Must-catch events this weekend

Must-catch events this weekend

Must-catch events this weekend

Theu00a0mound of the deadu00a0comes to life

Saturday (June 18), 8.30 pm at ISKCON, Juhu and on Sunday (June 19) at Rangsharda, Bandra Reclamation.

Call 9769764834 (ISKCON), 26430544 (Rangsharda)
Tickets Rs 500, Rs 400, Rs 300, Rs 200

We know little about Mohenjo-daro (literally the 'mound of the dead'), one of the largest city settlements of the Indus Valley Civilisations, save a few photographs and information of its public bath in our history books and astounding town planning that excavations have revealed. Taking inspiration from two notable artifacts that have emerged from excavations from the area ufffd the dancing girl and the bearded priest-king ufffd costume designer Akashaditya Lama wrote a fictitious play based in Mohenjo-daro, when he was just a teenager in school. Sixteen years later, the script of Mohenjo-daro will finally become a reality as it gets staged as a full-blown dance-drama production at ISKCON, tomorrow.

"Incidents like the Babri Masjid demolition and the Ram Janmabhoomi debate made me dig deeper to learn more about conflicts in general," Lama said. "That's when I realised that conflicts are a worldwide phenomenon. It's also when the idea for Mohenjo-daro emerged."

The story kicks off with a group of Aryans, headed by Indra, attacking Mohenjo-daro. However, they are defeated by Akshat, chief of the Mohenjo-daro army. The war story soon turns into a love triangle when Akshat, who is in love with the head of Mohenjo-daro, Kuraav's daughter, learns that she, in fact, is gaga over Indra.

Does the story simmer into just another theatre mush, considering Akashaditya has also written scripts for TV shows like Kumkum and Kusum in which melodrama abounds? "Not really," replies play director Kulvinder Bakshish, a casting director for TV shows whose debut play, Karna, was nominated for a National Award in 2008. "We have also used rare and dying forms of dance and martial arts to take the story forward." Case in point is Keibul Lamjao, a species of deer called the 'dancing deer' because of its gait, that has inspired a dance form that will be presented on stage along with martial dance of Chhau. Says Bakshish, "The idea of conflict, be it within a man, between two men, cultures or civilasations is ancient, but very contemporary at the same time. Sometimes, you have to rely on history to tell stories. Romance is just an add-on."

So you think you can Salsa

On Sunday (June 19), 9 pm
Where Zenzi, 183, Waterfield Road, Bandra (W).
Call 66430670
entry Free for ladies, Rs 300 for men (inclusive of one drink)
You can burn the dance floor, and how. Even if we aren't quite sure how to describe your dancing abilities (or the lack of it), all you need to be is a Salsa enthusiast to get to the Salsa party at Zenzi. The DJ will spin House and Hip-Hop so you can show off those moves. And if those moves are still non-existent, walk in before the party starts off for a Bachata dance workshop. Bachata is a sexy style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. Tip for cool, single guys: there will be quite a few ladies in the house, considering they enter for free.

Amir Khusrau hazir hain
On Today (June 17), 7 pm
Whereu00a0 Nehru Centre Auditorium, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli.
Call 32972584
Tickets Rs 500, Rs 400, Rs 300, Rs 200

Centuries have passed, but Sufi mystic Hazrat Amir Khusrau's influence on popular culture remains immortal. Ever so often a few lines of Khusrau's poetry add value to a mundane filmi song. The Works Of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, organised by Banyan Tree Events for the third consecutive year, is an attempt to bring back forgotten forms of poetry created by the great Sufi poet and perhaps remind the novice of the master's immense contribution to poetry in the sub-continent. The fest this year features Ajmeri Brothers ufffd Shamim Naeem Ajmeri (Qawwal), Pandit Ajay Pohankar (vocals), Jaswinder Singh (ghazal) and Rajashree Pathak (vocals).

Meeting of the metalheads
On Sunday (June 19), 9 pm onwards
Where blueFROG, Mathuradas Mills compound, NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel.
Call 40332300
Entry Rs 200
What happens when four of India's best metal bands converge at one venue? The Rolling Stone Metal Awards are back, this time with live performances by Bhayanak Maut (Mumbai), Artillerie (Delhi), Exhumation (Mumbai) and Noiseware (Pune). "Last year was the first metal awards in the country and the response was overwhelming," Shadaab Kadri of Blue Frog says on their website. "These awards help in keeping the small metal scene alive which is usually plagued with a lack of sponsors and venues. This year we have a mix of experience and budding talent from the scene with four killer bands."

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