It's time to say Habba, Habba, Habba

Bangalore's own art and culture festival or Habba is back for the eighth time this year with regional theatre, folk performances, music, art and lots more. The Guide gives you a lowdown on what's hot through a cut and keep calendar

There is about two weeks worth of choc-a-bloc entertainment stocked up just for you at the Airtel Bengaluru Habba 2011. This annual arts and culture festival in the city is back this time with more regional forms of art, performances, theatre and craft melas along with some heavy duty Carnatic and fusion performances. So, mark your calendars or better still cut and keep this week's schedule so that you don't miss out on any gig or theatre.u00a0u00a0


Nirvana by Meghna Oberoi

Indian Art Trail
Here's your chance to go on an art crawl that will not only take you through the city's prominent art galleries but shows that are on display and are part of the Habba this year.

Through The Eyes of Gandhi
Artist Gautam Bhatia celebrates the Mahatma in this art show.
On: till January 30
At: Apparao Galleries, St Mark's Road
Call: 4132 9163

Duality
Artists Madhavi Swarup fuses bright whites with deep and sombre blacks to create a luminous line between reality and illusion. White and black also symbolises a space where loneliness meets happiness and establishes a balance.
On: till January 24
At: Tasveer, Sua House, Kasturba Cross Road
Call: 4053 5212

Real (Sur) Real
Artistes Debabrata Sarkar, Kamal Pandya, Mrinal Dey, Nilotpal Dhwaj Sinha, Pratul Dash, Rajib Chowdhry, Rohit Sharma and Sumitava Maity tread the thin line between the real and the surreal in this group art show titled Real (Sur) Real: The Return of the Real Part II.
On: till January 28
At: Tangerine Art Space, The Lobby Level I, The Collection, UB City, Vittal Mallya Road
Call: 4131 4218

Nirvana
Vivek Oberoi's baby sister Meghna Oberoi says hello to this year's Habba edition in the form of an art show titled Nirvana: Living in Boundless Love. She says, "Boundless love and compassion takes us beyond body consciousness into a place where everything is illuminated. Everything is always being born anew as transformation is inevitable. In this process, we release the old and the new. This release takes us into a space which is light itself." Meghna's art works explore the theme of spirituality and various Gods and idols we worship in our culture.u00a0u00a0
On: till January 22
Where: Sublime Art Gallery, UB City, Vittal Mallya Road
Call: 2271 1488

It's a Group Show
Minjal Makhija, Nilaoyy K Nandi and Megha Anand present a group show on disparate themes.
On: from January 18 to 22

Going Solo
Manoj Aher will present a solo show of his art.
On: from January 24 to 29
At: Rennaisance Gallerie, Cunningham Road
Call: 2220 2232

Small Is Beautiful
You can admire the works of 25 artists all under one roof where they will be showing off a collection of small yet affordable paintings.
On: from January 28
At: Kynkyny Art, Infantry Road
Call: 4092 6202

Sampoorn Craft Mela
What's a cultural festival without some retail therapy. At the Sampoorn Craft Mela, you will find all things handcrafted from Karnataka as well as across the country. From terracotta to handicrafts to junk jewellery, you will find everything here. There will also be tribal dance, music and theatre performances by various folk artists from Karnataka at the same venue.
On: from January 17 to 22, 11 am onwards
At: Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, Kumarakrupa Road
Call: 2226 3424

Performances
A Hindustani vocal performance by Keerti Kumar Badsheshi
On: January 17, 6.45 pm

This will be followed by a Hindustani Santoorvadan by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.
On: January 17, 8 pm

Dancer Priyadarsini Govind will be giving a Bharatanatyam performanceu00a0
On: January 18, 6.45 pm

A performance on Bharatanrityam or a more contemporary and evolved version of Bharatanatyam will be performed by Dr Padma Subramanyam
On: January 18, 8 pm

Get ready for an evening where Carnatic strains will jam beautifully with the melodiousness of the saxophone. Dr Kadri Gopinath will be giving a Carnatic Saxophone performance.
On: Jan 19, 6.45 pm

Dancer Ileana Citaristi will perform a dance show in the Odissi style.
On: January 19, 8 pm
At: Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Malleshwaram

For passes for the Habb avents and other information, contact Artists Foundation for the Arts, 517, RMV Extension
Call: 2361 0920u00a0

Unmaad 2011 Cultural Fest
Catch bands like Indian Ocean and Thermal Anda Quarter at this annual festival organised by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, also a part of the Habba this year.
On: January 21, 22 and 23, 10 am onwards Indian Ocean and Thermal and a Quarter will perform on January 22, 6 pm
Where: IIM Bangalore, Bannerghatta Road