Citygritty 8212; Pune

Killa instinctIf you thought the quintessential killa built during the Diwali season was one with high mud walls, ramparts and a moat, th...

Killa instinct
If you thought the quintessential killa built during the Diwali season was one with high mud walls, ramparts and a moat, think again. This killa, built by Hemant Jogdeo, is actually a model of a mini-city complete with an airport, a bus stand and even a five-star hotel in the garden of his bungalow on the Shahu College Road. Flyovers crisscross a landscape dotted with high-rise buildings, a tennis court and a few temples.

8220;Most people make the conventional kind of killas so I thought of making a different one, using thermocol and concrete,8221; says Jogdeo, who has been building similar models every Diwali for the past four years. Jogdeo, who single-handedly built the model at an approximate cost of Rs. 6,000, started work on it two months before Diwali. The star attraction of the show is an electrically-run toy train of German make which he procured from Mumbai. 8220;This has attracted a lot of people,8221; he says. He plans to keep the show going for at least another fortnight.

Sublimity at dusk
The evening of November 4 will be a memorable one at the Peshwa, Holiday Inn. One of India8217;s leading poets, Javed Akhtar, will present some of his sublime lyrics from Tarkash A Quiver in his inimitable style. Better known for writing scripts and lyrics for Hindi films, his depth and sensitivity is evident in his lines.

8220;Each and every nazm, ghazal, qataa, and sher is couched in the simplest of language and yet conveys great depth and meaning, making the listener reflect and introspect,8221; say organisers Entre Nous. The venue will don a Moghul ambience, transporting one to the Nawabi era, with chillums, chaukas et al. After the poetry session, Akhtar will interact with the listeners, and answer questions on the nazms. Donation passes will be available at the hotel8217;s Tarkash Desk.

Frightfully good, eh?
It8217;s that time of the year when the dead come alive8217; and spirits roam the streets. Halloween has arrived and Totem Pole will be celebrating it on October 30. Fright Night, organised by Genesis, allows you to let your hair down completely. 8220;Let the black cats be an omen of things to come, let bats fly through your hair, watch the skeleton dance, as life-sized mummies entice you to join them in their coffins,8221; say the organisers.

And that8217;s not all, there are more fun games in store for the reveller. At 10 Downing Street on the same day, Genesis will organise Jose Cuervo8217;s Night of the Untamed Spirits 8211; a spirited8217; event! The decor promises to send shivers up one8217;s spine, providing a lot of chills and thrills.

Go bang!
October 30 is going to be one Friday full of fun n8217; frolic. The Southern Comfort-Big Bang show, organised by Pepsi, is ready to blast the city at the Green Pavilion, Solapur Road, Hadapsar after 8.30 p.m. Three upcoming DJs from the land of music, Goa 8211; Yuri, Karl and Donabelle 8211; will play at the show. DJ Yuri is the winner of the War of the DJs, 1998, and the lady DJ, Donabelle, is the youngest in the country. Great sound equipment and special light effects will be the highlights, so be there and enjoy the music!

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On the inside
It8217;s the story of a vicious circle. Kalasakt, a cultural organisation, will present the reading of a play, Nashtachakra. The play revolves around the tragic accident of an only daughter and its repercussions on the family, which tries to come to terms with her death. The play, written by Vidyasagar Mahajan, will be read out by Vikram Gokhale, Ila Bhatt, Meera Velankar and Anshuman Apte at the Patrakar Bhavan in Navi Peth on November 3 at 6.30 p.m. The play reading will be followed by a discussion.