The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai is raring to usher in patrons with a specially curated line-up, from Oct 29th onwards. Look forward to a range of performances—theatre to Western classical and Hindustani classical music, classical dance to international music.
Mumbai’s cultural hotspot that’s an iconic landmark in itself, NCPA opened doors to art-lovers in 1969, becoming the first multi-venue, multi-genre cultural centre in South Asia. With over 700 events a year during pre-pandemic times, NCPA is now getting back on its feet. Here’s what awaits you at the ‘Tata Theatre’ wing in the coming days.
Theatre – Eka Lagnachi Pudhachi Gosht; Oct 29, 7 pm
Marathi theatre’s known names get together for this one, written and directed by Adwait Dadarkar. The lighthearted play, loosely translated as ‘The next chapter in a marriage’s tale,’ is about Manya and Mani who’s lives and a two-decade-marriage are not how they used to be. National award-winning film Tu Tithe Mee’s actors Prashant Damle and Kavita Lad-Medhekar come together on stage.
International Music – Blast from the Past, Oct 30, 6:30 pm
Grammy-nominated jazz pianist/keyboardist, and all-rounder Louiz Banks reclaims the stage with his friends to belt out cinematic classics. Crowd-favourite vocalists Thomson Andrews, Trisha Rego and Kesang Alexander accompany percussionist Gino Banks and others to take you down the music memory lane.
Western Classical Music – SOI Chamber Orchestra; Oct 31, 5 pm
The Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), led by music director and violin virtuoso Marat Bisengaliev returns with a programme of beloved classics, featuring members of the SOI as soloists. Cellist Salauat Karibayev performs the solo in Haydn’s cello concerto, a performance which drew rave reviews on tour in the SOI’s last concerts in 2020.
Indian Music – Rashid Khan in Concert; Nov 12, 6:30 pm
The torchbearer of Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, vocalist Rashid Khan will perform a traditional format. Expect bada khayal, chhota khayal, and tarana in ragas assigned to the time of sunset and the first quarter of the evening. Accompanying artistes are Sabir Khan (sarangi), Ajay Joglekar (harmonium) and Ojas Adhiya (tabla).
Dance – An Evening with Mallika Sarabhai & Rama Vaidyanathan; Nov 13, 6:30 pm
Two renowned classical dancers Rama Vaidyanathan and Mallika Sarabhai promise to enthral audiences with their exclusive performances. The former continues taking Bharatanatyam to a new era of conscious thinking, with ‘Pratibodhana – The Awakening’; through ‘Gems of Kuchipudi’, the latter will perform some of the rarest gems from her repertoire. Cannot miss watching the formidable ladies bring their unparalleled skills to the stage.
NCPA’s Chairman Khushroo N Suntook is excited about the reopening. “Presenting, preserving and promoting the arts is our raison d’être and we are delighted to welcome audiences back to our premises. We will be reopening with a well-known Marathi play. Our resident musicians are ready with a curated programme for the opening concert as are the eminent artistes from our Indian Music, Dance and International Music genres, to make the return to the theatres a memorable one,” he says.
