Regulars at the National Council for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai’s hallowed multi-venue cultural institution, might be in for a shock this weekend. Better known for its classical music concerts, operas and film screenings, the Nariman Point venue is taking a punt on leftfield programming with ‘ Electric — Electronic Dance Music Redefined ’, a two-day EDM festival in association with Budweiser. The festival will feature two of the biggest stars on India’s dance music scene: New Delhi-based purveyor of guitar-driven mellowtronica Sahej Bakshi aka Dualist Inquiry and house/techno producer and DJ Anish Sood from Goa. The two will perform at NCPA’s Experimental Theatre on two consecutive days. If you’re worried about dancing in your seats, don’t worry. All the seats have been removed for the event.
“What we’re trying to do is to cover all aspects of performing arts,” says NCPA Chairman Khushroo Suntook, explaining the reason behind the decision to bring in dance music programming. “There was a demand from a section of younger people for something a little more current and hip. Our jazz concerts have been very successful and I have been to some very good electronic concerts in the U.S., so we thought, why not?” he says.
While Suntook has high hopes for this weekend’s show, the NCPA is adopting a wait-and-watch policy, gauging the response before they decide to continue with programming. “Let’s see how it succeeds, but I don’t believe that one or two concerts can create enough demand,” says Suntook, adding, “I think we will continue, and choose quality artists.”
This isn’t the first time NCPA has made efforts to reach out to younger audiences with contemporary events. In fact, it’s not even the first time electronica musicians will perform at the NCPA. In May 2014, promoter Krunk organised two events under the Music Arena banner at NCPA’s Experimental Theatre, with Nicholson, Sandunes and Big City Harmonics playing experimental electronica sets. In March this year, it launched Edge, an initiative to commission plays on contemporary issues that would be staged in bars, pubs and performance venues. Suntook also mentions starting a repertory theatre programme with theatre artiste Akash Khurana while the NCPA is refurbishing and renovating many of its facilities. It seems that the NCPA is using some of the Rs. 372 crore earned from the auction of Bhabha House to modernise both its facilities and its programming.
“I’ve initiated a full survey of all our theatres, what the ticket sales are like and why some concerts are not succeeding,” says Suntook. “We’ll look at the results and decide our way forward. Where we want to promote different forms of art and are struggling, we have to analyse why and change our approach,” he adds.
Not all NCPA loyalists are pleased at the decision. “They’re being very sporting about it, but there has been a bit of a surprise,” says Suntook. “They’re concerned that it’s not in our DNA. But you can’t go on playing only Test cricket, you have to play T20 too.”
The artists, meanwhile, are looking forward to the event. Bakshi, who trained as a musician in Los Angeles, has promised to adapt his set to take advantage of the theatre’s great acoustics.
“It’s very exciting and also very humbling to be playing at the NCPA,” adds Anish Sood. “It’s amazing to see a legendary venue open its doors to electronic music and I hope this show is the first of many more.”
The author is a freelance journalist
Dualist Inquiry will perform on Saturday and Anish Sood on Sunday at the NCPA’s Electronic Dance Music concert. For details see bookmyshow.com
