CITY’S CULTURE SCENE IS LOOKING UP

With Covid-19 cases coming down and things opening up, Lucknow’s cultural scene is eventually making a comeback. Plays, art, singing and dance events have started to gain momentum and audience is turning up in descent number abiding the pandemic protocols.

Initially, Bhartendu Natya Academy (BNA) and Sangeet Natak Academy (SNA) led the way with a combination of online and offline events. Highly successful cultural arena at the ongoing Hunaar Haat at Awadh Shilpgram reinstated the fact that people are now ready for events. With audience giving thumbs up, by turning up in good numbers, culture groups and event organisers are taking a positive view and lining up at events on the cultural calendar.

SNA secretary Tarun Raj said, “December was slow but in January we had 15 events at Valmiki Rangshala including two drama festivals. I believe we will end February with some 20 events. Besides, our events here, we held a musical event in memory of Padma Vibhushan Gayatri Devi in Varanasi wherein Padma Shri Malini Awasthi performed. Our main hall Sant Gadge Auditorium is also getting ready after renovation so things are looking better now.”

Indian Council for Culture Relations (ICCR) recently organised a musical evening with classical synthesizer player Pt Vijay Sharma and is next holding Awadhi-Bhojpuri folk music concert with Anuj Singh. BNA also witnessed number of plays in the unlock phase with many lined up in days to come.

“Now things are looking up. We are organising musical event with Pankaj Udhas and Malini Awasthi on February 12, play ‘Porus’ at BNA on 25th and play Umrao Jaan in

March,” said UP Artiste Association secretary Wamiq Khan.

Art exhibitions are also back in action. Currently, painting exhibition by retired professor of Arts College Umesh Kumar Saxena is underway at Kala Strot Art Gallery. It’s getting good walk-in, informed gallery’s director Mansi Didwani adding that next exhibition will he held after two weeks. City oldest Mahomed Bagh Club will be organising its first musical evening after almost a year on February 13.

The annual extravaganza Repertwahr Festival did not happen in 2020 due to pandemic but this year its organiser Bhoopesh Rai is geared up. “It will be held in December but at our performance café we will start cultural event from this month itself. After a touch and depressing phase, things are looking positive now!”

AAn opportunity on the financial front can fetch good returns. Health problems disappear. A good bargain in a property deal may make your day. You are likely to clear an exam with flying colours. Someone is likely to extend a helping hand on the domestic front and ease your job. LOVE FOCUS: Lack of privacy may make love life unsatisfactory. LUCKY NUMBER: 4 LUCKY COLOUR: Dark Blue

TLearning additional skills will add to your income and prestige. Delay in an important project is possible. Exercising self-control promises to keep you in excellent health. Joining a study circle is possible and will prove immensely beneficial on the academic front.

LOVE FOCUS: Your humble ways and kind words will impress lover no end. LUCKY NUMBER: 11 LUCKY COLOUR: Light Red

HT FILE Audience during the ICCR cultural event at SNA & (right) a scene from play held at BNA.

Kathak performance by Neha Singh