FOR THE ART AND SOUL

The recently opened Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai is a big fillip for visual and performing arts in India

- Suhani Singh

Enter the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai and you cannot ignore the vast presence of Reliance Jio properties. There’s the Jio World Garden where everyone from Arijit Singh and Prateek Kuhad to Ed Sheeran and Skrillex has performed; there’s Jio World Drive, a mall with a host of luxury stores, eateries and even a drive-in theatre. Then, inside the 18.5-acre Jio World Centre, there’s the Jio Convention Centre, which can host the finest and most grand exhibitions or trade shows, and the Fountain of Joy. Now, the sprawling site has another mega attraction: the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre or the NMACC. Home to three auditoriums—the 2,000-seater Grand Theatre, the 250-seater Studio Theatre and 125-seater Cube— and a four-storeyed arts space called The Art House, the Centre is a huge boost to performing and visual arts in India.

Having a “world-class cultural centre” has been a passion project for Nita Ambani for years. Trained in Bharatanatyam and having done theatre at Mumbai’s Narsee Monjee College, Ambani is a passionate arts enthusiast, inviting Indian classical dancers and musicians to her home, the iconic Antilia, to perform for international dignitaries and delegations as well as for many events of Reliance across India. “Culture weaves the threads of mutual understanding, tolerance and respect that knit communities and countries together,” said Ambani, the founder and chairperson, at the launch of NMACC. “Culture brings hope and happiness to humanity. Therefore, as an artist, I hope this centre becomes a space that celebrates the arts, the artists, and the audience. A space where our people can feel proud of their heritage.”