Mumbai Events

Mumbai - Catch if you can
November 2005

Prithvi Theatre Festival

"Measure for Measure”

November 3rd-11th 2005

The Bard comes to Mumbai this year for what has become the city's premier theatre festival. Complicite, a renowned and innovative British theatre company, is performing its acclaimed version of “Measure for Measure”, considered one of Shakespeare’s most biting comedies. Two versions of the play will grace the festival's stages—a full production at the NCPA (November 3rd-6th), followed by a stripped-down version at the Prithvi (November 9th-11th).

Other highlights include a day-long celebration of the work of Vijay Tendulkar, a leading Marathi-language playwright (November 6th), and a new production of Vikalp's “Lovin’ Bombay” (November 7th), a play that celebrates the spirit of Mumbaikars in the face of crisis—especially pertinent in the aftermath of the monsoon floods that devastated the city in late July.

Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, tel: +91 22 2282 4567, and Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir Society, Juhu Church Rd, Juhu, tel: +91 22 2614 9546. The Prithvi's website has more information. Complicite's website has information about “Measure for Measure”.

Skyscape With Five Figures, 1995

November 9th-December 4th 2005

At 83, Jehangir Sabavala, one of the city's most prolific artists, has had a long and distinguished career. Born in Mumbai and trained in art schools in London and Paris, he established a contemporary modern Indian style that is best illustrated in his vast, still landscapes. This retrospective, encompassing over 100 paintings completed over six decades, showcases his most important work.

National Gallery of Modern Art, opposite the Prince of Wales Museum, Colaba. Tel: +91 (22) 2285 2457. Open: Tues-Sun 11am-6pm. Admission: 150 rupees.


A festival of jazz

November 17th-20th 2005

This international jazz festival is a must for enthusiasts of the genre. Topping the bill is Charlie Mariano (pictured), a saxophonist and one of the last living legends of the bebop era. Look out also for Mynta, an Indo-Swedish group that melds jazz and blues with the rhythms of Indian classical music. Other events include performances by artists from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Sri Lanka.

Homi Bhabha Auditorium, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Rd, Navy Nagar, Colaba. Performances: 7pm-10.30pm. For entry passes and information, email silkworks@hathway.com.


Heritage Walk: Victoria Terminus
November 20th 2005

Mumbai's popular Heritage Walks are one of the best ways to get to know the city, especially during the cooler months after the monsoon season. November offers a chance to explore Victoria Terminus, one of the city's architectural highlights.

Designed by F.W. Stevens, a British architect, in the late 19th century, the station is a grand monument to the Victorian Gothic revival style. The intricate carvings, stone dome, turrets and pointed arches represent an artful collaboration between colonial vision and Indian craftsmanship. It was built to commemorate the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, and now sits on the UNESCO World Heritage list. According to the UNESCO, the station's “eccentric ground plan” evokes traditional Indian palace architecture.

The tour takes in the interior of the station's grand central dome, where magnificent stained-glass windows are visible. The feel is like being inside a cathedral in Europe rather than a bustling subcontinental railway station.

The walk starts at 5pm from the main booking office at the station. Charge: 100 rupees. Tel: +91 (22) 2369 0992/2683 5856. For more information, email tour organisers at heritagewalks@hotmail.com.