Mumbai : India’s prime city, originally born of seven islands – Colaba, Byculla, Fort, Worli, Matunga, Sion and Mahim, has grown into a megapolis and firmly established its reputation as the financial capital of the country. Its rich history and cultural legacy evoke more than a passing interest for residents and outsiders alike.

The Maharashtra state government has conceptualized and brought into the limelight a cultural affairs extravaganza ‘Saptarang’, which is a fitting salute to the martyrs who gave their lives for this city as also to the spirit of all Mumbaikars. As the New Year gets under way the cultural affairs department of the state government will bring this amazing spectacle to the public from January3 to 9, 2014 said Ashutosh Ghorpade, Director of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra.

The festivalwill be inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr Prithviraj Chavan at the Gateway of India on 3rd January 2014 at 6 p.m. with Mr Ajit Pawar gracing the occasion as chief guest.  A host of programmes under the aegis of Saptarang 2014 will be played out at the Gateway between January 3 and 5.Later, the show will move to the Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium in Navi Mumbai on January 6 and 7 and will culminate in a final show at the Kashinat Ghanekar Natyagriha in Thane on January 8 and 9.

The very first day will witness noted singer Shankar Mahadevan and percussionists A. Selvaganesh, Vikku Vinayakram and A. Shivamani performing their ‘Southern Express’. Saturday January 4 will see an early morning recital at 6.30 a.m. by singer Roopkumar Rathod who would be featuring in ‘Sufiana’, a musical fest of Sufi music. The same evening will see Reeva and Group that would be presenting youth music for the next generation. Maestros Bhupinder and Mitali Singh  will follow with an enthralling ghazal rendition

On Sunday, lovers of classical music are set to experience spiritual music in the form of various ragas rendered by the legendary Padmavibhushan Gansaraswati Kishori Amonkar at 6 a.m Morning. Leading Bollywood composers Salim-Suleman promise to get the audience  tapping their feet to the rhythm of popular Hindi film tunes in Bollywood Bite at 6.30the same evening.

On Monday, January 6 the festival will bear witness to a lifetime achievement ceremony named after noted Tamasha artiste Vithabai Narayangaonkar. This particular award will be presented to Prabha Shivanekar after which various artistes will feature in the Tamasha programme.

‘My Marathi’, a cultural programme slated to be presented on Tuesday January 7will depict a colour spectrum of Maharashtrian culture. Wednesday evening sees a presentation of the Prabhakar Panashikar Lifetime Achievement awards for theatre personalities at Thane’s Kashinath Ghanekar Auditorium. Aroon Kakadewill be given this award even as Ramdas Kamat will be honoured with the Sangitacharya Balvant Pandurang alias Anna saheb  Kirloskar Musical Theater award. This function is followed by the Naman Natawara cultural programme.

Tu Sur Ka SagarHai is a tribute to the multi-faceted singer the late Manna Dey on Thursday January 9, showcasing the most popular songs sung by Dey in his glittering career.

The entire cultural festival is open to all and Mr Ashutosh Ghorpade, Directorof Cultural Affairs, has appealed to Mumbaikars to attend the programmes in large numbers and enjoy this unique musical and cultural extravaganza,thereby ensuring its grand success.

Free entry passes for  Saptarang 2014 will be available at the following locations namely Rhythm House,Fort; Maharashtra Watch Company, Dadar; Ravindra Natya Mandir; Prabhadevi,Gadkari Rangayatan, Thane; Vishnudas Bhave Natyagriha Vashi.

 

Source : Lokesh Shastri