Nagpur: The city witnessed a vibrant coming together of artists from various fields on Sunday, aptly coinciding with Guru Purnima. Organised at Vishnu Ji Ki Rasoi, the ‘ Nagpuri Artist Katta ’ resonated with memories of the iconic Dhanwate Rangmandir , a former hub for artistic exchange. The event served as a launchpad for the ‘Nagpuri Artist Katta’ initiative, aiming to unite the city’s scattered artists, foster creative exchange, and provide a platform for showcasing their talents.
Veteran theatre personality Madhubhaiyya Joshi, gracing the occasion at the ripe age of 88, alongside Mahesh Paturkar, officially inaugurated the initiative. A tribute was paid to the late Ajit Diwadkar, a prominent figure in Nagpur’s amateur theatre scene and director of Diwadkar’s Ajit Bakery. The gathering reminisced the bygone era of Dhanwate Rangmandir, a space that facilitated lively discussions and gave birth to new artistic ideas.
Renowned chef Vishnu Manohar, elaborating on the purpose behind the ‘Nagpuri Artist Katta’ remarked, “In the past, artists from all walks of life would gather at Dhanwate Rangmandir. These discussions sparked fresh ideas. But after Rangmandir’s closure, Nagpur’s art scene saw a decline.
Shyam Pethkar, Naresh Gadekar, Rajesh Chitnis – we all came together to establish a similar platform, the ‘Katta,’ to revive the city’s cultural movement.” Madhubhaiyya Joshi shared memories, while Mahesh Paturkar rekindled the spirit of Dhanwate Rangmandir. He observed, “Many faces from that era are present here today.
It’s a beautiful confluence of Nagpur artists – singers, musicians, and writers.” The programme culminated with a reading of his play ‘Bandhan’ by senior actor and director Devendra Dodke. Vijay Jathe moderated the proceedings.
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