Many people, even today, believe that Khanderi Island Fort was mainly only a crucial point to guide ships to the shore as a military base of the Maratha Empire. But this is untrue. It was a full-fledged administrative site as well,” reveals Yogiraj Kamalakar Sapre. The history enthusiast will lead an immersive, exploratory session at the Khanderi fort this weekend, organised by INTACH Greater Mumbai Chapter in collaboration with the Maritime Mumbai Museum Society (MMMS). The fort is located on an island in the Arabian Sea, towards the south of Mumbai. A fort cannon. Pics courtesy/Yogiraj Kamalakar Sapre; Ajay Mayekar The fort holds immense cultural and historical significance, Sapre tells us. “In 2025, 12 Maratha forts were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as the Maratha Military Landscapes,” he says. Khanderi is one of the 12, built in the 17th century. “It served as a stronghold of the Maratha Empire at Alibaug, and played a major role in keeping the British from penetrating the Konkan region,” Sapre informs us. A participant examines a musical boulder at Khanderi fort He will guide participants through the session, relaying snippets of history, from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s directions to build the fort, and the expansion of the Maratha navy, to the Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse which was established by the British in 1867. “This lighthouse guides ships safely into Mumbai Harbour,” he says. A view of the interiors of the Vetal Dev Temple Other highlights of the excursion are visits to the Vetal Dev Temple, learning about the bastions, and seeing a series of fascinating musical stones. “If you have a musical ear, you can even play tunes on those,” Sapre adds. Meanwhile, the Vetal Dev Temple, he explains, is of religious importance to members of the Koli community. Participants during a previous visit organised by the MMMS. Pic courtesy/MMMS The excursion will take place throughout the day, inclusive of meals and travel. Attendees will depart from Mumbai and reach Thal Jetty near Alibaug, from where they will move towards the fort in a boat; it is at an approximate distance of five kilometres from the shore. “It is a great opportunity for people to dive into regional history, especially with the Maratha forts now gaining global recognition through UNESCO World Heritage status. Earlier, the Khanderi fort was not open to the public either. Now, there is relatively greater awareness about these monuments, but more is definitely necessary,” Sapre signs off. Yogiraj Kamalakar Sapre How to get thereYou can take a ferry from the Gateway of India to Mandwa. Drive to Thal Village (12 kms), and take a boat to Khanderi Fort On January 11; 8 am to 6 pm Departure point Gateway of India, Colaba.Call 8087773299 (to register)Entry Rs 1500 (INTACH and MMMS members); Rs 1700 (Non-members)
05 January,2026 09:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Trisha GhoshWritten nearly 15 years ago, and having resurfaced in different forms before finally finding its way back to theatre through Motley Productions, Phukatiya (freeloader) is set on the streets of Mumbai. The play follows a group of small-time bhais caught in a web of unpaid debts, fragile friendships, and bruised egos. As rivalries grow and loyalties are tested, it uses street humour and confrontation to examine masculinity, power, and the language these men live by. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for many years, and at the age of 35, I just got a burning desire to do this play,” says Vivaan Shah, writer and director. City vibes, all Mumbai’s street dialect is central to Phukatiya. Shah notes that it is often exaggerated or caricatured in popular culture, losing its lived-in quality. “People who are not from the city find the dialect hard to grasp,” he says, describing it as coarse, while emphasising that it carries an authenticity that cannot be softened without losing its meaning. Vivaan Shah He cites films such as Vaastav (1999) and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) as works that genuinely captured this raw essence. Shah also acknowledges the influence of Kader Khan, not just as a screenwriter, but as a playwright who brought street language on stage as early as the 1960s. The production also reflects a version of Bandra, where Shah grew up, long before it became a fashionable address or a hub of bourgeois cafés. Ranwar Village in Bandra. File pic It was home to Christian, Muslim, Maharashtrian, and Sindhi communities, and this mix remains central to the play’s emotional world, and the conflicts that unfold within it. Several characters in the play — including Nadeem Chipkali, Irshad Batla, and Yunus Patel — are drawn from the same ecosystem as Shah’s novel, Living Hell. Masculinity, money, ego Vivaan Shah and Plabita Borthakur in rehearsal. Pics Courtesy/Motley Productions At its core, the play is a satire of masculinity. Shah is clear that the play does not celebrate bhai culture, but questions it, saying, “All the good gangster stories are satires of masculinity.” In the play, money and debt become symbols of both survival and ego. “Money is one of the few things that can spoil a friendship,” Shah notes, highlighting how financial pressure exposes insecurity and rivalry among men. The play also addresses how these men speak about women and the male gaze as an ‘uncomfortable truth’, adding that these characters often exist in largely male-only worlds. The troupe rehearses with Joy Fernandes (in white) during a session at Andheri The play concludes with a cricket match between Christian and Muslim boys — Makapaos and Miyabhais. “Cricket is the game of the streets of Bombay. In gully cricket, you see true male aggression, rivalry, and ego on display, and that becomes a definition of how these characters perform masculinity in public spaces,” he signs off. ON January 6 and 7; 7.30 pm onwardsAT Rangshila Theatre, Oakland Park, Andheri West. ENTRY Rs 350
05 January,2026 09:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani GabhareImagine walking out on a sheet of ice, looking up at the sky, and spotting the sun and moon simultaneously in the middle of the night. Dr Vaidehi Venkateswaran knows that feeling. “I physically cried when I landed in Antarctica, I had been thinking about it for so long,” she admits. As part of the 44th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) helmed by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Venkateswaran was the only female medical officer on the Indian contingent for a whole year till she returned on December 15, 2025. The PistenBully used by the team to travel over the ice Good timing The conversation begins with the most obvious question —how does one apply to work as part of an expedition to Antarctica? “It began in 2015 when I was at a student forum, and a teacher of mine spoke about her own participation as part of an expedition. It sparked a curiosity,” she reveals. In early 2024, Venkateswaran submitted her official application to NCPOR. “It was good timing. They were beginning to invite applicants for the expedition,” she shares. A view of the auroras in the sky What followed was a rigorous course of interview rounds, including acclimatisation training at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. In November 2024, she joined members from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Geological Survey of India (GSI), and the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD), among others, as part of the expedition. “For a girl from Mumbai who had never seen snow, I was amazed that the plane landed on a sheet of ice. Also, when I landed, it was Polar Day (daylight for 24 hours). I could see the sun and the moon in the night sky. This was the closest I could get to an out-of-earth experience,” the doctor says. More than a medic Though she was part of a medical team of two doctors and a nurse, Venkateswaran shares that the job was more than just medicine. Once the resupply ship drops off rations and fuels and leaves in February, the expedition is on its own. Without mobile networks and limited internet connectivity, radio is the only means of local contact. “There are only 24 people on the station in Winter, and it is so quiet. Winter depression can set in,” she explains. As a member of the medical team, Venkateswaran would join field visits to ensure safety Naturally, birthday celebrations, Christmas and festivities are taken seriously; as are Independence Day and Republic Day — we hoist the National Flag with much pride, she reveals — to keep morale high. “Most people will only be on the continent once in their lifetime, after all,” the 31-year-old says. Every morning, the team would check in for a meeting, and be assigned tasks. A member of the medical team would accompany the team on every field visit. “You learn to multitask, beyond your specialty. We learned to sew gloves though there are always spares, or apply desi jugaad when the need arises,” Venkateswaran shares. Some of the research activities included — stake measurement on the continental ice to study the patterns of ice gain and loss; measurement of sea ice thickness; the station also provided launch support for the NISAR satellite launch. “In winter, the Southern Ocean around the continent freezes. You can walk on ice that is 1-1.5 metres deep. There are no landmarks or vegetation. So, it is easy to get lost. You have to always carry a GPS to find your way back.” An unforgettable adventure Antarctica is home to penguins. But sadly, the Andheri resident stayed away from them. “We are strictly told not to interact with the wildlife on the continent. The animals, particularly Adélie Penguins, can get very curious since they do not view humans as predators,” she says. A view of the base station While she waits for a debrief in the coming year, the doctor is still coming to terms with the once-in-a-lifetime experience. She misses the stillness and quiet on the continent. It also reminds us of the common humanity. She says, “During winter, apart from the three stations (Indian, Russian and Chinese), there is no one else for thousands of kilometres. The teams lend a hand to each other in emergencies,” she says, adding a warning ignored by sci-fi filmmakers, “You cannot survive Antarctica solo.” It’s something we forget easily. She says, “If you’re familiar with the movie Paa, there is a scene where Amitabh Bachchan’s character creates this plain, white globe. He calls it a world that has no borders, wars, or divisions. Antarctica is like that. White, pristine, but just as dangerous.” Log on to: ncpor.res.in
05 January,2026 09:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarOn the morning of December 19, 2006, a leading national daily ran a headline that was far removed from sportsmanship: “Man or woman?” The dig was aimed directly at Tamil Nadu athlete Santhi Soundarajan, who had just been stripped of her silver medal in the 800 metres race at the 2006 Doha Asian Games after a sex test deemed her ‘not womanly enough’. In 2014, it was Olympian Dutee Chand who faced a similar wrath leading up to the Commonwealth Games. As the saga unfolded, Mumbai-based theatremaker Sapan Saran had an ear to the ground. This weekend, she brings the story to stage with Ottam. The cast performs a scene from the play. PICS COURTESY/BENOY ROY “I read about Dutee Chand’s fight for justice in 2015. Over the next five years, I researched on the various themes and strands present in the play and finished writing the script in 2019. The play was meant to open in 2020, but the pandemic brought things to a halt,” she recalls. Having opened at Prithvi Festival last year, it returns to the city after a stopover at the recently concluded Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa. Santhi Soundarajan (sixth from right, standing) and Sapan Saran (fifth from right, standing) at a training session in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu. PIC COURTESY/SAPAN SARAN On stage this weekend, Mumbaikars will meet Akai Amaran, the fictional protagonist — a composite of all the women, including Soundarajan and Chand, who dealt with the trauma of the controversial sex test regulations. Amaran is a Paraiyar girl from rural Tamil Nadu, who battles caste and class barriers to become one of India’s leading track and field athletes. Her arduously created world collapses when she is asked to undertake a gender test. The play features a cast from diverse socio-economic backgrounds There’s a world of difference between ‘following’ a sport, and being a cog in the sporting system in India, Saran confirms. “I wanted to experience more, and felt the urge to meet athletes and spend time with them; not only to listen to their life-stories but also their impulses, aspirations, desires and the nuanced emotions that are only visible through immersion,” she says. Eventually, the theatremaker was able to meet Dutee Chand in Hyderabad and Santhi Soundarajan in Tamil Nadu. “In fact, the choreographer Maithily Bhupatkar and I even spent a couple of days in Chennai to train with Santhi Soundarajan,” she reveals. Sapan Saran The theatremaker describes her central character as someone who is “unaware of the intersectional complexity of her own existence.” The cast and crew of Ottam, however, had to understand all the worlds that live inside Akai. “The first month of rehearsals was orientation month. There were conversations, readings, workshops and masterclasses including a talk by senior sports journalist Sharda Ugra, and a folk training workshop by Chennai based Parai player and educator Adalaarasu,” she reveals. Closer to home, Mumbai-based athletics coach Cyril D’Souza helped the cast soak in the spirit with track and beach training sessions. We’re glad to hear that the play does not unfold from the gaze of an outsider, albeit a well-read, socially conscious one. Saran puts together a young cast that brings with it a diverse range of lived experiences as they come not only from various schools of theatre, but are also from different socio-economic backgrounds. It might as well be an open secret by now that Indian audiences love to lap up a spirited, underdog story about women in sport — think Chak De India (2007), or the Priyanka Chopra starrer Mary Kom (2014). What happens when you decide to include the reality of caste in it, we ask Saran. For the uninitiated, in 2018, Santhi Soundarajan filed a complaint against a colleague at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) for harassing her over her caste. “I don’t think any conversation on women empowerment is possible without talking about caste in India. That said, I don’t see myself as an activist. I’m a theatremaker. My job is to ask questions, provoke and stimulate. Art looks at these minor shifts as radical moments. This cannot happen by ensuring comfort for an audience. I hope Ottam leads to discomfort,” she signs off. ON January 3 and 4; 7 pmAT Rangshila Theatre, Harminder Singh Road, Aram Nagar Part 1, Versova. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.com ENTRY Rs 400
03 January,2026 10:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleThe evolution of Mumbai often leaves its residents confused about the nature of the city. Yet, each rock displaced and each building constructed is part of a process built over time. This process, in fact, dates back to thousands and even millions of years, explain Local Gyan co-founders Rajesh Krishnan and Sonam Ambe. The duo will team up with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) tomorrow to host Land Clues, an interactive workshop introducing children to the natural and geological history of the city’s formation using tactile means. “Through centralisation and standardisation of education, children only learn concepts through books. We firmly believe that lessons should be experiential,” shares Ambe. To that end, they have previously hosted a workshop on waterways in the city at the museum. “Often times adults, let alone children, can hardly name five rivers in Mumbai. The increased digitisation has added to an inward-looking generation,” she says. Children study a globe with Ambe Krishnan points out that the solution lies in approaching education differently. “To connect these things, you weave a thread through a narrative story. Now, when we try to explain these ideas, we use hands-on activities and tools with relevance to nearby things we see. We ask them to think, and arrive at the answer themselves. In the process, they learn and hear new perspectives. They learn to question each other,” he says. The workshop tomorrow will centre on the geological formation of the seven islands that originally formed Mumbai. The museum also offers another context to the workshop with the Mumbai Gallery. Thomasina Dsouza, education associate, CSMVS, informs, “Since we had a Mumbai gallery, the first workshop was on waterways, and the different water bodies throughout the city of Mumba. Now we are learning about the formation of the city through tectonic plates, volcanoes, and the geography of the city. It helps children to understand the city better.” Participants recreate layers of the Earth’s surface including the core, mantle, and the crust using different types of coloured clay Easier said than done, since such concepts can prove quite complex for adults even. That’s where tactile, interactive activities come in. “We use a lot of clay-related activities. For instance, using the moulding of clay, we can explain to children how tectonic plates are formed, or even help them understand the formation of Gilbert Hill,” Ambe says. Krishnan adds that the interactive sessions also touch upon contextual local questions such as the different sands and rocky texture on the city’s beaches. “Throughout our lives, we learn things in school. But we never truly learn about what it is to be used for. If all those things are linked to the context of your life, they become relevant,” he concludes. ON January 4, 11 am AT Children’s Museum Ampitheatre, CSMVS, Fort. AGE GROUP 6 to 12 years E-MAIL events@csmvs.in ENTRY Museum tickets applicable
03 January,2026 10:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarWhat is your excuse for putting off learning a new skill? Asha Shetty, a Mumbai-based artist, decided to start well into her 40s. There was no plan for a gallery wall or a solo exhibition then. The empty nest syndrome after her children moved out of the house for education, while husband’s work kept him busy, left her searching for something to fill the hours. “Art was something I enjoyed since childhood, and what started as curiosity slowly turned into a daily practice — one shaped by quick YouTube tutorials, trial-and-error, and to recreate art,” mentions Shetty. Initially when Shetty started her artistic journey, the paintings were simple, it was usually on paper with the help of acrylic colours, only after she graduated in 2024 is when she decided to deep dive into her art and focus on other materials and textures as well. “I’ve always loved painting ever since I was young, I remember disliking other subjects and focusing only on art. As mentioned above, after my children went away, it was the loneliness that brought out the artist in me,” says Shetty. Convergence of Energy, 2025 More than fine art The SoBo-resident shared, “My first subject was something I had a personal affection for. Ten years ago, on Ganesh Chaturthi, I picked up a set of small 12 x 12-inch canvases and painted eight Ganesh figures. That is when my journey truly began.” To her surprise, the customers who bought her paintings loved the way she had painted the emotive eyes of Lord Ganesh. The positive response to these works encouraged her to continue on the path. Commissioned works followed — often around devotional themes or recreations based on reference images — and group exhibitions soon after. A quite crossing, where form rests and stillness opens, 2025 But creating art on your own was not quite enough. In 2016, Shetty enrolled in certificate courses at Sir JJ School of Arts to hone her skills over the course of three years. She was in her 50s then, but surprisingly that did not deter her spirit. “During this course, we were taught multiple things — painting, landscape, and portrait studies.” Her graduation in 2018 meant that she qualified for a solo exhibition at one of Mumbai’s most revered art spaces — The Jehangir Art Gallery. During the post COVID-19 era, she dabbled in various art courses including, a Diploma in Painting and Drawing and a Post-graduate certificate in Indian Aesthetics from Jnanapravaha Mumbai. A view of the paintings on display This impending solo has also been a catalyst of her ideas as well. Over the last two years, Shetty’s work has undergone a noticeable shift. “I had to be very serious, particularly in terms of originality,” she said. The devotional figurative works gave way to experimentation across mediums — ink, textured surfaces, abstraction, and layered compositions. Art, form, and silence Her first solo exhibition, Between Form and Silence, reflects this transition. The exhibition brings together contemplative figures, abstract structures, ink works, yantra-inspired compositions, and textured panels with subtle three-dimensional effects. Asha Shetty “In this exhibition, the figures appear as presences rather than portraits, existing alongside abstract structures, geometry, and elements drawn from nature and rituals,” says Shetty. All this comes together to create a subtle dialogue between the personal and the universal. Shetty concluded by saying, “Art, for me, is a sacred journey with abundant exploration and expression. My true inspiration is nature, ancient wisdom, and the mysteries of the cosmos.” TILL January 4; 11 am onwards AT Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda, Fort.ENTRY FREE
03 January,2026 10:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani GabhareCome Friday, and every friend group sits around and ponders on their weekend plans. For Srushti Bukane, a doctor-turned-party host, the idea was quite simple. Bukane’s cosy one bedroom house, now known as The Boardgame Tavern situated in Borivli, transforms into something far more than your typical weekend hangout for friends. “Movies, dinners, comedy shows and escape rooms felt repetitive, expensive and got over far too quickly. You’re done in a few hours, and then you’re left wondering what’s next — unless you keep spending,” Bukane explains. A view of the game, The Castles of Burgundy What began as casual sessions of Catan, Azul and Splendor almost three years ago soon turned into a ritual of hosting friends almost every weekend. As her love for both — games and hosting — grew, so did the circle around the table. What was an initial games night for her friends circle, transformed into a community of people who loved board games. Along the way, some friends suggested opening the experience to others who were looking for something other than the usual partying or bar-hopping. Thus, The Boardgame Tavern was born at the house, in the living room. Elements of Scythe, a historical board game Tavern by the evening Unlike commercial gaming cafés, the space is quite literally Bukane’s home nestled in IC Colony. The intention is immediate and deliberate: Guests are meant to feel at ease. There’s no formal vetting system, no complicated rules. Bukane emphasises that choosing to visit a space that centres on learning, vulnerability, and genuine interaction is more than enough. Kindness and respect are the only prerequisites. Tokens from Dungeons and Dragons “All guests are welcomed with freshly baked signature cookies and generous refills of coffee or cold brew. Before any dice are rolled or cards are shuffled, the group takes part in an ice-breaker led by the Game Master,” says Bukane. After everyone has settled down and gotten comfortable, each person is asked to introduce themselves and share one outrageous or memorable story which makes people open up and root for one another, and awkwardness dissolves. By the time games like Azul or Century: Spice Road hit the table, the group already feels connected. Gateway to games The Great Wall The range of games at the Tavern is deliberately vast. Pretty much having something for everyone. A resident board game expert and Game Master, explains that there is no ‘single best’ game — only the right one for each player. “Social deduction fans gravitate towards Blood on the Clocktower, where players lie, deceive and deduce in a battle between good and evil. Those craving immersive storytelling are particularly drawn to Dungeons & Dragons, where no two sessions are the same and imagination sets the limits,” confirmed Bukane. A top view of the board game Scythe For strategy lovers, longer, more complex titles like Brass: Birmingham, Great Western Trail, Puerto Rico, Teotihuacan, The Great Wall and Dwellings of Eldervale offer some sort of tactical depth. For someone who is completely new, beginner-friendly games like Catan and Azul are also available. The philosophy focuses on flow of the game, rather than rules. The players are briefed on the reasons for their actions before introducing them to game mechanics, ensuring the experience never feels intimidating. For Bukane, the magic lies in the reactions — especially during a session of Dungeons & Dragons, when players see the hand-painted miniatures and custom-built, in-house 3D-printed worlds for the first time. Bukane concludes by saying, “The Tavern now boasts a collection of over 70 games, but the true success lies beyond the table. Guests who once arrived as strangers now travel together, celebrate birthdays and festivals, and show up for one another in difficult moments. At The Boardgame Tavern, games may bring people together—but it’s the community that keeps them coming back. On Every weekend; 3 pm onwards at Holy Cross Road 1, IC Colony, Borivli.Log on to @boardgametavernEntry Rs 499 onwards
02 January,2026 09:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani GabhareFor a year that saw comedy clubs undergo involuntary interior renovations, comedians making cameos in courtrooms, and more than one big-ticket stand-up act being cancelled on social media, comedian Kajol Srinivasan wrapped it up fairly quietly. “I stayed home and drank hot soup,” she lets us in on her enviable New Year’s Eve plans. Rest assured, she’s gearing to lock horns and cook up a storm this year, starting with an all-woman line up titled Unhinged Ladies in Khar tomorrow. Conceptualised by fellow comedian Jeeya Sethi, the weekly series will be an effort by women and for women who have ‘unhinged’ thoughts to put out in the world. The weekend performance will see Sethi and Srinivasan share the stage with Aditi Mittal, and 24-year-old upcoming artiste Niharika Joshi. Niharika Joshi. PIC COURTESY/@niharikaa.joshii Is the title wordplay on the popular dating app Hinge? Not entirely, reveals Sethi. “My set will include bits on my dating life, and how it’s getting increasingly difficult to date every year,” she laughs. It’ll lead up to the release of her new comedy special titled Will You Marry Me? which she reveals is ironically all about not getting married. For Srinivasan, who has amassed trollers and haters by the dozen over a decade of writing under the handle @LOLRakshak on X (formerly Twitter), it is a year of comebacks. “2025 brought with it a lot of downtime on the professional front. In the new year, I’m writing and testing new material on stage. I’m going to be bolder and louder, and bring uncomfortable conversations with some digs on toxic patriarchy to the stage,” she says. You’ll see much more of her online too. After experimenting with short form content, Srinivasan will now turn to every comedian-content creator’s rite of passage, a daily schedule of posting Instagram reels. Jeeya Sethi. PIC COURTESY/FACEBOOK She’ll have enough support from the sisterhood, Sethi reckons. “2025 was an amazing year for female comedians. There’s more of us right now than ever before, and we’re building an ecosystem where we push each other up. When I started stand-up comedy in 2013, there were barely four female artistes in the industry. Today, you could lose count of the impeccable acts coming out of the scene every month,” she reveals. Aditi Mittal. PIC COURTESY/ADITI MITTAL While audiences warm up to all-woman line-ups, comedy clubs, the duo believes, will play a vital role in dictating how 2026 looks for female comedians. “It’s a collective effort that cannot fall on the shoulders of only the artistes,” Sethi shares. Here’s to more doors opening for the Unhinged Ladies this year. ON January 3; 6 pmAT Khar Comedy Club, Platinum Avenue, Linking Road, Khar West. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comENTRY Rs 499
02 January,2026 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleThanekars will be witness to a musical extravaganza as the Bansuri Festival returns for its annual performance. Led by flautist and maestro Vivek Sonar, the performances in the two-day festival include Krishna Priya, a thematic Kathak performance by Aditi Bhagwat and Sonar, followed by a vocal recital by Meeta Pandit. The highlight will be a musical showcase by 100 flautists across all age groups. While Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia will conclude the proceedings on the first day with a rare performance, the second day will witness Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan add the finishing touches. Poet and writer Javed Akhtar is to be awarded the Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Award. ON January 3 and 4; 6.30 pm AT Dr Kashinath Ghanekar Auditorium, near Hiranandani Meadows, Thane West. LOG ON TO in.bookmyshow.comEntry Rs 300 onwards
02 January,2026 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | The Guide TeamAll-star nightComing in: January 31 Grammy-nominated American drummer Billy Kilson will bring January to a close with his signature groove and swing on the Mumbai stage. Keep up with his tempo as the drummer joins the talented duo of Grammy-winning pianist, composer, arranger and producer Geoffrey Keezer and American jazz double bassist Essiet Okon on his Mumbai debut at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA). Beyond the cityComing in: January Housed within a historic chapel in the hills of Khandala, Abbey 301 will turn into a versatile hub dedicated to both performing and visual arts. Founded by duo Krish and Kamini Kotak, it will host live music and theatre shows, as well as artist residencies. Goethe goes to Malabar HillExpected in: Mid-2026 Goethe-Institut, Mumbai is currently located inside CSMVS in Fort After a prolonged search since 2022, the Goethe Institut will move out of Kala Ghoda, to Malabar Hill. “We had been on the lookout for a new place that would fit our needs. Unfortunately, we could not find one in Kala Ghoda. The new place will bring together the library and education centre in one building. Its vast open space and high ceilings also allow us to host a new gallery, a key part of the Institut’s programming,” director Bjorn Ketels revealed. Art of healingComing in: May The festival will spotlight art forms like clowning. PIC COURTESY/TMAHF The city will receive a healing touch in 2026 with The Mumbai Arts and Health Festival (TMAHF) that kicks off in Bandra and Andheri. With clowning artistes, medical experts, as well as visual creators, expect therapy wrapped in laughter for Mumbaikars. Laugh with LouisComing in: March LOUIS CK. PIC COURTESY/LOUIS CK Think you can take a joke? Watch Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian Louis CK bring his unmistakable brand of dark, dry-wit humour to Mumbai for the first time. After the success of his specials Sorry and Sincerely, the comedian will premiere his solo show Ridiculous at Shanmukhananda Hall, Sion. Ticket to historyComing in: March A ticket from the collection. PIC COURTESY/MAP.ORG After its run in Bengaluru, the Ticket, Tika, Chhaap exhibition will make its way to the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in March. Curated by Nathaniel Gaskell and Shrey Maurya, the collection of photographs, paintings, and printed ephemera that offer a window into the Colonial tradition of the textile ticket. A gift to rememberComing in: Mid-2026 Sandhya Gokhale In November 2025, playwright Sandhya Gokhale opted to create a play, Silhouettes, to celebrate the 75th birthday of actor Amol Palekar. The work, a moving triptych on feminism, catharsis, and personal triumph, will make its way to the stage this year. To be or not to be?Coming in: January 17, 18 Writer-director Vinay Kumar inverses the view of the Bard’s most famous work by outlining Hamlet’s toxic masculinity in A Woman Or Not To Be by the Pondicherry-based Adishakti Theatre Group at Prithvi Theatre. Nimmy Joseph’s young princess Hamlet and her conundrum of revenge exposes the patriarchal trap. Say it out loudComing in: February Swanand Kirkire. PIC COURTESY/SWANAND KIRKIRE The art of spoken word storytelling and poetry returns with Spoken Fest, Asia’s largest spoken word festival. It features the talents of lyricist Swanand Kirkire, actor Sheeba Chadha, poet Waseem Barelvi, and writer Shantanu Anand, among other artistes. Artistic migrationComing in: January-February A work by Mithu Sen. Pic Courtesy/Artist, Chemould Prescott Road Mithu Sen will open a new exhibition of mixed-media works about the ability to see clearly, What Do Birds Dream At Dusk?, at the Chemould Prescott Road.
01 January,2026 12:44 PM IST | Mumbai | The Guide TeamWalk like a Girl: A MemoirPrabal Gurung (HarperCollins) This is sensitive storytelling about a queer boy who grew up in Nepal and India, and came to New York to pursue his dreams in fashion. Gurung bares his soul in this tell-all that tracks his inspirational, meteoric rise, dressing American icons like Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama.Expected: TBA Aamchi Mumbai Gulzar, translator: Rakhshanda Jalil (HarperCollins India) With 30 short stories and 70 poems in a bilingual edition, the legendary poet, lyricist, and filmmaker pays a fitting tribute to Mumbai. Since the 1950s, when he first arrived in the city, he has written about the struggles and hopes of the city-dwellers in his films and poems with profundity. Expected: February Love Sex India: The Agents of Ishq AnthologyEdited by Paromita Vohra (Westland Books) The anthology consists of real-life stories about the experiences of love and sex while living in India. Powerful, intimate, and honest, the stories range from cheeky first-date tales to those about heartbreaks, tender friendships, exploitation, queerness, and thrilling kinks.Expected: January Biting Off More Than I Can Chew Rahul Akerkar (HarperCollins) One of Mumbai and India’s most celebrated and inspirational chef-restaurateurs opens the melting pot of his life’s adventures in this ambitious memoir. It’s an insightful story about India’s food and drink landscape as much as it’s Akerkar’s bold, uninhibited life in and outside the kitchen.Expected: TBA First Person Rituparno Ghosh, translator: Arunava Sinha (Simon & Schuster India) One of the earliest openly queer filmmakers in India, Ghosh introduced nuanced ideas of freedom of choice and identity in his films. He wrote a weekly Sunday column for the Bengali magazine Robbar. An English translation of his memoir, comprising the column pieces, will be out in 2026. Expected: October Light and Thread Han Kang, translated by Maya West, e. yaewon, and Paige Aniyah Morris (Penguin) Since her 2024 Nobel Prize for Literature win, this is Kang’s first title. The collection includes her Nobel Lecture, where she expresses reliving moments of wonder. In the essays, poems, diary notes, and photographs, she traces the connections between her exterior and interior worlds further.Expected: March Absolute Jafar Sarnath Banerjee (HarperCollins) An Indo-Pakistan romance that withstands years of toxic nationalism, only to emerge in a third region, Europe, this is easily one of Banerjee’s most personal works that is rich in detail, humanity, wit and imagination. Expected: January Abandoning a Cat Haruki Murakami (Penguin) The master storyteller is back with this meditation on memory, where he recalls his equation with his father, and the arrival of a cat into the scenario. He also delves into the reasons behind the distance between father and son, in classic Murakami styleExpected: September Kishori Amonkar Shailaja Khanna (Westland Books/ekada) An Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur Gharana, Amonkar was most revered for her khayals, alongside her performances of thumris and bhajans. Music critic Khanna has put together the legendary singer’s first ever biography, introducing readers to her quiet magnetism and her unique way of thinking about art and life. Expected: Third/Last quarter The Longevity CodePullela Gopichand and Sophia Pathai (Penguin) An evidence-based reframe of how we think about aging, performance, and resilience that blends cutting-edge science with elite coaching wisdom to deliver a personal, practical, and transformative guide to living stronger, longer, and with more clarity and purpose.Expected: TBA We, The People of IndiaTM Krishna (Westland Books) Carnatic singer and author TM Krishna will release his third book to open his account for 2026. “The book looks at the formative symbols of our secular Republic in an aesthetic, historic, and contemporary context,” Krishna revealed. Expected: January Also check out >> The Godrej Story by Anand Kumar (Westland)>> Of Least Concern by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra (Westland)>> Not Quite Family by Khaled Mohamed (HarperCollins)>> Rebel English Academy by Mohammed Hanif (Penguin)>> The Steps by Sylvester Stallone (Hachette)>> Wahid Shaikh vs The State by Wahid Shaikh with Amrit BLS (Roli) Children’s corner >> Unlocking the Animal World by Ingrid Newkirk (HarperCollins)>> Magnificent Murals - Buddhist Art of Ajanta by Ashwin Prabhu (Tulika)>> Death Comes to Matheran by Shabnam Minwala (HarperCollins)>> Under Pressure: Freddie Mercury by Shyamala S (Niyogi Books)
01 January,2026 12:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Fiona Fernandez | Nandini VarmaADVERTISEMENT
