It may be muted, but this year's Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is not any less festive. Following a High Court reprieve, the almost-cancelled festival has decided to do away with loudspeakers. Instead, it promises a visual treat of colour, learning and culture
It may be muted, but this year's Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is not any less festive. Following a High Court reprieve, the almost-cancelled festival has decided to do away with loudspeakers. Instead, it promises a visual treat of colour, learning and culture
On paper, the theme for this year's Kala Ghoda Arts festivalu00a0 (February 5-13) may be 'One World', but one look at the schedule, and 'change' seems more appropriate. Scarred by the way the festival was almost cancelled due to noise regulation issues, the Association is no longer taking any chances. Venues for performing arts have been changed, and the bulk of the festival has a visual feel to it. 
Get your picture clicked in black and white or colour at the historic
photo-studio which has been erected as a tribute to Lala Raja Deen Dayal,
pioneering Indian 19th century photographer
Brinda Chudasama Miller, Executive Committee member, Kala Ghoda Association, says, "The court's judgment was in our favour, which is a relief. But we don't want to upset anyone or have them complain. It's been a lot of hard work, but we've worked around the events to change the whole look and feel of the festival."
This means more emphasis on visual and street art; easy way to keep the noise levels down. "We are also planning to have parades based on a daily colour themeu00a0-- one day you'll see blue, the next, red."
That apart, the venues for regular events have moved too. Film screenings will be held at Coomaraswamy Hall at Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghralaya, while plays will be enacted at Cama Hall, and dances at the Horniman Circle Garden.
And what about the real theme? Miller laughs, "The film section is a beefy one this year. Some films are specifically related to the theme. Actually, the entire visual arts section has a lot to do with the theme. But we didn't want to overdo it because that could turn boring." If you still want more of One World, catch Miller's own film titled, One Word, One World.
Given the rising interest in photography, it also seems apt that freelance photographer Sanjiv Valsan has two photo exhibitions, Outside Toms andu00a0 View From The Ground, at the festival this year. Both attempt to capture Mumbai, and people in its public spaces.
The big news this year is a buoyant workshops section --something that emerged after the Association heeded requests from patrons to hold activities for adults. "At Kala Ghoda, we see children as the future, so we've always had a lot of kid-centric events. This year though, we've created an entire section for adult workshops."
There is a conscious effort to involve residents, pedestrians and tourists, and invite participationu00a0-- whether in the form of an interactive game display or an old world photo studio where you can transport yourself into the British era by getting clicked with the subjects of black and white portraits clicked by Lala Raja Deen Dayal, pioneering Indian 19th century photographer. Dayal left behind a treasure trove of photo memories of British era India.
Bandra-based The Art Loft, which created a stir with the Art Conspiracy in late 2010, also makes an appearance, curating the street portion. In keeping with the effort to reduce 'noise', this category has gone the full hog with visual elements. Case in pointu00a0-- Rules of Engagement II, a 21-person performance installation that challenges the viewer to look at how they think they are seen by others.
"Taking off from Rules of Engagment I,u00a0 played during the Art Conspiracy, this has a group of actors working individually and as a chorus, with specific rules of engagement on how to interact with the public," explains Kevin Tayebaly, Managing Director, The Art Loft.
Log on to: https://www.kalaghodaassociation.com/ for the schedule.
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