Prithvi Theatre Festival opens; Javed Akhtar's new book on dohas; Jitish Kallat's museum show

People can be seen dozing on benches at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Prithvi Theatre Festival was an evening of the usual opening-night buzz. Traditional artistes played the tutari and Naseeruddin Shah lit the traditional lamp. Mahesh Bhatt and Shah were in good spirits. Gino Banks brought back old times with a rousing tribute to Louiz Banks. Kunal, Zahan and Shaira of the Kapoor family were seen playing hosts.

Banks and his team may still be basking in their performance, but the stage now belongs to the theatre groups. Prithvi Theatre is never sluggish.

Javed Akhtar is not regarded as the internet generation's favourite wise man for nothing. The lyricist appears to be finding new readers online thanks to his witty remarks, quick repartee and charming manner. In his latest book, he introduces readers to three similarly sharp poets. Three Masters: The Dohas of Kabir, Rahim, Vrind, coming from HarperCollins India, contains the dohas of Kabir, Rahim and Vrind. Akhtar offers his thoughtful reflections on them, while the translation has been entrusted to Sumantra Ghoshal.

The book was launched at the recently concluded Godrej LitLive! Festival, where the two appeared in good form. Akhtar spoke there in detail about the structure and form of ghazals, so a similar attention to detail is expected in the collection of dohas. The lyricist explores the dohas, from philosophical thoughts to the weaknesses that are in all of us. It is fun to watch poets turn researchers.

At a place called Sylvaris in Goregaon West, books, conversation and curiosity come together. It was started by former journalist Aditya Kshirsagar. It holds reading sessions on Sundays, and plans workshops with people from creative fields such as costume design, make-up and music.

Kshirsagar said, "I wanted strangers to become companions, and for a book, a song or a skill to give them a reason to sit together and learn from one another." The space is open on Sundays from 9 am to 12 noon.

Jitish Kallat's calendar has the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2027, where he will begin as the new chairperson. But before that he has several works pending in the city. These include a return, after 15 years, with a solo exhibition at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum.

Jitish Kallat: Conjectures on a Paper Sky, presented by the museum and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, opens on November 14. Extensive preparations have been made in the gallery, the special project space and the outdoor plaza.