The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, an annual celebration of the arts, is set to kick off its festivities with the Rocks and Roots event on September 27. This year, folk singer Mame Khan will perform at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA in Mumbai. Brinda Miller, a key figure in the festival’s organization, emphasizes that the festival serves as a dynamic cultural ecosystem, bridging traditional heritage with contemporary artistic expression. She highlights the significance of music in preserving the Kala Ghoda heritage district and engaging audiences with a variety of cultural experiences.
The Mame Khan concert on September 27 marks the fourth year of the charity fundraiser, which supports the preservation of the Kala Ghoda heritage district.
“It is always good to have a precursor to the main Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, and this year, on September 27, we have our big Mame Khan concert,” says Miller. Miller says its purpose goes beyond fundraising While the concert raises funds for the Kala Ghoda heritage district. But beyond fundraising, the evening is also about awareness,” she says. “We want the audience to be surprised, mesmerised and, at the same time, appreciative of the work that Kala Ghoda Arts Festival continues to do,” she says. “Over the years, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival has introduced audiences to so many different kinds of music,” says Miller. The Mame Khan concert, she says, adds yet another dimension to that continuing journey.
For Brinda Miller, music is a natural way to build momentum towards the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. “This is the fourth year that we are doing this kind of charity fundraiser, and over time it has become a little landmark in our annual calendar. For her, the choice of artiste is equally important. “When we curate a concert like this, it has to bring together several things — strong music, audience appeal, cultural relevance and, of course, a performer who can connect with people. “The funds raised through the concert also go towards preserving the heritage district of Kala Ghoda. The concert, she adds, provides an opportunity to draw attention to the wider cultural significance of the precinct. “It gives us an opportunity to speak about art, culture, heritage and tourism, particularly in the Kala Ghoda and South Mumbai precinct. For Miller, the concert is also an opportunity for Mumbai audiences to experience Khan in a different setting. “People have come to be both educated and entertained by different genres — folk, tribal, classical, Western, Indian and popular music. We have always tried to keep that cultural spectrum wide.