Art Adda lights up Delhi with storytelling at Stein Auditorium

The heart of the city pulsed with story, rhythm, and reflection on Tuesday night as Art Adda: Storytelling in the HeART of the City took over the iconic Stein Auditorium at India Habitat Centre.

Part of the ongoing Urban Adda 2025 series, the event was hosted by the Raahgiri Foundation in collaboration with Indigo Creative, and served as a unique confluence of film, performance, dialogue, and visual art — all woven around the theme of biodiversity and sustainable urban futures.At its core was a specially curated Film Festival spotlighting hyperlocal tales and global environmental narratives, alongside a striking contemporary dance performance, a thought-provoking panel discussion, a multimedia art exhibition, and a closing Gala Dinner.

The programming was designed to evoke both introspection and inspiration—urging audiences to reimagine cities not just as built environments but as living ecosystems.

The vision behind Art Adda, explained Raahgiri Foundation’s co-founder Sarika Panda Bhatt, was to place art at the center of civic dialogue, and said,“Art Adda was conceived to bring an essential dimension to our conversations about urban futures.

We at Raahgiri Foundation believe that art—in all its forms, be it film, performance, or visual installations—has an incredible power to touch hearts, provoke thought, and inspire collective action.The creative energies showcased here tonight remind us how storytelling can help us envision and co-create more sustainable, resilient, and soulful cities for everyone.”Jitendra Mishra emphasized the importance of platforms like Art Adda in amplifying local voices on global issues,“Congratulations to Sarika Panda and the Raahgiri Foundation for this remarkable initiative.

I’m glad to be part of it. We need more such spaces that spotlight hyperlocal stories for global audiences. What truly matters is setting the right context and forging emotional connections.”

‘Storytelling Is Civic Work’: Panel Brings Artists and Activists TogetherOne of the evening’s key highlights was a panel discussion titled “Storytelling is Civic Work”, moderated by filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Chandramouli Basu. The panel brought together a cross-section of changemakers working at the intersection of narrative and environment:Jitendra Mishra, internationally acclaimed filmmaker and newly elected President of CIFEJ (the International Centre of Films for Children and Young People),Radhika Raj, Deputy Editor, Roundglass Sustain,Vijay Dhasmana, one of India’s foremost ecological restoration experts, andMallika Menon, Associate Director at Discovery Communications India/South Asia.

Spotlight on Films: Stories of Place, People, and PlanetThe Film Festival segment celebrated emerging and independent filmmakers whose work reflects deep engagement with place and purpose.Best Film – Student & Amateur Category: Nets of Despair by Ritika Yadav, awarded a cash prize of ₹50,000Best Film – Professional Category: Microplastic Mayhem by Aishwariya Ashok, awarded ₹1,00,000These awards underscore Art Adda’s commitment to nurturing storytelling talent across levels, and investing in the next generation of visual storytellers.Art in Motion, Art in StillnessThe evening transitioned from screen to stage with a powerful dance performance by Stance Dance Studio, which used rhythm and movement to explore themes of space, identity, and collective memory. Just outside the auditorium, in the Habitat Centre’s Central Atrium, visual artist Sagar Singh curated an evocative art exhibition combining illustration, installation, and multimedia storytelling. The exhibit remains open to the public until June 5.