Mumbai’s most popular art and culture festival, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) is back this year, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Between February 4-12, 2023, streets of the heritage district of south Mumbai will be decked out to purveyors of art and sight seers alike.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2023 theme
The theme for KGAF 2023 is ‘Past <> Forward’, which will manifest in the extensive programmes and workshops over the nine days of KGAF 2023 covering 14 verticals such as music, dance, visual arts, theatre, cinema, literature, food, urban design, architecture, comedy, street art and more. These events will be hosted some of Kala Ghoda’s iconic venues: K Dubash Marg or Rampart Row, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sagrahalay, YB Chavan Centre, Cross Maidan, Cooperage Bandstand, National Gallery of Modern Art, Max Mueller Bhavan, Kitab Khana, IF.BE, Ministry of New, Café Knead, Smoke House Deli, Sequel, Ideal Corner, Blue Tokai, and I45 Kalaghoda, to name a few.
In a press note, the chairperson of Kala Ghoda Association, Brinda Miller stated: “The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is a vibrant example of what can be achieved through community collaboration. It is a festival for the people and by the people. We are very excited that the city’s beloved festival will be back on ground after a gap of two years. Much has changed in this time, and our theme Past <> Forward is an ode to our legacy of 22 years while designing a festival of the future. It is indicative of the gradual emergence from a period of inactivity to an era heralding positivity, change and progress. Each year, individuals and enterprises across the country come together to make this celebration possible, and this year is no different. The festival, every year, helps the Kala Ghoda Association raise funds for their year-round restoration projects that are carried out across the precinct. We have some very exciting partners who have come on board this year to support the festival, and we are grateful to every one of them for their contribution to setting the Kala Ghoda off on a canter once again.”
History of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
The first edition of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival took place in 1999. It was hosted and curated by the Kala Ghoda Association which was formed the year before in 1998. The aim of the association and the festival has been to maintain and preserve the heritage of the Kala Ghoda area, popularly considered the art district of south Mumbai. The area is known for its rich concentration of heritage buildings, art, and cultural spaces, such as museums, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and more. All funds raised from KGAF every year are directed towards the restoration efforts undertaken by the Kala Ghoda Association in the precinct.
Here is Zee Zest’s selection of must-attend workshops and programmes at KGAF 2023:
1. Kirigami with Anusha
Kirigami is an extension of popular Japanese paper art, origami. Learn more about this art and get your kids to snowflakes, pop-up cards and more.
Date: February 4, 2023
Time: 10.30 am – 12.00 noon
Venue: Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Children’s Museum, Colaba
2. Bharatnatyam recital by Malavika Sarukkai
Veteran artiste Padmashree awardee, Malavika Sarukkai will have a 90-minute solo Bharatnatyam performance on day one of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2023.
Date: February 4, 2023
Time: 7.00 to 7.55 pm
Venue: Cross Maidan
3. Mezze Mazza: Flavours of Israel
Attend a culinary worskshop and tasting session hosted by Chef Efrat Devir in association with The Consulate General of Israel. On offer will be salads, mezze, main course and desserts.
Date: February 6, 2023
Time: 5.00-7.00 pm
Venue: Café Knead
4. Yatra with Aanchal
Singer of the popular song, ‘Din Shagna Da’ from the OTT show, Four More Shots Please, Aanchal Shrivastava, who is an independent Sufi and folk singer known to give a contemporary spin to ethnic sounds, will curate different expressions of rustic folk music.
Date: February 6, 2023
Time: 7:30-8:15 pm
Venue: Cross Maidan
5. Songs of Himalayas by Shantanu Moitra
Renowned music composer, Shantanu Moitra, teams up with Ani Choying, Kaushiki Chakraborty and Ambi Subramaniam to create a musical sojourn inspired by his 100-day journey across the Himalayas. He intersperses this musical ensemble with riveting stories and breath-taking visuals of the mountains.
Date: February 6, 2023
Time: 8.30-10.00 pm
Venue: Cross Maidan
6. Millets ka magic
Join Karishma Mehta and chef Joydeep Mukherjee to showcase and revel in the deliciousness of millets with easy recipes that you can make at home.
Date: February7, 2023
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Venue: Smoke House Deli, Colaba
7. Tickle me, don’t tickle me
Join author Jerry Pinto as he recites his poem for the little ones. Perfect for children aged three to eight.
Date: February 7, 2023
Time: 4.30-5.30 pm
Venue: Kitab Khana, Fort
8. The Raj and DK Masterclass
Join director-producer-writers duo, Raj and DK, who’re also the men behind quirky shows and films such as Go Goa Gone, Shor in the City and The Family Man. They will talk about their creative process and journey of the silver screen.
Date: February 8, 2023
Time: 5.00-6.00 pm
Venue: Cross Maidan
9. Irani Cafe and other Plays: A Tribute
Actors Ratna Pathak Shah, Vivaan Shah and Divya Jagdale discuss actor-screenwriter Shiv Subrahmanyam's legacy with readings from his 'Irani Cafe and other Plays' by Kenneth Desai and Hidayat Sami.
Date: February 8, 2023
Time: 7.00-8.00 pm
Venue: Chatrapati Shivaji Maharah Vastu Sangrahalaya Main Lawn, Colaba
10. Irani Chai vs. Parsi Raspberry Chai
Anthropologist and food specialist, Dr Kurush Dalal will be at south Mumbai’s iconic restaurant, Ideal Corner, to chat about all things Parsi. Or is it Irani? Email yashna7@gmail.com at Ideal Corner to book your place at Rs 300 per person.
Date: February 9, 2023
Time: 3.00-4.00 pm
Venue: Ideal Corner, Fort
11. Why Roses Are Red by Sandip Soparrkar & students
Directed by Subhash Dhang, the 120-minute-long dance drama is inspired by Greek Mythology. It combines dance forms such as Rumba, Samba, Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Waltz, Paso Doble, Flamenco, Tango, Tap, Freestyle and Contemporary dance, with the message 'all you need is love to fight against evil'.
Date: February 10, 2023
Time: 7.30-8.30 pm
Venue: Cross Maidan
12. Lost Recipes with Chef Bhairav Singh of Native Bombay
Chef Bhairav Singh will showcase diverse flavours of the lost recipes of regional India in a setting like no other.
Date: February 10, 2023
Time: 2.00-4.00 pm
Venue: Native Bombay, Ballard Estate
13. Mythology and the Millennial with Devdutt Pattanaik
Mythology specialist, Devdutt Pattanaik decodes Indian mythology with a modern context. What can we learn from the complex and often subtle teachings of mythology.
Date: February 11, 2023
Time: 6.00-7.00 pm
Venue: IF.BE, Ballard Estate
14. Watch Joyland by Saim Sadiq
Watch the critically-acclaimed Pakistani film about breaking patriarchy and pre-determined gender roles to pursue ones own passion.
Date: February 11, 2023
Time: 7.30-9.30 pm
Venue: Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Main Auditorium, Nariman Point
15. Book reading Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu
Co-authors of the children’s book, Inni and Bobo, Soha and Kunal will also talk about cultivating empathy and compassion for humans and furry friends alike from an early age.
Date: February 12, 2023
Time: 3.00-4.00 pm
Venue: Kitab Khana, Fort
16. Circling Horniman
Explore the area where the foundations for modern Mumbai were laid and hear the stories of its evolution.
Date: February 6, 9 and 12, 2023
Time: 5.00-6.30 pm
Venue: Kala Ghoda precinct
17. Heroes and Martyrs of 26/11
Those were dark days when a few terrorists held the city hostage by occupying vantage points in south Mumbai. Remember the sacrifices of ordinary citizens of the maximum city on a walk inside Nariman Lighthouse, one of the targets.
Note: Entry inside Nariman Lighthouse requires a government photo identification.
Date: February 5 and 12, 2023
Time: 5.00-6.30 pm
Venue: Colaba precinct
18. Vintage Car Rally
A rally of the old beauties on the streets of Mumbai in association with Western India Automobile Association.
Date: February 12, 2023
Time: 9.00 am
Venue: World Trade Center, Cuffe Parade
Please note that for most of these programmes you need to book your seat, please check for the relevant email ids.