Found Art Project

Theatre group Tadpole Repertory, dance forum Gati, and music organisation for at-risk youth Music Basti have come on board.

Ujwal Nagar and Chayan Adhikari, part of music outfit Advaita, give a contemporary twist to classical music; dastangoi performers take off on magical adventures in their storytelling; and dancers Shreya Kumar and Rajan Rathore show how rhythm is the best body language. If these performances are special, so are their venues. Part of an event titled “Lost & Found Festival”, the shows are being presented in community halls in Pitampura, Sarita Vihar and Vasant Kunj. Kumar and Rathore will reprise their pieces at Sarita Vihar’s Community Hall (C Block) today.

Central Delhi has long been the centre of gravity for the arts and culture scene but the Lost & Found Festival, whose tagline is “Milo, Dekho, Khelo”, has shifted some of the action to satellite venues. “For several years, I have thought that art and culture should be available and accessible to everyone. As prices for regular auditoriums rise, artistes have begun exploring alternative venues. The audiences are new but who is to say that they cannot be consumers of our kind of art and culture?” says Mallika Taneja, theatre actor and the Festival Director.

Theatre group Tadpole Repertory, dance forum Gati, and music organisation for at-risk youth Music Basti have come on board. The festival, spread over two weeks, began on November 1 with workshops and wall art making up the first part. “Since we were engaging with a new audience, we wanted to create active participants. There are people who have wanted to sing or act and then life snuffed out these dreams.

The workshops gave them a platform,” says Taneja. Sessions included “Theatre for Senior Citizens” and “Music for Everyone”.

The festival ends today with a dance performance at Sarita Vihar.

Entry: Free

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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Indian classical music