‘Extremely promising, but fingers crossed’: How Pune’s art world is looking at 2024

Listen Up

The new year will begin with Swarazankar Music Festival, from January 4 to 7 at MIT-WPU campus, featuring artistes, ranging from Vishwamohan Bhatt and Aatharva Bhatt on the Mohan Veena to Rahul Deshpande performing Natya Sangeet and Purbayan Chatterjee on the sitar.

Vasantotsav, the annual celebration of classical, semi classical, folk and light music, follows from January 19 to 24, and allows music lovers to enjoy performances by Ashwini Bhide, Mahesh Kale and the band Euphoria, among others.

January brings other prominent names in performing arts to the city — the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and doyen of classical vocals Pt Ajoy Chakraborty will perform live at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on January 14.

On Republic Day, it will be Anoushka Shankar at Pandit Farms as part of her Live in India 2024 tour. The daughter and disciple of Pt Ravi Shankar will share her new works from her album, Chapter I: Forever, For Now, apart from  some earlier pieces.

Make a Play Date

The Bharat Rang Mahotsav, organised by the National School of Drama in Delhi and a few other cities in February, is the largest theatre-based event in Asia. Pune-based Swatantra Theatre’s Sihar Uthi Thi Maut Yahan, the Hindi adaptation of Ithe Oshalla Mrutyu of Vasant Kanetkar, about the valour of Sambhaji Maharaj, has been selected as one of the plays at the festival this year. The play features live music as well as pieces based on the Holy Quran.

Story Time

While Dastangoi has become popular in recent years, Qissagoi is only becoming well-known in the country. A traditional form of storytelling in the courts of the Nawabs of Lucknow and Mughals, among others, the form has been taken up by several modern raconteurs. A Qissagoi performance will be held at The Box on January 26, featuring short stories by Ismat Chughtai about man-woman relationships. The storytellers are Chandan Anand, Paayal Kapoor Nair and Vikas Tiwari.

Take a Look

The India Art Fair (IAF), held in Delhi in February, is one of the biggest showcases of art in the country. This year, Pune will be represented by TIFA Working Studios and Vida Heydari Contemporary (VHC). The former will be a part of The Studio, a space at IAF that focuses on interactive, digital art and technology projects. The new media presentation at this space by TIFA will include VR and AR dreamscapes by Indian artists. VHC, which just closed an exhibition by four contemporary artists, Anshu Singh, Birender Kumar Yadav, Richa Arya and Thamshangpha Maku, will represent the cutting-edge work of Pune artists to national and international visitors at the fair.

What Pune’s artists have to say

Ninad Daithankar
Santoor player

Many programmes are lined up for all kinds of artists, and it’s a good thing because, during the pandemic everything had stopped, and the cultural field was the first to be affected. Pune is back to being the cultural hub of India as there are varieties of art on offer, many experiments are taking place alongside classical traditions. People like the atmosphere, they want to dress up, go out and meet others. All festivals have become connected with music concerts and this will continue into the new year

Abhijeet Choudhary
Swatantra Theatre

The culture of a city reflects the mindset, habits and thoughts of its people. In Pune, I think theatre productions that talk about national integration and humanity, and connect youth and family values, should be showcased by groups. I believe theatre has two parties, the actors and the audience. I do see audiences supporting and enjoying theatre, but they can promote it more by coming in larger numbers. This can happen only when actors or performers work with more responsibility and give more time to the process and practice of the art.

Vaibhav Raj Shah
ARTHISTORY+

As an artist and now a curator for an upcoming gallery in Pune, I can forecast a massive new upgrade in the creative sector. There were people who associated the arts with entertainment, while we approach the field and choose the lens of contemporary culture, new voices and political discourses. 2024 onwards, Pune will witness a rise in young artistic and collectors’ economy where Pune entrepreneurs will invest in promising contemporary, modern and traditional art and culture via high quality art exhibitions.