studies by the use of scientific methods is quite amazing.”

“We are trying to create awareness and interest for Archaeology among every section of society, and particularly among students,” said Mugdha Karnik, Director, CEMS. “This will now be an annual feature at CEMS and we appeal to all like minded individuals and institutions to join hands with us in this effort.”

Visitors to the Archaeology Day celebrations were particularly excited with the opportunity given to dig, under the supervision of expert archaeologists,  in a mock trench created at the venue. Other activities that drew large crowds were live demos of pottery making and stone tool making, exhibition of fossils, a KBC-style quiz for school-kids, the writing of names in Modi, Kharoshthi  and Brahmi by students of epigraphy, and a film on Chandore where CEMS has been conducting excavations for the past two years under the directorship of Dr Kurush F Dalal. Cartoons on archaeological themes were also put on display.

“There is so much that’s new and exciting,” said Anjali Inamdar, a visitor. “Such events must be held more frequently and in multiple locations.”

“I enjoyed it very much and learnt a lot. Fantastic effort, congrats to everyone who was involved,” said Rajashree Khalap, another visitor.

INSTUCEN and Sathaye College were collaborators on the event, while the Anjaneri Institute of Numismatics from Nashik, Archaeological Survey of India and the Thane Oriental Research Institute also put up stalls and exhibits.

Shubha Khandekar is an author, journalist, translator, editor and cartoonist and writes on a wide range of topics in English and Marathi. 

 

Exit mobile version