Culture
The National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nariman Point
Head here to witness experimental takes on Hamlet, original stagings in regional Indian languages, annual music festivals and an ever-changing showcase of art and photography. Between shows, the canteen serves bite-sized chutney sandwiches and milky Indian tea. Make sure to visit the members-only listening room – this treasure chest contains rare recordings, including those with Indian masters Bal Gandharva and Zohra Jan, and key speeches by leaders such as India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
National Gallery for Modern Art, Fort
Since the late 1990s, the Mumbai satellite of the NGMA has been the place for a broader view on Indian art movements and its representation in popular culture. Check its calendar for film screenings, thematic shows and retrospectives, featuring leading names such as Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Sher-Gill and MF Husain.
Experimenter, Colaba
This art gallery describes its mission as “dialogue and dissent”. In keeping with that ethos, its roster of more than 25 international artists explores themes such as caste, the built environment, politics and nostalgia. Art Night Thursday (the second Thursday of every month) is a perfect time to visit, when Colaba’s dozen or so galleries stay open until 21.00. On these evenings, you can join artists, patrons and collectors as they walk from exhibition to exhibition.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum, Fort
In a grand Indo-Saracenic structure, which is part of the Unesco World Heritage-listed precinct, the museum houses more than 50,000 artworks and artefacts, including pottery, miniatures, textiles and jewellery. The aim is to tell the story of the Indian subcontinent, from the lives of early Harappan settlers to the era of British rule.
Nature Morte, Colaba
As one of the earliest champions of contemporary Indian art, Nature Morte has shown some of the country’s most prolific names, from Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher to Pushpamala N. Over the years, works by artists represented by this gallery have been acquired by the Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou and the Guggenheim. The venue is located on the third floor of Dhanraj Mahal, a heritage art deco building, near the Gateway of India.
G5a Foundation, Worli
This multidiscipline agency offers its space to a wide spectrum of creatives but especially those in the performing arts. See experimental enactments of regional dances (look out for Odissi, mohini attam and koottu), short works by emerging filmmakers and genre-bridging music recitals.
Aequo Gallery, Colaba
Collaborations between Indian craftsmen and international designers are piloted at this gallery. Overseen by the venue’s creative director, French designer Florence Louisy, past collections have featured installation-like draped furniture by Dalit leather specialist Chamar and a French illustrator’s take on Bidri metalwork.
