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Khushroo Suntook, chairman of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), fondly remembers the time when, as a schoolboy, he and his friends used to alight at Churchgate, walk past the buildings facing Oval Maidan, race up to the Cooperage and listen to the various bands — police, military, navy — that performed at the Bandstand. The program was eclectic and included military marches, popular Western and Indian music — Stars and Stripes, God Save the Queen and Saré Jahan sé Achha — depending on which band  was playing. The police band played a lot of Indian songs; the navy band, comprising mostly British players, preferred Western music.
"It was a wonderful event. The Bandstand was crowded, people standing around and listening to the program. It was a grand way for the citizens of Bombay to spend an evening, at no cost... Once the show was over, we would go to the Cooperage for a football match. These were the simple joys of the weekends.”
Later, whenever Suntook passed by the Bandstand he would look at the desolate space with nostalgia and feel that the NCPA was duty-bound to do something about these heritage structures. Besides Cooperage, there were bandstands in Bandra and Chowpatty, the latter tucked away in a garden. At a meeting of the NCPA management committee Suntook articulated the grand tradition of public performances that brought people of the neighborhood together. He stressed that something should be done to revive the practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparations were made and the officials of the municipality contacted. They were extremely cooperative and agreed "like a shot,” said Suntook. And so NCPA@the park was born. The first concert was performed by the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) at the beginning of March 2022. Ashwini Bhide, additional municipal commissioner, Bombay Municipal Corporation and former managing director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, provided great support and encouragement. She was present at the event, tapping her foot in time to the music, said Suntook. The program was varied and wide ranging, catering to all tastes: Bollywood songs, Viennese waltzes, jazz, British marches, the music of Mozart. "The public enjoyed it and the general consensus was that we should take it around everywhere,” he mentioned. "The next performance was held at the Bandra Fort Amphitheatre and we hope to make it a regular event. Every performance costs a few lakhs, but this is what Dr Jamshed Bhabha (who co-founded NCPA) wanted to do — to bring culture to the city in every possible way.”
Suntook found it heartening that this was a performance where the disadvantaged got to enjoy themselves; even the street urchins had smiles on their faces. It was an attempt to create some joy, a cheerful moment in a dreary post-Covid era.
During December 2022 and January 2023, there was a second edition of NCPA@the park and performances were again held at both the Cooperage Bandstand and in the Bandra Fort Amphitheatre. Padma Sinha, NCPA advisor, patron engagement and corporate social responsibility said, "The event at the Bandra Fort was very well attended. It was an ideal location with a large stage with stone seating. It lends itself to outdoor performances and around 800 people attended.” The SOI performed short pieces which appealed to the audience (several of whom were not much exposed to western classical music), a medley of Christmas carols and Bollywood music — old songs which required a large orchestral component.
There was also an Indian music show with thumri, ghazals, natyageet and popular film songs by Priyanka Barve and a musical performance by the Adil Manuel Collective. But the evening was not devoted just to music. There was an event, UnErase Poetry, where a group of youngsters recited their own poems, some to the accompaniment of guitars strumming. These events received overwhelming and spontaneous applause. Spectators were allowed to record the performances which they widely circulated on social media.
A similar weekend was planned at Cooperage Bandstand on January 7 and 8. Sinha told us that "instead of music, we had folk dance. There was outstanding audience participation as the dances got everyone on their feet. We are hoping to perform next at the Shivaji Park where there is a garden which has a pergola (an open pavilion) with audience seating.”
The occasions offer the citizenry of Bombay some light moments, listening to quality music as well as introducing the NCPA to a lay audience. "We will do it as long as the money lasts. We hope to perform at the Five Gardens in Dadar and at a bandstand near the Thane lake. We want to do much more of this for the city,” said Suntook.
He is following the advice of his mentor and friend Bhabha, who had the vision to bring music and culture to the public. Bhabha had told him not to be hesitant and to go ahead. When Suntook confessed that he was apprehensive, Bhabha retorted, "You are more foolish and therefore be cleverer.”