It`s the late 1990s in Oman. At the Times of Oman Quiz Contest, quizmaster Derek O’Brien flashes an image on the screen, challenging his young contestants to identify the figure. There’s chatter among the participants — it’s a tough one. To be fair, the image on the screen is merely a shadow outline, and behind it is Kolkata-based hand shadow artiste Amar Sen painstakingly forming the silhouette. “My hands were trembling, and no one seemed to have an answer,” he recalls. A contestant hesitantly cuts through the chatter: “Is it... Sourav Ganguly?” The accurate guess is enough to make O’Brien, Sen and the audience burst into cheer.

Nearly three decades and countless shows across India, Europe and North America later, Sen makes his way to Mumbai this Saturday. At 75 years old, his hands don’t tremble now, and he has many more stories to tell. From animals like dogs, tigers and deer, to human figures donning hats, smoking pipes and sporting funky hairdos, Sen has it all in the palm of his hands. These characters will come alive in a 30-minute show organised by city-based Gems Kids Club to spread awareness about ecological conservation, road safety, and animal welfare at a SoBo venue.