35th Pune Festival | Cultural Extravaganza in Balgandharva
This year Pune will pulsate with the vibrant cultural celebrations of the 35th Pune Festival, as Balgandharva Rangmandir becomes the stage for a magnificent extravaganza from September 22nd to 27th. Puneites will get to experience cultural delight with an array of exciting events, including Kathak Dance, Indradhanu, Kerala Festival, Marathi Poets Meet, Hindi-Marathi Songs, Abhang, Ghazal, Sufi Music, Lavani, and the Voice of Pune Festival. All these events are free for all, said Pune Festival Vice President Krushnakumar Goyal and Chief Coordinator Abhay Chhajed during the press conference. Atul Gonjari, Head of Pune Festival Cultural Programs at Balgandharva Rangmandir and Coordinators Mohan Tillu and Shrikant Kamble were present on this occasion.
Over the past 35 years, Pune Festival President Suresh Kalmadi consistently extended invitations to artists from Maharashtra and around the country, fostering a diverse cultural exchange. Therefore the people of Pune had the privilege to witness and enjoy performances by renowned artists of both national and international acclaim. In his pursuit of national unity, President Suresh Kalmadi curated dance performances representing various cultures, such as Kerala Festival, Bengal Festival, Kolhapur Festival alongside showcasing the artistic talents of students from Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India studying in Pune.
On Saturday, September 23rd at 11.00 am, the MahilaMahotsav at BalgandharvaKaladalan will witness the ceremonial inauguration by Pune Festival’s patron, actress and danseuse HemaMalini (MP). In a delightful convergence of artistry, she will also inaugurate an exhibition featuring paintings crafted in her honor by talented women artists. This artistic tribute will graciously open to the public, offering free access from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th.Adv. Anuradha Bharti will be the coordinator for this.
On Saturday, September 23rd, from 12.00pm to 3.00pm internationally acclaimed Kathak dancers V.Anuradha Singh from Bhopal and NilanganiKalantre from Jabalpur will captivate the audience with their exceptional devotional and Kathak dance performances at BalgandharvaRangmandir.
On the same day, at 5.00 pm, the ‘Indradhanu’ program will take center stage, featuring young talents in the age group of 18 to 28 years. This diverse showcase will encompass a multitude of art forms, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Western dance, classical singing, devotional songs, instrumental music, film songs, theater songs, and Powade, all performed by emerging and budding artists. The program has been organized by Ravindra Durve.
On Sunday, September 24th, an exciting event awaits as the Mrs. Pune Festival Competition unfolds at BalgandharvaRangmandir from 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm, featuring two age groups: 26 to 36 and 37 to 50 years. This competition, designed to showcase the talents of married women, has garnered enthusiastic participation and a remarkable response from women of diverse backgrounds. The event has been meticulously organised under the creative direction of AmrutaJagdhane.
On the same day, as tradition dictates, the Kerala Festival is set to grace the city from 5.00 pm to 12.00 night, celebrating the vibrant culture of Kerala. With a significant population of 4.5 lakh Keralites residing in Pune district, the event is orchestrated by Rajan Nair, Chairman of the Pune Malayali Federation, along with the coordination of Babu Nair. The festival will feature talented Kerala artists from Pune, who will mesmerize the audience with classical dances and various cultural performances, offering a glimpse into the rich heritage and traditions of Kerala.
On Monday, September 25th, at 12:00 pm, an exhilarating dance competition is organized at Balgandharva Rang mandir. This event will showcase a 3-minute solo dance competition in two age groups, 18 to 35 years and 36 to 50 years, along with a dynamic 5-minute group dance contest, with a maximum of 10 talented female contestants spanning ages 18 to 50. An enchanting blend of dance styles, including Bollywood, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Lavani, and mesmerizing folk songs will be performed. It has been organized by Sanyogita Kudale and Dipali Pandhare.
OnTuesday September 25th at 5:00 pm, The Voice of Pune Song Competition, is set to ignite the stage with the Hindi Sugam contest, catering to participants aged 18 to 40 and those above 40, embracing both men and women. The competition will yield one female and male singer. The preliminary rounds are slated for the 16th and 17th of September, culminating in the grand final on the 25th. Numerous prestigious Pune colleges have enthusiastically joined this melodious journey, and for the first time, the ‘Pune Festival FirtaKarandak’ will be awarded. Renowned composer Avinash Vishwajit will be the judge, while the esteemed composer SaiPiyush graces the occasion as a special guest, said Voice of Pune Song Competition Coordinator, Adv. Anuradha Bharti during a press conference.
On the same day at 9:00 pm, Marathi poets meeting ‘Hasyadhara’ will light up the evening. Renowned poet Ramdas Phutane will steer the event, while a constellation of eminent poets including Ashok Naigaonkar, Mahesh Keluskar, Sandeep Khare, Vaibhav Joshi, NeelamMangave, Anjali Kulkarni, Harshada Sukhtankar, Prashant Kendale, and others will grace the occasion with their poetic brilliance.
On Tuesday, September 26th, at 12:00 pm Punekars will experience the enchanting rhythms of ‘LavanichaKhankhanat and GhungarnchaChanchanat’ presented by Kavita Band and Pappu Band of Kavita Productions. The stage will shine with the talents of Reel Star SonaliGaikwad, Reel Star Chitra, DivyaKadam, Dancer Swapna, and Dancer Radhika as they grace the event. Joining them on stage will be 5 female and 2 male dancers, accompanied by 2 talented chorus dancers, creating a mesmerizing ensemble of performers. Additionally, it will feature both male and female singers and narrators, but the showstopper of the evening promises to be the electrifying item song.
At 5 pm on the same day, audience will groove to the tunes of ‘P Se Pancham RD Burman Live,’ presented by the acclaimed singer Shraddha Gaikwad of Orchestra Hertz Music. An ensemble of vocal talents, including ShraddhaGaikwad, Surya Sivaraman, Leena Kale, ShraddhaKamble, Bhavika Kulkarni, Anupama Kulkarni, and the melodious voices of PrashantSalvi, Umesh Kulkarni, AdvaitLele, HimanshuJaiswal, and Nikhil Deshpande, will grace the stage with RD Burman’s timeless classics. They’ll be backed by a musical team consisting of Aman Syed (Synthesizer), Rituraj Kore (Octopad, Rhythm Machine), Hardik Rawal (Lead Guitar), Lijesh Sasidharan (Bass Guitar), Shripad Solapurkar (Saxophone), Nitin Shinde (Tabla, Dholak), and Ayush Shekhar (Drums). It has been organized by ShraddhaGaikwad.
At 9:00 pm, the renowned SaiBhajan Singer RavirajNaseri will enrapture the audience with Abhangs, Ghazals, Sufi Songs, and Old Hindi Songs. With a rich history of performances across India and abroad, the event promises to be a soulful experience.
On Wednesday, September 27th, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, a thrilling bridal make-up competition will be held at Balgandharva. It is coordinated by DipaliPandhare.
Following that, at 9:00 pm, renowned singer JitendraBhuruk and his talented colleagues will serenade the audience with a delightful program of romantic Hindi and Marathi songs titled ‘Pyaar Ka Mausam.’ Singers JitendraBhuruk, AshwiniVaze, AshwiniKurpe, and Akash Solanki will grace the stage, delivering enchanting renditions of romantic melodies from both Hindi and Marathi cinema, promising an evening filled with love and nostalgia.
Balgandharva Rangmandir cultural programs are headed by Atul Gonjari, and Coordinators are Mohan Tillu and Shrikant Kamble.
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Kohinoor Group are the main sponsors of the 35th Pune Festival with Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Panchsheel, Suma Shilp Ltd. and National Egg Coordination Committee are co-sponsors.Bharat Forge, Kumar Realty, Ahura Builders, Sinhagad Institute and Badhekar group are the associate sponsors.
