Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2019: Your guide to the last three days

Every year around the first weekend of February, the cobbled streets of South Bombay’s Kala Ghoda get converted into a venue for the cultural extravaganza that is the Kala Ghoda Art Festival. With something for everyone from food lovers to theatre aficionados, the 20th edition of the nine-day-long celebration comes to an end this weekend. Not sure how to go about the festivities? We’ve made it easier for you. Vogue picks out everything you can do this weekend with a curated list, highlighting all the interesting events you can’t miss.

Things to do over this weekend at Kala Ghoda Festival 2019

Friday at Kala Ghoda Festival 2019 (Day 7, February 8)

Music and dance

Day 7 has something for lovers of all genres of music, from Indian classical to jazz jugalbandi. Indian classical singer and winner of KGAF Talent Hunt, Aarushi Majumdar will take to the stage for a performance (fun fact: she’s still in high school).
Time: 5.30pm-6pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

Afro Percussion by Boombay Djembe Folas promises to be a thrilling experience, as this group of energetic drummers are slotted to perform traditional rhythms from West Africa.
Time: 7pm-7.40pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

Known for experimenting with music genres, Sunita Bhayan will be presenting ‘Song of Spring’, an innovative showcase of folk fusion highlighting the Assamese folk form Bihu, with some scintillating Scottish and Irish folk pieces. Add to that, authentic flute and dhol musicians and dancers from Assam, and what you have is a medley of musical flavours.
Time: 7.50pm-8.30pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

For the dance enthusiasts, Avan Mehta will be holding a workshop on Bachata, a dance form from the Dominican Republic.
Time: 4.30pm-6pm. Venue: Somaiya Centre

Theatre

A Marathi play called Bhoot… Manaatle Ki.. ? is on the roster, a satirical comical take on our education system.
Time: 6.15pm-7.05 pm. Venue: NGMA

For the romantics, Ballygunge 1990 is based on a failed love story of Kartik and Vasuki, set in Calcutta. A well-crafted plan is going to change the course of their lives forever.
Time: 7.30pm-8.50pm. Venue: Horniman Circle Gardens

Sarfiryaa is the story of Sunil, a struggling cricketer who moves to Mumbai to realise his dream and make it big in cricket. One day when in deep sleep, Trouble (a symbolic character) comes knocking.
Time: 8.15pm-9.15pm. Venue: NGMA

Stalls

For years, The Kala Ghoda Art Festival has been providing a platform for lesser-known Indian artists and craftsman to showcase their work. This weekend, the Potter’s Market will feature works by Ana by Archana Reddy, Ubuntu Arts: Maharashtra, Laughing Monk, 1BHK Interiors and the Khadi Cut.

Saturday at Kala Ghoda Festival 2019 (Day 8, February 9)

Dance

Saturday will be a cultural day at the festival with Dr Tushar Guha leading an introductory workshop on the varied array of folk dance forms in India, called ‘Catch the Culture through Folk Dances’.
Time: 4.30pm-6.00. Venue: Somaiya Centre

Following the theme of this year, the ‘20:20 Confluence of Art’ will showcase 20 dance styles dedicated to 20 years of KGAF—a platform for artists representing various genres to share, interact and exchange over the last 20 years.
Time: 8.10pm-8.25pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

FlamencoKathaa by Aditi Bhagwat and Kunal Om is a must for fusion lovers. A blend of Flamenco-Kathaki in their purest form, with foot tapping at the crux of both styles, will be a performance you can’t miss.
Time: 8.35pm-9.35pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

Music

Bands usually have four to five members, but The Boundary Breakers are a team of a whopping 80 people. Directed by Srinivas Krishnan and mentored by AR Rahman, this band will present diverse musical styles and traditions from across India, along with some world selections.
Time: 5.30pm-6.05pm. Venue: Asiatic Steps

Swaradhar, a talented group of differently-abled street musicians will be presenting an eclectic set comprising folk, classical and Bollywood music, and including performances on some rare musical instruments.
Time: 6.15pm-6.50pm. Venue: Asiatic Steps

Bollywood Gharana will be celebrating 20 years of KGAF with Abhijit Pohankar as the master craftsman of fusion music—presenting a unique sound of fusion featuring everything from Bollywood hits to Indian classical music.
Time: 7pm-7.40pm. Venue: Asiatic Steps

Theatre

‘Aadhi Aurat Aadha Khwaab’ by Viva Voice Academy is based on Ismat Chugtai’s answer to the age-old mystery of what men feel about women, and is sure to engage the audience in a power-packed discussion.
Time: 5.00pm-6pm. Venue: MC Ghia Hall

‘Upside Downside’, an English play by Phoenix Players, is a madcap mirthquake that reveals the unique genius of Franz Kafka, a 20th century German fiction writer, through its rich vein of humour and dystopia.
Time: 7.00pm-8pm. Venue: NGMA

Stalls

Small entrepreneurs have been presenting at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival year after year, and have their own loyalists that wait for them to show up again. This time is no different, with the Potter’s Market showcasing Sejal Sethi, Veena Singh, Sandeep Manchekar and Kiran Modak, among many more.

Sunday at Kala Ghoda Festival 2019 (Day 9, February 10)

Dance

Last day of Sphoorti has an interesting line up with ‘Ishara’, a Sufi Kathak presentation that is styled with the beauty of Kathak dance. The choreographer portrays the idea of reconnection and conflict between materialism and spirituality, and eventually choosing a path.
Time: 6.30pm-7pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

‘Ek Tha Raja’, a musical that celebrates the timeless and unusual tale of a Raja, a son of Gujarat, should be on your weekend must-watch list.
Time: 7.25pm-8.25pm. Venue: Cross Maidan

Music

The music section at the Kala Ghoda Festival has always been special, and the last day schedule reflects that. Kabir Café, a neo-folk fusion band, will be playing poetry of the 15th century by the Indian mystic, Kabir.
Time: 6pm-6.45 pm. Venue: Asiatic Steps

Putting a close to the festival will be Shaan, who is slotted to perform some of his popular numbers.
Time: 8.15pm-9.45pm. Venue: Asiatic Steps

Theatre

The last day of the festival has performances focusing on social messages, one of which includes Buddha Sathiya Gaya Hai, a portrayal of two elderly people who after share their life stories and come to value themselves and their own life choices.
Time: 3.45pm-4.50pm. Venue: MC Ghia Hall

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