Heart of art: G5A is back with a five-day art and culture festival

Naseeruddin Shah and Javed Akhtar

It has been a long, uncharacteristically silent pause at the otherwise-buzzing G5A warehouse in Laxmi Mills Estate, Mahalaxmi. It's natural then that like all beginnings, now that the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture is set to host a five-day art and culture festival, founder-artistic director Anuradha Parikh admits that she's a bundle of nerves. "It's deeply moving and of course, very exciting. It's been so difficult these past months, keeping our doors shut and listening to the emptiness and silence," Parikh tells us, days ahead of ‘should art 2021'.

Ringing in their sixth anniversary, the festival brings together artistes and audiences - both starved for offline experiences - at their Mahalaxmi address, treating them with music, storytelling, movement, literature, culinary arts, a series of launches, and conversations. "The festival, for us, is an opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate. It is a time for us to ensure that we are on track and that we continue our season with a focus that is sharp and unwavering, a lightness of foot that comes from enough riyaaz, and rigour that emerges from intent and dedication," Parikh explains.

Leela Samson; (right) Installation of the G5A store in process at the G5A study

With a calendar of events spanning live performances and online engagements, there are two ideas driving the festival, she shares - one, of repose, and the other, of work that is new or being presented for the first time. "Solos and monologues are a powerful way to experience heightened focus, sound in its essence, and witness the immersion the artiste has with their instrument, body and breath. And so, experience our own sense of self, mindfulness, and absorption," the founder notes about the line-up which includes a storytelling performance by Naseeruddin Shah on Gharwali by Ismat Chughtai; nadi, a Bharatanatyam recital by Leela Samson; a meditative sarangi performance by Sabir Khan; and ‘on his poetry' - a session by Javed Akhtar and Sumantra Ghosal.

Along with performances at the G5A Black Box, some of which will be livestreamed, there'll be online engagements such as a podcast series titled ‘meditations on solo', featuring TM Krishna, Maya Krishna Rao and Mallika Sarabhai, and ‘through a city', a candid conversation between Parikh and architect Radhika Desai on G5A cityLAB's work with the Worli Koliwada. Also on the cards, is the launch of the G5A store. Ishan Benegal, associate artistic director, G5A, and founder, PORT Kitchen & Bar, reveals that the store has been in the works since the inception of the foundation. "The store gives us an opportunity to create tangible products and tools that we, as artists and practitioners, need and want," he elaborates, adding the store is launching with the Good Start Collection featuring aprons, toolkits, jackets and T-shirts.

Anuradha Parikh

With viewers stepping out cautiously, the team will observe safety precautions including 50 per cent capacity seating, compulsory masking-up policy, sanitisation stations and access to the terrace. "We're being even more understanding of our visitors as they'll be coming to theatres after months of isolation. Going forward, I hope we're able to ensure mindfulness in our behaviour towards the earth, our fellow communities, and art and culture, and restore so much that we've lost," Parikh signs off.

From November 3 to 7 AT G-5/A, Laxmi Mills Estate, Shakti Mills lane, Mahalaxmi West. LOG ON TO insider.in to register COST Rs 3,000 for festival pass (individual passes available too)