The season 12 of Repertwahr, held at Janeshwar Mishra Park, was a spectacular four-day extravaganza showcasing a vibrant blend of art, culture and entertainment. Featuring captivating sessions, mesmerizing concerts, stand-up comedy, delectable food, and a bustling bazaar, the festival had something for everyone!
BCCL
Mukesh Meshram and Abhijit Sarkar
(L) Bhoopesh Rai (R) Priyanka Sarkar
Anil Kumar and Preeti Ahuja
Powered by Uttar Pradesh Tourism and organized by Bhoopesh Rai and Priyanka Sarkar, the event was thoughtfully divided into four distinct segments: Rang, dedicated to theatre performances; Mahol, an expansive open space perfect for electrifying music concerts and side-splitting stand-up acts; Shabd, a cozy haven for literary enthusiasts; and Bazaar, a lively marketplace offering everything from delicious snacks to a shopping experience.
(L) Ajay Jain (R) Shamona Khan
Harsh Gujral
Gaurav Kapoor
The festival commenced with a special performance by Chandulal Kalburgi, a sitar maestro known for his unique fusion of classical music with modern EDM. He enchanted the audience with renditions of classics such as Mera Joota Hai Japani, Ayi Giri Nandini and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.
(L) Ali Hamid Zaidi (R) Roma
(L-R) Arti, Tanu and Mrinalini
Javed Akhtar and Roshan Abbas discussed writing, films and Lucknow
As the chilly evening unfolded, a long queue of enthusiastic fans awaited Prateek Kuhad’s performance. Kuhad struck the perfect chord with the audience, performing tracks from his album Mulaquaat.
A scene from Hind 1957: Longing and Belonging
A scene from the play Runaway Brides
Day two brought an avalanche of laughter as Gaurav Kapoor took center stage. His witty anecdotes about the quirks of Delhi aunties, his comedic reflections on married life, and the downside of sharing his life through vlogs had everyone laughing.
A still from the play The F Word
Ravi Gupta
The theatrical offering of the day, Hind 1957: Longing and Belonging, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan featuring Sachin Khedekar among other actors, was a powerful adaptation of August Wilson’s Fences. The evening concluded with an electrifying performance by the band Thaikkudam Bridge.
(L) Sivanka (R) Vipul Gaur
Thaikaadam Bridge
Day three opened with an insightful session featuring the legendary writer and poet Javed Akhtar in conversation with Roshan Abbas. Following this, Harsh Gujjral’s stand-up set added a dose of humour to the day. Theatre enthusiasts were treated to Runway Brides, directed and performed by Faezeh Jalali featuring Junaid Khan.
Thaikaadam Bridge
Prateek Kuhad
(L) Lucknowites hanging to every word spoken by Javed Akhtar (R) Rishika Mathur
On the final day, Ravi Gupta’s stand-up set tickled all the funny bones of city folks, as he humorously recounted the misconceptions surrounding artists in Indian families. Theater took centre stage one last time at this season of Repertwahr, with The F Word, directed by Akarsh Khurana, who also played the protagonist father. The festival’s grand finale featured a rocking performance by Agnee the Band. With hits like Sadho Re, Aahatein and Kabira,they enthralled the audience, who joined in a chorus of singing, turning the night into a blissful experience.
— Manas Mishra
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