Seven decades of Triveni Art Community's artistic journey

Seven decades of Triveni Art Community's artistic journey

Triveni Kala Sangam, nestled at 205 Tansen Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi, has been a pulsating cultural epicenter for over 75 years. Founded by Mrs. Sundari K. Shridharani, it has served as a sanctuary for art, learning, and friendships, while hosting numerous cultural events and exhibitions.

As a twelve-year-old boy in the early 1960s, the narrator would often savor a plate of succulent shami kebabs, aloo paranthas, and teekha mint chutney, hurriedly finishing his meal before his father's rehearsals at Rabindra Bhavan, just across the road. The Mandi House area, notably famous for its abundance of auditoriums and galleries, was, and remains, the cultural heart of Delhi.

The Triveni complex, adorned with the clatter of ghungroos and tabla echoing from the kathak dancers on the first floor, and the acrobatic feats of the virile Manipur male dancers in productions like Singhajit Singh and Charu Mathur's Manipur dance presentations, was a sight to behold. The narrator vividly recalls notable performances such as 'Adhe Adhure', 'Kanjoos', and Habib Tanvir's productions 'Charan Das Chor' and 'Agra Bazar', as well as Sheila Bhatia's Punjabi opera 'Chand Badala Da'.

The Gol Chakkar was an ideal spot, where the narrator and his fellow actors from the Ruchika Theatre Group would gather after a performance, share conversations, and delve into discussions about the performances they had witnessed the previous night. These engrossing dialogue sessions would sometimes continue into the following day, and even when they moved to college.

From 1974 to 1985, the Ruchika Theatre Group performed a series of three short plays in the amphitheater, every summer. Performances like Sohaila Kapur in the absurd play 'He Left Home', Arun Kuckreja in Mohan Rakesh's 'Hmmm', the erotic fervor of Alok Nath and Mona Chawla in Pinter's 'The Lover', and the stark tragedy of 'Striptease' by Slawomir Mrozek, all left indelible impressions on the audience.

The Shridharani Gallery, characterized by its unique concave wall, has hosted world-class exhibitions by Indian masters, such as MF Husain, Tyeb Mehta, FN Souza, and Krishen Khanna. Mrs. Shridharani, dressed in handwoven sarees, graced gallery openings with her graceful demeanor and mudra-like gestures, mirroring her years as a dancer at the Uday Shankar Cultural Centre. She maintained Triveni's standards, refusing to succumb to the moral lassitude of other art centers.

Joseph Stein's meticulously designed building, with contemporary Mughal architectural elements, incorporated jali work in ceramic tiles, allowing a cool breeze within and maintaining an ambiance reminiscent of a Mughal fort. The asymmetrical placement of the entry hall and corridor, the lean lines of the staircase, the lotus pond, and the utilization of the amphitheater and unconventional performance spaces contributed to its unique identity.

Generous patronage from the management made available unusual performance spaces such as Arun Kuckreja's 'Tughlaq', which was performed on the steps of the amphitheater, and intimate performances below a champa tree for the narrator's own productions. The 1980s marked a shift in the narrator's relationship with Triveni, as their parents, Roshen and Ebrahim Alkazi, opened the Art Heritage gallery in the Triveni basement, which continues to operate in the same location today.

Since the late 1980s, Triveni has transformed, evolving and adapting with the times. Recently, the children's drama class has found a permanent home there, and the narrator serves as one of the curators of the annual Triveni Theatre Fest. The institution continues to thrive as a vital cultural center in the heart of New Delhi.

During the pandemic, Triveni Kala Sangam briefly shut down but soon resumed its activities. In 2020, the institution performed 'The Gathered Leaves' 15 days before the city went into lockdown, and more recently, they staged 'Devyani' in the post-Covid era. The institution's significance in the narrator's life became even more poignant when they wrote and published a murder mystery, 'The Artful Murders', where Triveni served as a key setting.

In June 2025, Triveni Kala Sangam will host the Kuchipudi Basics Summer Workshop and Bharatnatyam 5-Day Summer Experience for children and adults, further cementing its role as a hub for traditional Indian dance styles.

1. The narrator fondly recalls the fusion of performances, as music from the kathak dancers, the acrobatics of Manipur male dancers, and the erotic fervor of plays like Pinter's 'The Lover' resonated in the Triveni complex.
2. The Shridharani Gallery, with its unique, concave wall, has been a platform for esteemed artists in fashion-and-beauty, such as MF Husain, Tyeb Mehta, FN Souza, and Krishen Khanna, while Mrs. Shridharani's graceful demeanor and gestures mirrored her dance background.
3. As a hub for art, learning, and friendships, Triveni Kala Sangam has offered unconventional performance spaces, like Arun Kuckreja's 'Tughlaq' on the amphitheater's steps and intimate performances below a champa tree for the narrator's own productions.
4. Delving into its rich history, the narrator's connection to Triveni Kala Sangam has transcended time, demonstrating the institution's enduring significance as a pulsating cultural epicenter and integral part of the narrator's life. To further cement its role as a hub for traditional Indian dance styles, Triveni will host the Kuchipudi Basics Summer Workshop and Bharatnatyam 5-Day Summer Experience for children and adults in June 2025.

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