Retrieved via the Wayback Machine. Originally posted by Yazad Jal
Walked the heritage walk. Stood for Shantaram. Caught a bit of dance. Grabbed a bite of chaat and momos. Breathed the installation art. Peeked into the cinema. Skipped the theatre. My tired legs wanted to go home. A friend suggested jazz at Azad Maidan. My only condition was seating space. Luckily there was lots of that-jute sacking laid out on the ground. We made ourselves comfortable and waited for the Amit Heri group.
I like jazz, but can’t explain it in words. I lay down and let the waft over me. Looking at Orion’s faint belt up in the sky somehow made “The Elephant’s Walk” come through the bass guitar, drums and saxophone. The musicians conversed: smiling, nodding and gesturing. Enjoying the they created together.
The place was half full when we’d walked in. People trickled in. And it wasn’t just us middle-class snobs. We shared space with street children and daily wage labourers who’d walked in hearing the . The kids horsed around a bit. Overzealous security had to be restrained from behaving badly in an attempt to throw them out. Like me, I’m sure the kids found the different, but enjoyable. This is perhaps what I liked most during the weekend. The Kala Ghoda festival is not just for the swish set, but for all. The festival events are free and open to the public. Us middle class wallahs can afford to pay for the performances. Street kids and daily wage labourers cannot. And it was heartening to have them sitting at Azad Maidan listening to some nice jazz.
Comments
Comment by charukesi on February 6, 2006 @ 7:56 pm
Yazad, I know what you mean by the street kids being there - I saw the same faces on both days I ws there - and they were having such a blast, dancing and painting and generally enjoying themesleves . art for once is accessible and that to me is the success of the kgaf!
Comment by akshay on February 7, 2006 @ 8:34 am
I’m glad to here that the festival is accessible to everyone - especially street children. I saw them too yesterday at the Alms for Shanti.
