Spend your Sunday in company of an energetic singer and a nervous poet

Leave your fast car behind

Bogota might have celebrated 10 years of Car Free Days this year, but Mumbai is only learning the ropes. This Sunday, from 7 am to 10 pm, Carter Road will not see a single car zoom past. Instead, fitness freaks and culturistas will take over the pollution-free promenade. The Khar-Bandra-Santacruz (KBS) Foundation has taken the initiative to raise environmental awareness, and promote a better quality of life. So the day will begin with a Cyclathon at 6 am, then skaters, gully cricketers, cycle stuntsmen and dancers will take over the road. Also, watch out for events like Morning Raaga, Tibetan Yoga, capoiera, pranic healing, art camps, kite-flying and karaoke sessions apart from numerous dance events. The grand finale for the day is a performance by singer Shaan.
On: February 21, 6 am onwards at Carter Road, Bandra (W).

The word weaver takes over Prithvi

Despite being in the spotlight for decades now, poet, lyricist, filmmaker and author Gulzar says he still gets "conscious and vulnerable" at a public gathering. Theatre group, Essay Communications has organised a festival of plays inspired by the Grammy Award-winning lyricist. The highlight of the four-day festival is the poetry-reading and interactive session, where Gulzar will connect with his audience directly. "We thought that it will be unfair if audiences don't get to listen to Gulzarsaheb recite some of his work at a festival which includes plays inspired by him. Certain poems, which are not part of the plays, will be part of the session," says Salim Arif from Essay Communication. The Sahitya Akademi Award-winning litterateur, however, is nervous about the informal interaction, which he likens to a classroom situation where his audience is his teacher. "I'm going to carry a huge school bag so that when the audience asks me questions, I can quickly look for answers in my bag like students look for their homework."
On: February 21 at 11.30 am at Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle (W).