The second edition of “Abhivyakti – The City Arts Project” is set to take place in Rajkot on February 8 and 9, 2025, featuring a line-up of theatrical and musical performances. Organised by UNM Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Torrent Group’s Mehta Family, the event will be hosted at Hemu Gadhavi Hall, Rama Krishna Nagar, Tagore Road, with free entry for all.
Following the success of its first edition in Rajkot in March 2024, Abhivyakti returns with four performances across two days.
The first day will feature “Hori Ke Rasia”, a traditional folk-music act by Ahmedabad-based twin sisters Mousam & Malka Mehta, followed by “Coming Soon”, a dark-humour theatre performance by Devanshu Shah & Devang Nayak.
On February 9, the event will continue with “Rangbhoomi Na Sadabahar Geeto”, a traditional folk music performance by Rajoo Barot, and “Jogidas Khuman – Ek Sant Baharvatiya”, a period drama by Deval Vora & Asif Ajmeri.
Curated under the theme “Stories from the Soul”, the performances are overseen by art curators K Sumant in music and Chirag Modi in theatre. The mentors for the event include Rajat Dholakia for music and Saumya Joshi for theatre.
Since its inception in 2018 in Ahmedabad, Abhivyakti has expanded to multiple cities in Gujarat, including Vadodara, Rajkot, and Surat. To date, 1,979 artists from across India have participated, with an audience of over 619,000 attending the performances.
The event aims to provide a platform for emerging artists and promote various art forms by offering free access to performances without economic or location-based constraints. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Performance Schedule:
February 8, 2025:
- 8:00 pm: “Hori Ke Rasia” – Mousam & Malka Mehta (Music)
- 9:30 pm: “Coming Soon” – Devanshu Shah & Devang Nayak (Theatre)
February 9, 2025:
- 8:00 pm: “Rangbhoomi Na Sadabahar Geeto” – Rajoo Barot (Music)
- 9:30 pm: “Jogidas Khuman – Ek Sant Baharvatiya” – Deval Vora & Asif Ajmeri (Theatre)
Mousam & Malka Mehta will present “Hori Ke Rasia”, a folk tradition of Vrindavan that depicts Krishna’s leelas, performed in the Braj language with ragas such as Pilu, Noor Sarang, and Kafi. Devanshu Shah & Devang Nayak’s “Coming Soon” tells the story of a young man, Yogesh, who struggles with reclaiming his ancestral land, now a graveyard, in a narrative that explores development, land acquisition, and heritage.
Veteran performer Rajoo Barot, with over 50 years in the arts, will present “Rangbhoomi Na Sadabahar Geeto”, a fusion of traditional and contemporary music. The performance will include a mix of songs accompanied by both traditional and Western instruments.
“Jogidas Khuman – Ek Sant Baharvatiya” by Deval Vora & Asif Ajmeri will portray the story of Jogidas Khuman, a revered rebel from Saurashtra who fought against the Bhavnagar state for 25 years before attaining the title of a saint. The performance will be presented in a folklore format, incorporating live music, dance, and songs.
Abhivyakti – The City Arts Project is an initiative by UNM Foundation to integrate art into society by providing a platform for emerging artists and ensuring free access to performances for all.
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